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CONFESSION  OF  FAI 


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LARGER   AXD   SHORTER  CATECHISMS. 

■WITH  THE 

Scrfpture-J3roofs  at  ILarge: 

TOOETHEE  WITH 

THE   SUM  OF  SAVING  KNOWLEDGE, 

(CONTAINED    IX    THE    HOLT    SCRIPTURES,   A5D    HELD    FORTH    IX    THE    SAID 
COXFESSIOX    AXD    CATECHISMS,)    AXD    PRACTICAL    CSE   THEREOF; 

COVENANTS, 

NATIONAL  AND  SOLEMN  LEAGUE; 

ACKNOWLEDGMENT  OF  SINS,  AND  ENGAGEMENT  TO 

DUTIES  ; 

DIRECTORIES  FOR  PUBLIC  AND  FAMILY  WORSHIP; 

FORM  OF  CHURCH  GOVERNMENT,  &C. 

OF  PUBLIC  AUTHORITY  IX  THE  CHURCH  OF  SCOTLJXD, 

WITH  ACTS  OF  ASSEMBLY  AND  PARLIAMENT,   RELATIVE  TO,  AXD 
APPROBATORY  OF,  THE  SAME. 


Dedt.  vi.  6,  7.  And  these  words  which  I  command  thee  this  day  shall  be  in  thine 
heart:  and  thou  shalt  teach  them  diligently  unto  thy  children  ;  and  shalt  talk  of  them 
when  thou  siiiest  in  thine  house,  and  when  thou  walkest  by  the  way,  and  when  thou 
lica  down,  and  when  thou  risest  up. 


PRINTED  FROM  A  RECENT  AND  CORRECT  EDINBURGH  EDITION. 


PHILADELPHIA  I 

WILLIAM  S.  YOUNG,  173,  RACE  STREET. 

1838. 


tlUGGS  &  CO.,  PRINTERS. 


THE  GENERAL  CONTEXTS. 


I.  rpHE  Preface,  by  sundry  English  Di 

-L 

II.  Mr.  Mantons  Epistle  to  the  Reader. 

III.  Tlie  Confession  of  Faith. 

IV.  The  Larger  Catechism. 

V.  The  Shorter  Catechism. 

VI.  The  Sum  of  Saving  Knowledge. 


VII.  The  National  Covenant. 

VIII.  The  Solemn  League  and  Covenant. 

IX.  The  .Acknowledgment  of  Sins,  &c. 

X.  The  Directory  for  Public  Worship. 

XI.  The  Form  of  Presbyterial  Church-Go- 
vernment. 

XII.  The  Directory  for  Family  Worship. 


CHRISTIAN     READER, 


ESPECIALLY 


HEADS     OF    FAMILIES. 

ve  cannot  but  with  grief  of  soul  lament  those  multi- 
tudes of  errors,  blasphemies,  and  all  kinds  of  profanen* 
which  have  in  this  last  age,  like  a  mighty  deluge,  overflown 
this  nation ;  so,  among  several  other  sins  which  have  helped 
to  open  the  flood-gates  of  all  these  impieties,  we  cannot  but 
esteem  the  disuse  of  family  instruction  one  of  the  greatest. 
The  two  great  pillars  upon  which  the  kingdom  of  Satan  is 
erected,  and  by  which  it  is  upheld,  are  ignorance  and  error; 
the  first  step  of  our  manumission  from  this  spiritual  thral- 
dom consists  in  having  our  eyes  opened,  and  being  turned 
from  darkness  to  light,  Acts  xxvi.  18.  How  much  the  seri- 
ous endeavours  of  godly  parents  and  masters  might  contri- 
bute to  an  early  seasoning  the  tender  years  of  such  as  are 
under  their  inspection,  is  abundantly  evident,  not  only  from 
their  special  influence  upon  them,  in  respect  of  their  autho- 
rity over  them,  interest  in  them,  continual  presence  with 
them,  and  frequent  opportunities  of  being  helpful  to  them ; 
but  also  from  the  sad  effects  which,  by  woful  experience, 
we  find  to  be  the  fruit  of  the  omission  of  this  duty.  It  were 
easy  to  set  before  you  a  cloud  of  witnesses,  the  language 
of  whose  practice  hath  been  not  only  an  eminent  commen- 
dation of  this  duty,  but  also  a  serious  exhortation  to  it.  As 
Abel,  though  dead,  yet  speaks  by  his  example  to  us  for  imita- 


4  The  Epistle  to  the  Reader. 

tion  of  his  faith,  &c.  Heb.  xi.  4 ;  so  do  the  examples  of 
Abraham,  of  Joshua,  of  the  parents  of  Solomon,  of  the 
grandmother  and  mother  of  Timothy,  the  mother  of  Au- 
gustine, whose  care  was  as  well  to  nurse  up  the  souls  as 
the  bodies  of  their  little  ones ;  and  as  their  pains  herein 
was  great,  so  was  their  success  no  way  unanswerable. 

We  should  scarce  imagine  it  any  better  than  an  imper- 
tinency,  in  this  noon-day  of  the  gospel,  either  to  inform  or 
persuade  in  a  duty  so  expressly  commanded,  so  frequently 
urged,  so  highly  encouraged,  and  so  eminently  owned  by 
the  Lord  in  all  ages  with  his  blessing,  but  that  our  sad  ex- 
perience tells  us,  this  duty  is  not  more  needful,  than  it  is 
of  late  neglected.  For  the  restoring  of  this  duty  to  its  due 
observance,  give  us  leave  to  suggest  this  double  advice. 

The frst  concerns  heads  of  families  in  respect  of  them- 
selves; That  as  the  Lord  hath  set  them  in  place  above  the 
rest  of  their  family,  they  would  labour  in  all  wisdom  and 
spiritual  understanding  to  be  above  them  also.  It  is  an  un- 
comely sight  to  behold  men  in  years  babes  in  knowledge ; 
and  how  unmeet  are  they  to  instruct  others,  who  need 
themselves  to  be  taught  which  be  the  first  principles  of  the 
oracles  of  God?  Heb.  v.  12.  Knowledge  is  an  accomplish- 
ment so  desirable,  that  the  devils  themselves  knew  not  a 
more  taking  bait  by  which  to  tempt  our  first  parents,  than 
by  the  fruit  of  the  tree  of  knowledge ;  So  shall  you  be  as 
gods,  knowing  good  and  evil.  When  Solomon  had  that  fa- 
vour showed  him  of  the  Lord,  that  he  was  made  his  own 
chooser  what  to  ask,  he  knew  no  greater  mercy  to  beg 
than  wisdom,  1  Kings  iii.  5,  9.  The  understanding  is  the 
guide  and  pilot  of  the  whole  man,  that  faculty  which  sits 
at  the  stern  of  the  soul ;  but  as  the  most  expert  guide  may 
mistake  in  the  dark,  so  may  the  understanding,  when  it 
wants  the  light  of  knowledge:  Without  knowledge  the  mind 
cannot  be  good,  Prov.  xix.  2 ;  nor  the  life  good,  nor  the  eter- 
nal condition  safe,  Eph.  iv.  18.  My  people  are  destroyed  for 
lack  of  knozdedge,  Hos.  iv.  6.  It  is  ordinary  in  scripture 
to  set  profaneness,  and  all  kind  of  miscarriages,  upon  the 
score  of  ignorance.  Diseases  in  the  body  have  many  times 
their  rise  from  distempers  in  the  head,  and  exorbitancies 
in  practice  from  errors  in  judgment:  and,  indeed,  in  every 
sin  there  is  something  both  of  ignorance  and  error  at  the 


The  Epistle  to  the  Reader.  5 

bottom:  for,  did  sinners  truly  know  what  they  do  in  sin- 
ning, we  might  say  of  every  sin  what  the  Apostle  speaks 
concerning  that  great  sin,  Had  they  known  him,  they  would 
not  have  crucified  the  Lord  of  glory;  did  they  truly  know 
that  every  sin  is  a  provoking  the  Lord  to  jealousy,  a  pro- 
claiming war  against  Heaven,  a  crucifying  the  Lord  Jesus 
afresh,  a  treasuring  up  wrath  unto  themselves  against  the  day 
of  wrath;  and  that,  if  ever  they  be  pardoned,  it  must  be  at 
no  lower  a  rate  than  the  price  of  his  blood;  it  were  scarce 
possible  but  sin,  instead  of  alluring,  should  affright,  and 
instead  of  tempting,  scare.  It  is  one  of  the  arch  devices 
and  principal  methods  of  Satan  to  deceive  men  into  sin: 
thus  he  prevailed  against  our  first  parents,  not  as  a  lion, 
but  as  a  serpent,  acting  his  enmity  under  a  pretence  of 
friendship,  and  tempting  them  to  evil  under  an  appearance 
of  good;  and  thus  hath  he  all  along  carried  on  his  designs 
of  darkness,  by  transforming  himself  into  an  angel  of  light, 
making  poor  deceived  men  in  love  with  their  miseries,  and 
hug  their  own  destruction.  A  most  sovereign  antidote 
against  all  kind  of  errors,  is  to  be  grounded  and  settled  in 
the  faith:  persons  unfixed  in  the  true  religion,  are  very 
receptive  of  a  l*al<e:  and  they  who  are  nothing  in  spiritual 
knowledge,  are  easily  made  any  thing.  Clouds  without  water 
are  driven  to  and  fro  with  every  wind,  and  ships  without 
ballast  liable  to  the  violence  of  every  tempest.  But  yet  the 
knowledge  we  especially  commend,  is  not  a  brain-know- 
ledge, a  mere  speculation;  this  may  be  in  the  worst  of  men, 
.  in  the  worst  of  creatures,  the  devils  themselves,  and 
that  in  such  an  eminency,  as  the  best  of  saints  cannot  attain 
to  in  this  life  of  imperfection:  but  an  inward,  a  savoury,a 
heart  knowledge,  such  as  was  in  that  martyr,  who,  though 
she  could  not  dispute  for  Christ,  could  die  for  him.  This  is 
that  spiritual  sense  and  feeling  of  divine  truths  the  Apostle 
speaks  of,  lie!),  v.  11.  Having  your  senses  exercised,  &c. 

But,  alas,  we  may  say  of  most  men's  religion  what 
learned  Rivet*  speaks  concerning  the  errors  of  the  fathers, 
••  They  were  not  so  much  their  own  errors,  as  the  errors 
of  the  times  wherein  they  lived."  Thus  do  most  men 
take  up  their   religion  upon  no  better  an  account  than 

•  Rivet.  Crit.  Sacr. 
1* 


6  The  Epistle  to  the  Reader. 

Turks  and  Papists  take  up  theirs,  because  it  is  the  religion 
of  the  times  and  places  wherein  they  live ;  and  what  they 
take  up  thus  slightly,  they  lay  down  as  easily.  Whereas 
an  inward  taste  and  relish  of  the  things  of  God,  is  an  ex- 
cellent preservative  to  keep  us  settled  in  the  most  unset- 
tled times.  Corrupt  and  unsavoury  principles  have"  great 
advantage  upon  us,  above  those  that  are  spiritual  and 
sound ;  the  former  being  suitable  to  corrupt  nature,  the 
latter  contrary;  the  former  springing  up  of  themselves, 
the  latter  brought  forth  not  without  a  painful  industry. 
The  ground  needs  no  other  midwifery  in  bringing  forth 
weeds  than  only  the  neglect  of  the  husbandman's  hand  to 
pluck  them  up ;  the  air  needs  no  other  cause  of  darkness 
than  the  absence  of  the  sun;  nor  water  of  coldness  than 
its  distance  from  the  fire;  because  these  are  the  genuine 
products  of  nature.  Were  it  so  with  the  soul,  (as  some 
of  the  philosophers  have  vainly  imagined,)  to  come  into 
the  world  as  an  abrasa  tabula,  a  mere  blank  or  piece  of 
white  paper,  on  which  neither  any  thing  is  written,  nor 
any  blots,  it  would  then  be  equally  receptive  of  good  and 
evil,  and  no  more  averse  to  the  one  than  to  the  other :  but 
how  much  worse  its  condition  indeed  is,  were  scripture 
silent,  every  man's  experience  does  evidently  manifest. 
For  who  is  there  that  knows  any  thing  of  his  own  heart, 
and  knows  not  thus  much,  that  the  suggestions  of  Satan 
have  so  easy  and  free  admittance  into  our  hearts,  that  our 
utmost  watchfulness  is  too  little  to  guard  us  from  them  ? 
whereas  the  motions  of  God's  Spirit  are  so  unacceptable 
to  us,  that  our  utmost  diligence  is  too  little  to  get  our 
hearts  open  to  entertain  them.  Let  therefore  the  excel- 
lency, necessity,  difficulty  of  true  wisdom  stir  up  endea- 
vours in  you  somewhat  proportionable  to  such  an  accom- 
plishment; Above  all  getting,  get  understanding,  Prov.  iv.  7. 
and  search  for  wisdom  as  for  hidden  treasures,  Prov.  ii.  4. 
It  much  concerns  you  in  respect  of  yourselves. 

Our  second  advice  concerns  the  heads  of  families,  in  re- 
spect of  their  families.  Whatever  hath  been  said  already, 
though  it  concerns  every  private  Christian  that  hath  a 
soul  to  look  after;  yet,  upon  a  double  account,  it  concerns 
parents  and  masters,  as  having  themselves  and  others  to 
look  after :  some  there  are,  who,  because  of  their  igno- 
rance, cannot;  others,  because  of  their  sluggishness,  will 


The  Epistle  to  the  Reader.  7 

not  mind  this  duty.  To  the  former  we  propound  the  me- 
thod of  Joshua,  who  first  began  with  himself,  and  then  is 
careful  of  his  family.  To  the  latter  we  shall  only  hint, 
what  a  dreadful  meeting  those  parents  and  masters  must 
have  at  that  great  day.  with  their  children  and  servants, 
when  all  that  were  under  their  inspection  shall  not  only 
accuse  them,  but  charge  their  eternal  miscarrying  upon 
their  score. 

er  did  any  age  of  the  Church  enjoy  such  choice  helps 
as  this  of  ours.  Every  age  of  the  gospel  hath  had  its  Creeds, 
Confessions,  Catechisms,  and  such  breviaries  and  models  of 
divinity  as  have  been  singularly  useful.  Such  forms  of  sound 
words  (however  in  these  days  decried)  have  been  in  use  in 
the  Church  ever  since  God  himself  wrote  the  Decalogue,  as 
a  summary  of  things  to  be  done;  and  Christ  taught  us  that 
prayer  of  his,  as  a  directory  what  to  ask.  Concerning  the 
usefulness  ofsuchcompendiary  sys  -  much  hath  been 

said  already  by  a  learned  divine*  of  this  ag  'ifficient 

to  satisfy  all  who  are  not  resolved  to  remain  unsatisfied. 

Concerning  the  particular  excellency  of  these  ensuing 
treatises,  we  judge  it  unneedful  to  mention  those  eminent 
testimonies  which  have  been  given  them  from  persons  of 
known  worth,  in  respect  of  their  judgment,  learning,  and 
integrity,  both  at  home  and  abroad,  because  themselves 
spake  so  much  their  own  praise;  gold  stands  not  in  need  of 
varnish,  nor  diamonds  of  painting:  crive  us  leave  only  to 
tell  you,  that  we  cannot  but  account  it  an  eminent  merCj 
to  enjoy  such  helps  as  these  are.  It  is  ordinary  in  these 
days  for  men  to  speak  evil  of  things  they  know  not;  but 
if  any  a  r  sed  with  mean  thoughts  of  these  treatises, 

we  shall  only  give   the   same  I  to  them  that  Philip 

gives  Nathaniel,  Come  and  see,  John  i.  4G.  It  is  no  small 
advantage  the  reader  now  hath,  by  the  addition  of  scrip- 
tures at  large, whereby  with  little  pains  he  may  more  pro- 
fit, because  with  every  truth  he  may  behold  its  scripture 
foundation.  And,  indeed,  considering  what  a  Babel  of 
opinions,  what  a  strange  confusion  of  tongues,  there  is 
this  day  among  them  who  profess  they  speak  the  language 
of  Canaan,  there  is  no  intelligent  person  but  will  conclude 
that  advice  of  the  prophet  especially  suited  to  such  an  age 

•  Dr.  Tuckney  in  his  sermon  on  2  Tim.  i.  13. 


The  Epistle  to  the  Reader. 


as  this,  Isa.  viii.  20.  To  the  law  and  to  the  testimony ;  if  they 
speak  not  according  to  this  word,  it  is  because  there  is  no  light 
in  them.  If  the  reverend  and  learned  composers  of  these 
ensuing  treatises  were  willing  to  take  the  pains  of  annexing 
scripture-proofs  to  every  truth,  that  the  faith  of  people 
might  not  be  built  upon  the  dictates  of  men,  but  the  autho- 
rity of  God,  so  some  considerable  pains  hath  now  been 
farther  taken  in  transcribing  those  scriptures ;  partly  to 
prevent  that  grand  inconvenience,  (which  all  former  im- 
pressions, except  the  Latin,  have  abounded  with,  to  the 
great  perplexing  and  disheartening  of  the  reader,)  the  mis- 
quotation of  scripture,  the  meanest  reader  being  able,  by 
having  the  words  at  large,  to  rectify  whatever  mistake  may 
be  in  the  printer  in  citing  the  particular  place;  partly,  to 
prevent  the  trouble  of  turning  to  every  proof,  which  could 
not  but  be  very  great;  partly,  to  help  the  memories  of  such 
who  are  willing  to  take  the  pains  of  turning  to  every  proof, 
but  are  unable  to  retain  what  they  read ;  and  partly,  that 
this  may  serve  as  a  Bible  common-place,  the  several  pas- 
sages of  scripture,  which  are  scattered  up  and  down  in 
the  word,  being  in  this  book  reduced  to  their  proper  head, 
and  thereby  giving  light  each  to  other.  The  advantages, 
you  see,  in  this  design,  are  many  and  great ;  the  way  to 
spiritual  knowledge  is  hereby  made  more  easy,  and  the 
ignorance  of  this  age  more  inexcusable. 

If,  therefore,  there  be  any  spark  in  you  of  love  to  God, 
be  not  content  that  any  of  yours  should  be  ignorant  of  him 
whom  you  so  much  admire,  or  any  haters  of  him  whom 
you  so  much  love.  If  there  be  any  compassion  to  the 
souls  of  them  who  are  under  your  care,  if  any  regard  of 
your  being  found  faithful  in  the  day  of  Christ,  if  any  re- 
spect to  future  generations,  labour  to  sow  these  seeds  of 
knowledge,  which  may  grow  up  in  after-times.  That  you 
may  be  faithful  herein,  is  the  earnest  prayer  of, 


Henry  Wilkinson, 

D.  D.  A.  M.  P. 
Roger  Drake. 
William  Taylor. 
Samuel  Annesley. 
Thomas  Gouge. 
Charles  Offspring. 
Arthur  Jackson. 
John  Cross. 
Samuel  Clerk. 
Samuel  Slater. 
William  Whitaker. 


John  Fuller. 
James  Nalton. 
Thomas  Goodwin. 
Matthew  Pool. 
William  Bates. 
John  Loder. 
Francis  Raworth, 
William  Cooper. 
William  Jenkins. 
Thomas  Mantoii. 
Thomas  Jacomb. 
George  Griffiths. 


Edward  Perkins. 
Ralph  Venning. 
Jeremiah  Burwell. 
Joseph  Church. 
Has   Biidges. 
Samuel  Smith. 
Samuel  Rowles. 
John  Glascock. 
Leo.  Cooke. 
John  Sheffield. 
Matthew  Haviland. 
William  Blackmore. 


Richard  Kentish. 
Alexander  Pringle. 
William  Wickins. 
Thomas  Watson. 
John  Jackson. 
John  Seabrooke. 
John  Peachie. 
James  Jollife. 
Obadiah  Lee. 


[    9    3 


Mr.  Thomas  Manton's  Epistle  to  the  Reader. 
CHRISTIAN  READER, 

I  cannot  suppose  thee  to  be  such  a  stranger  in  England 
as  to  be  ignorant  of  the  general  complaint  concerning  the 
decay  of  °the  power  of  godliness,  and  more  especially  of 
the  great  corruption  of  youth.  Wherever  thou  goest,  thou 
wilt  hear  men  crying  out  of  bad  children  and  bad  servants; 
whereas,  indeed,  the  source  of  the  mischief  must  be  sought 
a  little  higher:  it  is  bad  parents  and  bad  masters  that  make 
bad  children  and  bad  servants ;  and  we  cannot  blame  so 
much  their  untowardness,  as  our  own  negligence  in  their 
education. 

The  devil  hath  a  great  spite  at  the  kingdom  of  Christ, 
and  he  knoweth  no  such  compendious  way  to  crush  it  in 
the  egg,  as  by  the  perversion  of  youth,  and  supplanting  fa- 
mily duties.  He  striketh  at  all  those  duties  which  are  pub- 
lic in  the  assemblies  of  the  saints ;  but  these  are  too  well 
guarded  by  the  solemn  injunctions  and  dying  charge  of 
Jesus  Christ,  as  that  he  should  ever  hope  totally  to  subvert 
and  undermine  them;  but  at  family  duties  he  striketh  with 
the  more  success,  because  the  institution  is  not  so  solemn, 
and  the  practice  not  so  seriously  and  conscientiously  re- 
garded as  it  should  be,  and  the  omission  is  not  so  liable  to 
notice  and  public  censure.  Religion  was  first  hatched  in 
families,  and  there  the  devil  seeketh  to  crush  it ;  the  fami- 
lies of  the  Patriarchs  were  all  the  churches  God  had  in  the 
world  for  the  time;  and  therefore,  (I  suppose,)  when  Cain 
went  out  from  Adam's  family,  he  is  said  to  go  out  from  the 
face  of  the  Lord,  Gen.  iv.  10.  Now  the  devil  knoweth  that 
this  is  a  blow  at  the  root,  and  a  ready  way  to  prevent  the 
succession  of  churches:  if  he  can  subvert  families,  other 
societies  and  communities  will  not  long  flourish  and  subsist 
with  any  power  and  vigour;  for  there  is  the  stock  from 
whence  they  are  supplied  both  for  the  present  and  future. 

For  the  present :  A  family  is  the  seminary  of  church  and 
state;  and  if  children  be  not  well  principled  there,  all  mis- 
carrieth :  a  fault  in  the  first  concoction  is  not  mended  in 
the  second ;  if  youth  be  bred  ill  in  the  family,  they  prove 
ill  in  Church  and  Commonwealth :  there  is  the  first  making 


10  The  Epistle  to  the  Reader. 

or  marring,  and  the  presage  of  their  future  lives  to  be 
thence  taken,  Prov.  xx.  11.  By  family  discipline,  officers 
are  trained  up  for  the  Church,  1  Tim.  iii.  4.  One  thai  ruleth 
■well  his  own  house,  fyc;  and  there  are  men  bred  up  in  sub- 
jection and  obedience.  It  is  noted,  Acts  xxi.  5,  that  the 
disciples  brought  Paul  on  his  way  with  their  wives  and 
children :  their  children  probably  are  mentioned,  to  inti- 
mate, that  their  parents  would,  by  their  own  example  and 
affectionate  farewell  to  Paul,  breed  them  up  in  a  way  of 
reverence  and  respect  to  the  pastors  of  the  Church. 

For  the  future:  It  is  comfortable,  certainly,  to  see  a 
thriving  nursery  of  young  plants,  and  to  have  hopes  that 
God  shall  have  a  people  to  serve  him  when  we  are  dead 
and  gone :  the  people  of  God  comforted  themselves  in  that, 
Psal.  cii.  28.    The  children  of  thy  servants  shall  continue,  fyc. 

Upon  all  these  considerations,  how  careful  should  minis- 
ters and  parents  be  to  train  up  young  ones  whilst  they  are 
yet  pliable,  and,  like  wax,  capable  of  any  form  and  im- 
pression in  the  knowledge  and  fear  of  God ;  and  betimes 
to  instil  the  principles  of  our  most  holy  faith,  as  they  are 
drawn  into  a  short  sum  in  catechisms,  and  so  altogether 
laid  in  the  view  of  conscience  !  Surely  these  seeds  of  truth 
planted  in  the  field  of  memory,  if  they  work  nothing  else, 
will  at  least  be  a  great  check  and  bridle  to  them,  and,  as 
the  casting  in  of  cold  water  doth  stay  the  boiling  of  the 
pot,  somewhat  allay  the  fervours  of  youthful  lusts  and  pas- 
sions. 

I  had,  upon  entreaty,  resolved  to  recommend  to  thee, 
with  the  greatest  earnestness,  the  work  of  catechising,  and, 
as  a  meet  help,  the  usefulness  of  this  book,  as  thus  printed 
with  the  scriptures  at  large :  but  meeting  with  a  private 
letter  of  a  very  learned  and  godly  divine,  wherein  that 
work  is  excellently  done  to  my  hand,  I  shall  make  bold  to 
transcribe  a  part  of  it,  and  offer  it  to  public  view. 

The  author  having  bewailed  the  great  distractions,  cor- 
ruptions, and  divisions  that  are  in  the  church,  he  thus  re- 
presents the  cause  and  cure :  "  Among  others,  a  principal 
cause  of  these  mischiefs  is  the  great  and  common  neglect 
of  the  governors  of  families,  in  the  discharge  of  that  duty 
which  they  owe  to  God  for  the  souls  that  are  under  their 
charge,  especially  in  teaching  them  the  doctrine  of  Chris- 


The  Epistle  to  the  Reader.  11 

tianity.  Families  are  societies  that  must  be  sanctified  to  God 
as  well  as  Churches;  and  the  governors  of  them  have  as 
truly  a  charge  of  the  souls  that  are  therein,  as  pastors  have 
of  the  Churches.  But,  alas,  how  little  is  this  considered 
or  regarded!  But  while  negligent  ministers  are  (deserved- 
ly) cast  out  of  their  places,  the  negligent  masters  of  fami- 
lies take  themselves  to  be  almost  blameless.  They  offer 
their  children  to  God  in  baptism,  and  there  they  promise 
to  teach  them  the  doctrine  of  the  gospel,  and  bring  them 
up  in  the  nurture  of  the  Lord;  but  they  easily  promise, 
and  easily  break  it;  and  educate  their 'children  for  the 
world  and  the  flesh,  although  they  have  renounced  these, 
and  dedicated  them  to  God.  This  covenant-breaking 
with  God,  and  betraying  the  souls  of  their  children  to  the 
devil,  must  lie  heavy  on  them  here  or  hereafter.  Thev 
beget  children,  and'  keep  families,  merely  for  the  world 
and  the  flesh :  but  little  consider  what  a  charge  is  commit- 
ted to  them,  and  what  it  is  to  bring  up  a  child  for  God, 
and  govern  a  family  as  a  sanctified  society. 

O  how  sweetly  and  successfully  would  the  work  of  God 
go  on,  if  we  would  but  all  join' together  in  our  several 
places  to  promote  it !  Men  need  not  then  run  without  send- 
ing to  be  preachers ;  but  they  might  find  that  part  of  the 
work  that  belongeth  to  them  to  be  enough  for  them,  and 
to  be  the  best  that  they  can  be  employed  in.  Especially 
women  should  be  careful  of  this  duty ;  because  as  they  are 
most  about  their  children,  and  have  early  and  frequent 
opportunities  to  instruct  them,  so  this  is  the  principal  ser- 
vice they  can  do  to  God  in  this  world,  being  restrained 
from  more  public  work.  And  doubtless  many  an  excel- 
lent magistrate  hath  been  sent  into  the  Commonwealth, 
and  many  an  excellent  pastor  into  the  Church,  and  many 
a  precious  saint  to  heaven,  through  the  happy  preparations 
of  a  holy  education,  perhaps  by  a  woman  that  thought 
herself  useless  and  unserviceable  to  the  Church.  Would 
parents  but  begin  betimes,  and  labour  to  affect  the  hearts 
of  their  children  with  the  great  matters  of  everlasting  life, 
and  to  acquaint  them  with  the  substance  of  the  doctrine 
of  Christ,  and,  when  they  find  in  them  the  knowledge  and 
love  of  Christ,  would  bring  them  then  to  the  pastors  of  the 
Church  to  be  tried,  confirmed,  and  admitted  to  the  farther 


12  The  Epistle  to  the  Reader. 

privileges  of  the  Church,  what  happy,  well-ordered 
Churches  might  we  have  !  then  one  pastor  need  not  be  put 
to  do  the  work  of  two  or  three  hundred  or  thousand  go- 
vernors of  families,  even  to  teach  their  children  those  prin- 
ciples which  they  should  have  taught  them  long  before ; 
nor  should  we  be*  put  to  preach  to  so  many  miserable  ig- 
norant souls,  that  be  not  prepared  by  education  to  under- 
stand us ;  nor  should  we  have  need  to  shut  out  so  many 
from  holy  communion  upon  the  account  of  ignorance,  that 
yet  have  not  the  grace  to  feel  it  and  lament  it,  nor  the  wit 
and  patience  to  wait  in  a  learning  state,  till  they  are  ready 
to  be  fellow-citizens  with  the  saints,  and  of  the  household 
of  God.  But  now  they  come  to  us  with  aged  self-conceit- 
edness,  being  past  children,  and  yet  worse  than  children 
still ;  having  the  ignorance  of  children,  but  being  over- 
grown the  teachableness  of  children ;  and  think  themselves 
wise,  yea,  wise  enough  to  quarrel  with  the  wisest  of  their 
teachers,  because  they  have  lived  long  enough  to  have 
been  wise,  and  the  evidence  of  their  knowledge  is  their 
aged  ignorance ;  and  they  are  readier  to  flee  in  our  faces 
for  Church-privileges,  than  to  learn  of  us,  and  obey  our 
instructions,  till  they  are  prepared  for  them,  that  they  may 
do  them  good ;  like  snappish  curs,  that  will  snap  us  by 
the  fingers  for  their  meat,  and  snatch  it  out  of  our  hands ; 
and  not  like  children,  that  stay  till  we  give  it  them.  Pa- 
rents have  so  used  them  to  be  unruly,  that  ministers  have 
to  deal  but  with  too  few  but  the  unruly.  And  it  is  for 
want  of  this  laying  the  foundation  well  at  first,  that  pro- 
fessors themselves  are  so  ignorant  as  most  are,  and  that 
so  many,  especially  of  the  younger  sort,  do  swallow  down 
almost  any  error  that  is  offered  them,  and  follow  any  sect 
of  dividers  that  will  entice  them,  so  it  be  but  done  with 
earnestness  and  plausibility.  For,  alas !  though  by  the 
grace  of  God  their  hearts  may  be  changed  in  an  hour, 
(whenever  they  understand  but  the  essentials  of  the  faith,) 
yet  their  understandings  must  have  time  and  diligence  to 
furnish  them  with  such  knowledge  as  must  stablish  them, 
and  fortify  them  against  deceits.  Upon  these,  and  many 
the  like  considerations,  we  should  entreat  all  Christian  fa- 
milies to  take  more  pains  in  this  necessary  work,  and  to 
get  better  acquainted  with  the  substance  of  Christianity. 


The  Epistle  to  the  Reader.  13 

And,  to  that  end,  (taking  along  some  moving  treatises  to 
awake  the  heart,)  I  know  not  what  work  should  be  fitter 
for  their  use,  than  that  compiled  by  the  Assembly  at  West- 
minster; a  synod  of  as  godly,  judicious  divines,  (notwith- 
standing all  the  bitter  words  which  they  have  received  from 
discontented  and  self-conceited  men,)  I  verily  think,  as  ever 
England  saw.  Though  they  had  the  unhappiness  to  be 
employed  in  calamitous  times?  when  the  noise  of  wars  did 
stop  men's  ears,  and  the  licentiousness  of  wars  did  set  every 
wanton  tongue  and  pen  at  liberty  to  reproach  them,  and 
the  prosecution  and  event  of  those  wars  did  exasperate  par- 
tial discontented  men  to  dishonour  themselves  by  seeking 
to  dishonour  them :  I  dare  say,  if  in  the  days  of  old,  when 
councils  were  in  power  and  account,  they  had  had  but 
such  a  council  of  bishops,  as  this  of  presbyters  was,  the 
fame  of  it  for  learning  and  holiness,  and  all  ministerial 
abilities,  would,  with  very  great  honour,  have  been  trans- 
mitted to  posterity. 

1  do  therefore  desire,  that  all  masters  of  families  would 
first  study  well  this  work  themselves,  and  then  teach  it  their 
children  and  servants,  according  to  their  several  capacities. 
And,  if  they  once  understand  these  grounds  of  religion,  they 
will  be  able  to  read  other  books  more  understandingly,  and 
hear  sermons  more  profitably,  and  confer  more  judiciously, 
and  hold  fast  the  doctrine  of  Christ  more  firmly,  than  ever 
[they]  are  like  to  do  by  any  other  course.  First,  let  them 
read  and  learn  the  Shorter  Catechism,  and  next  the  Larger, 
and  lastly,  read  the  Confession  of  Faith." 

Thus  far  he,  whose  name  I  shall  conceal,  (though  the  ex- 
cellency of  the  matter,  and  present  style,  will  easily  disco- 
ver, him,)  because  I  have  published  it  without  his  privity 
and  consent,  though,  I  hope,  not  against  his  liking  and  ap- 
probation. 1  shall  add  no  more,  but  that  I  am, 
Thy  servant, 

in  the  Lord's  work, 

THOMAS  MANTON. 


[     14     ] 

An  Ordinance  of  the  Lords  and  Commons  assembled  in  Parlia- 
ment, for  the  calling  of  an  Assembly  of  learned  and  godly  Di- 
vines, and  others,  to  be  consulted  with  by  the  Parliament,  for 
the  settling  of  the  government  and  liturgy  of  the  Church  of 
England i  and  for  vindicating  and  clearing  of  the  doctrine  of 
the  said  Church  from  false  aspersions  and  interpretations. 
June  12,  1643. 

Whereas,  amongst  the  infinite  blessings  of  Almighty  God 
upon  this  nation,  none  is  nor  can  be  more  dear  unto  us  than 
the  purity  of  our  religion  ;  and  for  that,  as  yet,  many  things 
remain  in  the  liturgy,  discipline,  and  government  of  the 
Church,  which  do  necessarily  require  a  farther  and  more  per- 
fect reformation  than  as  yet  hath  been  attained,  and  where- 
as it  hath  been  declared  and  resolved  by  the  lords  and  com- 
mons assembled  in  Parliament,  that  the  present  Church  go- 
vernment by  archbishops,  their  chancellors,  commissars, 
deans,  deans  and  chapters,  archdeacons,  and  other  ecclesi- 
astical officers  depending  upon  the  hierarchy,  is  evil,  and 
justly  offensive  and  burdensome  to  the  kingdom,  a  great  im- 
pediment to  reformation  and  growth  of  religion,  and  very 
prejudicial  to  the  state  and  government  of  this  kingdom;  and 
therefore  they  are  resolved  that  the  same  shall  be  taken  away, 
and  that  such  a  government  shall  be  settled  in  the  Church  as 
may  be  most  agreeable  to  God's  holy  word,  and  most  apt  to 
procure  and  preserve  the  peace  of  the  Church  at  home,  and 
nearer  agreement  with  the  Church  of  Scotland,  and  other 
Reformed  Churches  abroad;  and,  for  the  better  effecting 
hereof,  and  for  the  vindicating  and  clearing  of  the  doctrine 
of  the  Church  of  England  from  all  false  calumnies  and  as- 
persions, it  is  thought  fit  and  necessary  to  call  an  Assem- 
bly of  learned,  godly,  and  judicious  divines,  who,  together 
with  some  members  of  both  the  Houses  of  Parliament,  are 
to  consult  and  advise  of  such  matters  and  things,  touching 
the  premises,  as  shall  be  proposed  unto  them  by  both  or 
either  of  the  Houses  of  Parliament,  and  to  give  their  advice 
and  counsel  therein  to  both  or  either  of  the  said  houses, 
when,  and  as  often  as  they  shall  be  thereunto  required :  Be 
it  therefore  ordained,  by  the  lords  and  commons  in  this 


C     15     ] 

present    Parliament   assembled,    That    all    and    every  the 
persons  hereafter  in  this  present  ordinance  named,  that  is 

to  sav, 

And  such  other  person  or  persons  as  shall  be  nominated 
and  appointed  by  both  Houses  of  Parliament,  or  so  many  of 
them  as  shall  not  be  letted  by  sickness,  or  other  necessary 
impediment,  shall  meet  and  assemble,  and  are  hereby  re- 
quired and  enjoined,  upon  summons  signed  by  the  clerk 
both  Houses  of  Parliament,  left  at  their  respective  dwell- 
ings, to  meet  and  assemble  themselves  at  Westminster,  in 
the  Chapel  called  King  Henry  the  VIPs  Chapel,  on  the  first 
day  of  July,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  six  hun- 
dred and  forty-three;  and  after  the  first  meeting,  being  at* 
least  the  number  of  forty,  shall  from  time  to  time  sit,  and 
be  removed  from  place  to  place:  and  also  that  the  said  As* 
semblv  shall  be  dissolved  in  such  manner  as  by  both  Houses 
of  Parliament  shall  be  directed:  and  the  said  persons,  or  so 
many  of  them  as  shall  be  so  assembled,  or  sit,  shall  have 
power  and  authority,  and  are  hereby  likewise  enjoined  from 
time  to  time,  during  this  present  Parliament,  or  until  farther 
order  be  taken  by  both  the  said  Houses,  to  confer  and  treat 
among  themselves  of  such  matters  and  things,  touching  and 
concerning  the  liturgy,  discipline,  and  government  of  the 
Church  of  England,  for  the  vindicating  and  clearing  of  the 
doctrine  of  the  same  from  all  false  aspersions  and  miscon- 
structions, as  shall  be  proposed  unto  them  by  both  or  either 
of  the  said  Houses  of  Parliament,  and  no  other;  and  deliver 
their  opinion,  advices  of,  or  touching  the  matters  aforesaid, 
as  shall  be  most  agreeable  to  the  word  of  God,  to  both  or 
either  of  the  Houses,  from  time  to  time,  in  such  manner  and 
sort  as  by  both  or  either  of  the  said  Houses  of  Parliament 
shall  be  required;  and  the  same  not  to  divulge,  by  printing, 
writing,  or  otherwise,  without  the  consent  of  both  or  either 
House  of  Parliament.     And  be  it  farther  ordained,  by  the 
authority  aforesaid,  That  William  Twisse,  doctor  in  divinity, 
shall  sit  in  the  chair,  as  prolocutor  of  the  said  Assembly; 
and  if  he  happen  Jo  die,  or  be  letted  by  sickness,  or  other 
necessary  impediment,  then  such  other  person  to  be  appoint- 
ed in  his  place  as  shall  be  agreed  on  by  the  said  Houses  of 
Parliament:    And  in  case   any  difference  in  opinion  shall 
happen  amongst  the  said  persons  so  assembled,  touching 


[     16    ] 

any  of  the  matters  that  shall  be  proposed  to  them  as  afore- 
said, that  then  they  shall  represent  the  same,  together  with 
the  reasons  thereof,  to  both  or  either  the  said  Houses  re- 
spectively, to  the  end  such  farther  direction  may  be  given 
therein  as  shall  be  requisite  to  that  behalf.  And  be  it  far- 
ther ordained,  by  the  authority  aforesaid,  That,  for  the 
charges  and  expenses  of  the  said  Divines,  and  every  one  of 
them,  in  attending  the  said  service,  there  shall  be  allowed 
every  one  of  them  that  shall  so  attend,  during  the  time  of 
their  said  attendance,  and  for  ten  days  before  and  ten  days 
after,  the  sum  of  four  shillings  for  every  day,  at  the  charges 
of  the  Commonwealth,  at  such  time,  and  in  such  manner, 
as  by  both  Houses  of  Parliament  shall  be  appointed.  And 
be  it  farther  ordained,  That  all  and  every  the  said  Divines, 
so,  as  aforesaid,  required  and  enjoined  to  meet  and  assemble, 
shall  be  freed  and  acquitted  of  and  from  every  offence,  for- 
feiture, penalty,  loss,  or  damage,  which  shall  or  may  ensue 
or  .grow  by  reason  of  any  non-residence  or  absence  of  them, 
or  any  of  them,  from  his  or  their,  or  any  of  their  church, 
churches,  or  cures,  for  or  in  respect  of  their  said  attendance 
upon  the  said  services ;  any  law  or  statute  of  non-residence, 
or  other  law  or  statute  enjoining  their  attendance  upon  their 
respective  ministries  or  charges,  to  the  contrary  thereof  not- 
withstanding. And  if  any  of  the  persons  above  named  shall 
happen  to  die  before  the  said  Assembly  shall  be  dissolved  by 
order  of  both  Houses  of  Parliament,  then  such  other  person 
or  persons  shall  be  nominated  and  placed  in  the  room  and 
stead  of  such  person  or  persons  so  dying,  as  by  both  the  said 
Houses  shall  be  thought  fit  and  agreed  upon;  and  every 
such  person  or  persons,  so  to  be  named,  shall  have  the  like 
power  and  authority,  freedom  and  acquittal,  to  all  intents 
and  purposes,  and  also  all  such  wages  and  allowances  for 
the  said  service,  during  the  time  of  his  or  their  attendance, 
as  to  any  other  of  the  said  persons  in  this  ordinance  is  by 
this  ordinance  limited  and  appointed.  Provided  always, 
That  this  ordinance,  or  any  thing  therein  contained,  shall 
not  give  unto  the  persons  aforesaid,  or  any  of  them,  nor 
shall  they  in  this  Assembly  assume  to  exercise  any  jurisdic- 
tion, power,  or  authority  ecclesiastical  whatsoever,  or  any 
other  power  than  is  herein  particularly  expressed. 


[  »  ] 


Assembly  at  Edinburgh,  August  19,  1643.  Sess.  14. 

Commission  of  the  General  Assembly  to  some  Ministers  an  d 
Ruling  Elders  for  repairing  to  the  Kingdom  of  England. 

The  General  Assembly  of  the  Church  of  Scotland,  finding 
it  necessary  to  send  some  godly  and  learned  of  this  Kir'. 
the  kingdom  of  England,  to  the  effect  underwritten;  there- 
fore gives  full  power  and  commission  to  Mr.  Alexander  Hen  - 
derson,  Mr.  Robert  Douglas,  Mr.  Samuel  Rutherford,  Mi 
Robert  Baillie,  and  Mr.  George  Gillespie,  Ministers,  John 
Earl  of  Cassilis,  John  Lord  Maitland,  and  Sir  Archibald 
Johnstoun  of  Waristoun,  Elders,  or  any  three  of  them, 
whereof  two  shall  be  Ministers,  to  repair  to  the  kingdom  of 
England,  and  there  to  deliver  the  declaration  sent  unto  the 
Parliament  of  England,  and  the  letter  sent  unto  the  As- 
sembly of  Divines  now  sitting  in  that  kingdom;  and  to  pro- 
pone, consult,  treat,  and  conclude  with  that  Assembly,  or 
any  commissioners  deputed  by  them,  or  any  Committees  or 
Commissioners  deputed  by  the  Houses  of  Parliament,  in  all 
matters  which  may  farther  the  union  of  this  Island  in  one 
Form  of  Kirk-government,  one  Confession  of  Faith,  one 
Catechism,  one  Directory  for  the  worship  of  God,  accord- 
ing to  the  instructions  which  they  have  received  from  the 
Assembly,  or  shall  receive  from  time  to  time  hereafter  from 
the  commissioners  of  the  Assembly  deputed  for  that  effect : 
with  power  also  to  them  to  convey  to  his  Majesty  the 
humble  answer  sent  from  this  Assembly  to  his  Majesty's 
letter,  by  such  occasion  as  they  shall  think  convenient;  and 
such  like,  to  deliver  the  Assembly's  answer  to  the  letter  sent 
from  some  well-affected  brethren  of  the  ministry  there ; 
and  generally  authorizes  them  to  do  all  things  which  may 
farther  the  so  much  desired  union,  and  nearest  conjunction 
of  the  two  Churches  of  Scotland  and  England,  conform  to 
'heir  instructions  aforesaid. 

Many  of  the  persons  who  were  called  by  the  foresaid  Ordinance 
of  the  Lords  and  Commons  (in  that  broken  state  of  the  Church) 
to  attend  the  Assembly,  appeared  not ;  whereupon  the  whole 
work  lay  on  the  hands  of  the  persons  hereafter  mentioned. 


C     18     ] 

The  Promise  and  Vow  taken  by  every  Member  admitted  to  sit 
in  the  Assembly. 

I  A.  B.  do  seriously  promise  and  vow,  in  the  presence  of 
Almighty  God,  That  in  this  Assembly,  whereof  1  am  a 
member,  I  will  maintain  nothing  in  point  of  doctrine,  but 
what  I  believe  to  be  most  agreeable  to  the  word  of  God  ; 
nor  in  point  of  discipline,  but  what  may  make  most  for 
God's  glory,  and  the  peace  and  good  of  this  Church. 


A  List  of  the  Divines  ivho  met  in  the  Assembly  at  Westminster 


Dk  .  Williax  Twisse  of  Newbury, 
Prolocutor, 

Dr.  Cornelius  Burges  of  Water- 
ford, 

John  White  of  Dorchester,  Asses- 
sors, 

Dr.  William  Gouge  of  Blackfriars, 
London, 

Robert  Harris  of  Hanwell,  B.  D. 

Thomas  Gattaker  of  Rotherhithe, 

Oliver  Bowles  of  Sutton,  B.  D. 

Edward  Reynolds  of  Bramston, 

Jeremiah  Whitaker  of  Streton, 

Dr,  Anthony  Tuckney  of  Boston, 

John  Arrowsmith  of  Lynne, 

Simeon  Ashe  of  St.  Brides, 

Philip  Nye  of  Kimbolton, 

Jeremiah  Burroughs  of  Stepney, 

John  Lightfoot  of  Ashley, 

Stanley  Gower  of  Brampton 
Bryan, 

Richard  Heyiick  of  Manchester, 

Thomas  Case  of  London, 

Dr.  Thomas  Temple  of  Battery, 

George  Gipps  of  Ayleston, 

Thomas  Carter, 

Dr.  Humphrey  Chambers  of  Claver- 
stoun, 

Thomas  Micklethwait  of  Cherry- 
burton, 

John  Guibon  of  Waltham, 

Christopher  Tesdale  of  Uphus- 
borne, 

Henry  Philips, 

Gco'-ge  Walker,  B.  D- 


Edmond  Calamy,  B.  D.  of  Alder- 

manbury, 
Dr.  Lazarus  Seaman  of  London, 
Joseph  Caryl  of  Lincoln's  Inn, 
Dr.    Henry   Wilkinson,    senior,    of 

Waderston, 
Richard  Vines  of  Calcot, 
Nicholas  Proffet  of  Marlborough, 
Stephen  Marshall,  B.  D.  of  Finch- 

ingfield, 
Dr.  Joshua  Hoyle  late  of  Dublin, 
Thomas  Wilson  of  Otham, 
Thomas  Hodges  of  Kensington, 
Thomas      Baillie     of     Mildenhall, 

B.  D. 
Francis  Taylor  of  Yalding, 
Thomas  Young  of  Stownmarket, 
Thomas  Valentine,  B.  D.  of  Chal- 

font,  St.  Giles, 
William  Greenhill  of  Stepney, 
Edward  Pele  of  Compton, 
John  Green  of  Pencomb, 
Andrew  Pern  of  Wilby, 
Samuel  de  la  Place, 
John  de  la  March, 
John  Dury, 

Philip  Deline,  [or  Deline,] 
Sidrach  Simpson  of  London, 
John  Langly  of  Westuderly, 
Richard  Clayton  of  Showers, 
Arthur      Sallaway      of     Seaverne- 

stock, 
John  Ley  of  Budworth, 
Charles  Herle  of  Winwick,  prolocu- 
tor after  Dr.  Twisse, 


[    19    ] 


Herbert  Palmer,  B.  D.  of  Ashwel, 

assessor  after  Mr.  White, 
Daniel  Cawdrey  of  Great  Billing, 
Heniy  Painter,  B.  D.  of  Exeter, 
Henry  Scudderof  Colingborn, 
Thomas  Hill,  B.  D.  of  Tichmarsh, 
William  Reynor,  B.  D.  ofEgham, 
Dr.  Thomas  Goodwin  of  London, 
Dr.   William    Spurstow   of  Hamp- 
den, 
Matthew  Newcomen  of  Denham, 
Dr.  Edmond  Staunton  of  Kingston, 
John  Conant  of  Lymmington,  B.  D. 
Anthony    Burges  of   Sutton  Cold- 
field, 
William  Rathband, 
Dr.  Francis  Cheynel  of  Oxon, 
Dr.  Henry  Wilkinson  younger    of 

Oxford, 
Obadiah  Sedgwick,  B.  D.  of  Cog- 

shal, 
Edward  Corbist  of  Marton  College, 

Oxford, 
Samuel  Gibson  of  Burley, 
Thomas  Coleman  of  Bliton, 
Theodore  Backhurst, 
William  Carter  of  London, 
Peter  Smith, 


John  Maynard  of  Mayfield, 
William  Price  of  Paul's  Church  in 

Covent  Garden, 
John  Whincop  of  St.  Martins  in  the 

Fields, 
William  Bridge  of  Yarmouth, 
Peter  Steny  of  London, 
William  Mew,  B.  D.  of  Eslington, 
Benjamin  Pickering  of  East  Hoat- 

iy. 

John  Strickland  of  St.  Edmonds  in 

Sarum, 
Humphrey  Hardwick, 
Jasper  Hicks  of  Lawrick  or  Lan- 

rake, 
John  Bond, 

Henry  Hall,  B.  D.  of  Norwich, 
Thomas  Ford  of  London,  afterwards 

of  Exeter, 
Thomas  Thorowgood  of   Massing- 

ham, 
Peter  Clark  of  Kerby  Underbill, 
William  Good, 
John  Foxcroft  of  Cotham, 
John  Ward, 

Richard  Byfield  of  Long-Ditton, 
Francis  Woodcock, 
John  Jackson  of  Marske. 


Commissioners  from  the  General  Assembly  of  (he  Church  of 

Scotland. 

Alexander    Hexderson    of   Edin-      John  Earl  of  Cassilis, 


burgh, 

Robert  Douglas  of  Edinburgh, 
Samuel     Rutherford     of    St.     An- 
drews, 
Robert  Baillie  of  Glasgow, 
George  Gillespie  of  Edinburgh, 

Ministers, 


John     Lord     Maitland,     afterwards 

Duke  of  Lauderdale, 
Sir  Archibald  Johnstoun  of  Waris- 

toun,  Ruling  Elders. 
Henry  Rob  rough, 
Adoniram  Byfield, 
John  Wall  is,  Scribes. 


C     20     ] 

Assembly  at  Edinburgh,  August  27,  1647.     Sess.  23. 

Act  approving  the  Confession  of  Faith. 

A  confession  of  Faith  for  the  Kirks  of  God  in  the  three 
kingdoms,  being  the  chiefest  part  of  that  uniformity  in  re- 
ligion, which,  by  the  Solemn  League  and  Covenant,  we  are 
bound  to  endeavour :  And  there  being  accordingly  a  Con- 
fession of  Faith  agreed  upon  by  the  Assembly  of  Divines 
sitting  at  Westminster,  with  the  assistance  of  Commission- 
ers from  the  Kirk  of  Scotland;  which  Confession  was  sent 
from  our  Commissioners  at  London  to  the  Commissioners 
of  the  Kirk  met  at  Edinburgh  in  January  last,  and  hath 
been  in  this  Assembly  twice  publicly  read  over,  examined, 
and  considered;  copies  thereof  being  also  printed,  that  it 
might  be  particularly  perused  by  all  the  members  of  this  As- 
sembly, unto  whom  frequent  intimation  was  publicly  made, 
to  put  in  their  doubts  and  objections,  if  they  had  any :  And 
the  said  Confession  being,  upon  due  examination  thereof, 
found  by  the  Assembly  to  be  most  agreeable  to  the  word  of 
God,  and  in  nothing  contrary  to  the  received  doctrine,  wor- 
ship, discipline,  and  government  of  this  Kirk.  And,  lastly,  It 
being  so  necessary,  and  so  much  longed  for,  that  the  said 
Confession  be,  with  all  possible  diligence  and  expedition, 
approved  and  established  in  both  kingdoms,  as  a  principal 
part  of  the  intended  uniformity  in  religion,  and  as  a  special 
means  for  the  more  effectual  suppressing  of  the  many  dan- 
gerous errors  and  heresies  of  these  times;  the  General  As- 
sembly doth  therefore,  after  mature  deliberation,  agree 
unto,  and  approve  the  said  Confession,  as  to  the  truth  of  the 
matter;  (judging  it  to  be  most  orthodox,  and  grounded  upon 
the  word  of  God;)  and  also,  as  to  the  point  of  uniformity, 
agreeing  for  our  part,  that  it  be  a  common  Confession  of 
Faith  for  the  three  kingdoms.  The  Assembly  doth  also 
bless  the  Lord,  and  thankfully  acknowledge  his  great  mer- 
cy, in  that  so  excellent  a  Confession  of  Faith  is  prepared, 
and  thus  far  agreed  upon  in  both  kingdoms;  which  we  look 
upon  as  a  great  strengthening  of  the  true  reformed  religion 
against  the  common  enemies  thereof.  But,  lest  our  inten- 
tion and  meaning  be  in  some  particulars  misunderstood, 


C     21     ] 

it  is  hereby  expressly  declared  and  provided,  That  the  not 
mentioning  in  this  Confession  the  several  sorts  of  ecclesias- 
tical officers  and  assemblies,  shall  be  no  prejudice  to  the 
truth  of  Christ  in  these  particulars,  to  be  expressed  fully  in 
the  Directory  of  Government.  It  is  farther  declared,  That 
the  Assembly  understandeth  some  parts  of  the  second  arti- 
cle of  the  thirty-first  chapter  only  of  kirks  not  settled,  or 
constituted  in  point  of  government :  And  that  although,  in 
such  kirks,  a  synod  of  Ministers,  and  other  fit  persons,  may 
be  called  by  the  Magistrate's  authority  and  nomination, 
without  any  other  call,  to  consult  and  advise  with  about 
matters  of  religion;  and  although,  likewise,  the  Ministers 
of  Christ,  without  delegation  from  their  churches,  may,  of 
themselves,  and  by  virtue  of  their  office,  meet  together  sy- 
nodically  in  such  kirks  not  yet  constituted,  yet  neither  of 
these  ought  to  be  done  in  kirks  constituted  and  settled;  it 
being  always  free  to  the  Magistrate  to  advise  with  synods 
of  ministers  and  ruling  elders,  meeting  upon  delegation  from 
their  churches,  either  ordinarily,  or,  being  indicted  by  his 
authority,  occasionally,  and  pro  re  nata:  it  being  also  free 
to  assemble  together  synodically,  as  well  pro  re  nata  as  at 
the  ordinary  times,  upon  delegation  from  the  churches,  by 
the  intrinsical  power  received  from  Christ,  as  often  as  it  is 
necessary  for  the  good  of  the  Church  so  to  assemble,  in 
case  the  Magistrate,  to  the  detriment  of  the  Church,  with- 
hold or  deny  his  consent ;  the  necessity  of  occasional  assem- 
blies being  first  [to]  remonstrate  unto  him  by  humble  suppli- 
cation. 

A.  KER. 


[     22     ] 

Charles  I.     Pari.  2.     Sess.  2.     Act.  16. 

dot  anent  the  Catechisms,  Confession  of  Faith,  and  Ratification 

thereof. 

At  Edinburgh,  February  7,  1649. 

The  Estates  of  Parliament,  now  presently  convened  in 
this  second  Session  of  the  second  triennial  Parliament,  by 
virtue  of  an  Act  of  the  Committee  of  Estates,  who  had 
power  and  authority  from  the  last  Parliament  for  convening 
the  Parliament,  having  seriously  considered  the  Catechisms, 
viz,  the  Larger  and  Shorter  ones,  with  the  Confession  of 
Faith,  with  three  Acts  of  Approbation  thereof  by  the  Com- 
missioners of  the  General  Assembly,  presented  unto  them 
by  the  Commissioners  of  the  said  General  Assembly;  do 
ratify  and  approve  the  said  Catechisms,  Confession  of  Faith, 
and  Acts  of  Approbation  of  the  same,  produced  as  it  is; 
and  ordains  them  to  be  recorded,  published,  and  practised. 


THE 


CONFESSION    OF    FAITH, 


AGREED   UPON  BY  THE 


ASSEMBLY  OF  DIVINES  AT  WESTMINSTER, 


WITH  THE  ASSISTANCE  OF 


COMMISSIONERS  FROM  THE  CHURCH  OF  SCOTLAND- 


AS  A  PART  OF 

The  Covenanted  Uniformity  in  Religion  betwixt  the  Churches  of  Christ 
in  the  Kingdoms  of  Scotland,  England,  and  Ireland. 

Approved  by  the  General  Assembly  1647,  and  ratified  and  established  by 
Acts  of  Parliament  1649  and  1690,  as  the  public  and  avowed 


CONFESSION  OF  THE  CHURCH  OF  SCOTLAND, 

WITH  THE 

PROOFS  FROM  THE  SCRIPTURE. 


THE    CONTENTS 


CHA.F- 

I.  Of  the  Holy  Scripture. 

II.  Of  God,  and  of  the  Holy  Tri- 
nitv. 

III.  Of  God's  Eternal  Decree. 

IV.  Of  Creation. 

V.  Of  Providence. 

-  VI.  Of  the  Fall  of  Man,  of  Sin,  and 
of  the  Punishment  thereof. 

VII.     Of     God's     Covenant     with 
Man. 
'  VIII.  Of  Christ  the  Mediator. 
-IX.   Of  FreeWill. 

X.  Of  Effectual  Calling. 
"Xf.  Of  Justification. 

XII.  Of  Adoption. 
*  XIII.  Of  Sanctification. 
•XIV.  Of  Saving-  Faith. 

XV.  Of  Repentance  unto  Life. 

XVI.  Of  Good  Works. 

XVII.  Of  the  Perseverance  of  the 
Saints. 


'  XVIII.  Of  Assurance  of  Grace  and 
Salvation. 

XIX.  Of  the  Law  of  God. 

XX.  Of  Christian  Liberty,  and  Li- 
berty of  Conscience. 

XXI.  Of  Religious  Worship,  and 
the  Sabbath-dav. 

XXII.  Of  lawful  Oaths  and  \ 
XXUI.  Of  the  Civil  Magistrate.  ^ 

XXIV.  Of  Marriage  and  Divorce,  j 

XXV.  Of  the  Church. 

XXVI.  Of  Communion  of  Saints. 

XXVII.  Of  the  Sacraments. 
XX  VIII.  Of  Baptism. 

XXIX.  Of  the  Lord's  Supper. 

XXX.  Of  Church  Censures. 

XXXI.  Of  Synods  and  Councils. 

XXXII.  Of  the  State  of  Men  after 
Death,  and  of  the  Resurrection  of 
the  Dead. 

XXXIII.  Of  the  last  Judgm 


THE 


CONFESSION    OF   FAITH. 

Agreed  upon  by  the  Assembly  of  Divines  at  Westminster:  Ex- 
amined and  approved,  Anno  1647,  by  the  General  Assem- 
bly of  the  Church  of  Scotland:  and  ratified  by  Jicis  of  Par- 
liament 1649  and  1690. 


CHAPTER  I.     Of  the  Holy  Scripture. 

Although  the  light  of  nature,  and  the  works  of  crea- 
tion and  providence,  do  so  far  manifest  the  goodness, 
wisdom,  and  power  of  God,  as  to  leave  men  inexcusable  r 


I.  a  Rom.  it.  14.  For  when  the 
.Gentiles,  which  have  not  the  law, 
do  by  nature  the  things  contained 


in  the  law,  these  having  not  the 
law,  are  a  law  unto  themselves: 
Ver.  15.    Which  show  the  work  of 


26 


77? e  Confession  of  Faith. 


Chap.  I. 


yet  they  are  not  sufficient  to  give  that  knowledge  of  God, 
and  of  his  will,  which  is  necessary  unto  salvation  :b  there- 
fore it  pleased  the  Lord,  at  sundry  times,  and  in  divers 
manners,  to  reveal  himself,  and  to  declare  that  his  will  unto 
his  church  ;c  and  afterwards,  for  the  better  preserving  and 
propagating  of  the  truth,  and  for  the  more  sure  establish- 
ment and  comfort  of  the  Church  against  the  corruption 
of  the  flesh,  and  the  malice  of  Satan  and  of  the  world,  to 
commit  the  same  wholly  unto  writing ;d  which  maketh  the 


the  law  written  in  their  hearts, 
their  conscience  also  bearing  wit- 
ness, and  their  thoughts  the  mean 
while  accusing  or  else  excusing  one 
another.  Rom.  i.  19.  Because  that 
which  may  be  known  of  God  is 
manifest  in  them;  for  God  hath 
showed  it  unto  them.  Ver.  20.  For 
the  invisible  things  of  him  from 
the  creation  of  the  world  are  clear- 
ly seen,  being  understood  by  the 
things  that  are  made,  even  his 
eternal  power  and  Godhead ;  so 
that  they  are  without  excuse. 
Psal.  xix.  1.  The  heavens  declare 
the  glory  of  God  ;  and  the  firma- 
ment showeth  his  handy-work. 
Ver.  2.  Day  unto  day  uttereth 
speech,  and  night  unto  night 
showeth  knowledge.  Ver.  3.  There 
is  no  speech  nor  language  where 
their  voice  is  not  heard.  Rom.  i. 
32.  Who  knowing  the  judgment 
of  God,  (that  they  which  commit 
such  things  are  worthy  of  death,) 
not  only  do  the  same,  but  have 
pleasure  in  them  that  do  them. 
With  Rom.  ii.  1.  Therefore  thou 
art  inexcusable,  O  man,  whoso- 
ever thou  art  that  judgest;  for 
wherein  thou  judgest  another, 
thou  condemnest  thyself;  for 
thou  that  judgest  doest  the  same 
things. 

b  1  Cor.  i.  "21.  For  after  that, 
in  the  wisdom  of  God,  the  world 
by  wisdom  knew  not  God,  it 
pleased  God  by  the  foolishness  of 


preaching  to  save  them  that  be- 
lieve. 1  Cor.  ii.  13.  Which  things 
also  we  speak,  not  in  the  words 
which  man's  wisdom  teacheth, 
but  which  the  Holy  Ghost  teach- 
eth ;  comparing  spiritual  things 
with  spiritual.  Ver.  14.  But  the  na- 
tural man  recciveth  not  the  things 
of  the  Spirit  of  God ;  for  they  are 
foolishness  unto  him  :  neither  can 
lie  know  them,  because  they  are 
spiritually  discerned. 

c  Heb.  i.  1.  God,  who  at  sundry 
times,  and  in  divers  manners, 
spake  in  time  past  unto  the  fathers 
by  the  prophets. 

d  Prov.  xxii.  19.  That  thy  trust 
may  be  in  the  Lord,  I  have  made 
known  to  thee  this  day,  even  to 
thee.  Ver.  20.  Have  not  I  writ- 
ten to  thee  excellent  things  in 
counsels  and  knowledge;  Ver.  21. 
That  I  might  make  thee  know  the 
certainty  of  the  words  of  truth; 
that  thou  mightest  answer  the 
words  of  truth  to  them  that  send 
unto  thee?  Luke  i.  3.  It  seemed 
good  to  me  also,  having  had  per- 
fect understanding  of  all  things 
from  the  very  first,  to  write  unto 
thee  in  order,  most  excellent 
Theophilus;  Ver.  4.  That  thou 
mightest  know  the  certainty  of 
those  things  wherein  thou  hast 
been  instructed.  Rorn.  xv.  4.  For 
whatsoever  things  were  written 
aforetime,  were  written  for  our 
learning;    that  we    through  pa- 


Chap.  I. 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


z: 


holy  scripture  to  be  most  necessary  :e  those  former  ways  of 
God's  revealing  his  will  unto  his  people  being  now  ceased.1 

II.  Under  the  name  of  Holy  Scripture,  or  the  word  of 
God  written,  are  now  contained  all  the  Books  of  the  Old 
and  New  Testament,  which  are  these : 


Of  the  Old  Testament. 


Genesis. 

II.  Chronicles. 

Daniel. 

Exodus. 

Ezra. 

Hosea. 

Leviticus. 

Nehemiah. 

Joel. 

Numbers. 

Esther. 

Amos. 

Deuteronomy. 

Job. 

Obadiah. 

Joshua. 

Psalms. 

Jonah. 

Judges. 

Proverbs. 

Micah. 

Ruth. 

Ecclesiastes. 

Nahum. 

I.  Samuel. 

The  Song  of  Songs. 

Habakkuk 

II.  Samuel. 

Isaiah. 

Zephaniah 

I.  Kings. 

Jeremiah. 

Haggai. 

II.  Kings. 

Lamentations. 

Zechariah. 

I.  Chronicles. 

Ezekiel. 

Malachi. 

tience  and  comfort  of  the  scrip- 
tures might  have  hope.  Matth. 
iv.  4.  Sut  he  answered  and  said, 
It  is  written,  Man  shall  not  live  by 
bread  alone,  but  by  every  word 
that  proceedeth  out  of  the  mouth 
of  God.  Ver.  ?.  Jesus  said  unto 
him,  It  is  written  again,  Thou 
shalt  not  tempt  the"  Lord  thy 
God.  Ver.  10.  Then  saith  Jesus 
unto  him,  Get  thee  hence,  Satan : 
for  it  is  written,  Thou  shalt  wor- 
ship the  Lord  thy  God,  and  him 
only  shalt  thou  serve.  Isa.  viii.  19. 
And  when  they  shall  say  unto  you, 
Seek  unto  them  that  have  fami- 
liar spirits,  and  unto  wizards  that 
peep  and  that  mutter;  should  not 
a  people  seek  unto  their  God?  for 
the  living  to  the  dead  ?  Ver.  20.  To 
the  law,  and  to  the  testimony;  if 
they  speak  not  according  to  this 


word,   it  is   because   there  is  no 
light  in  them. 

e  2  Tim.  iii.  15.  And  that  from 
a  child  thou  hast  known  the 
holy  scriptures,  which  are  able  to 
make  thee  wise  unto  salvation, 
through  faith  which  is  in  Christ 
Jesus.  2  Pet.  i..  19.  We  have  also 
a  more  sure  word  of  prophecy, 
whcreunto  ye  do  well  that  ye 
take  heed,  as  unto  a  light  that 
shineth  in  a  dark  place,  until  the 
day  dawn,  and  the  day-star  arise 
in  your  hearts. 

f  Heb.  i.  1.  God,  who  at  sundry- 
times,  and  in  divers  manners,  spake 
in  time  past  unto  the  fathers  by 
the  prophets;  Ver.  2.  Hath  in 
these  last  days  spoken  unto  us  by 
his  Son,  whom  he  hath  appointed 
heir  of  all  things,  by  whom  also 
he  made  the  worlds, 


28 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


Chap.  I. 


Of  the  New  Testament. 


The    Gospels 
cording  to 

Matthew. 

Mark. 

Luke. 

John. 

The   Acts    of 
Apostles. 

Paul's   Epistles 
the  Romans. 

Corinthians  I. 


ac- 


the 
to 


Corinthians  II. 
Galatians. 
Ephesians, 
Philippians. 
Colossians. 
Thessalonians  I. 
Thessalonians  II. 
To  Timothy  I. 
To  Timothy  II. 
To  Titus. 
To  Philemon. 


The  Epistle  to  the 

Hebrews. 
The      Epistle      of 

James. 
The  first  and  second 

Epistles  of  Peter. 
The    first,  second, 

and  third  Epistles 

of  John. 
The  Epistle  of  Jude. 
The  Revelation. 


Ail  which  are  given  by  inspiration  of  God,  to  be  the  rule  of 
faith  and  life.5 

III.  The  Books  commonly  called  Apocrypha,  not  being 
of  divine  inspiration,  are  no  part  of  the  canon  of  the  scrip- 
ture ;  and  therefore  are  of  no  authority  in  the  Church  of 
God,  nor  to  be  any  otherwise  approved,  or  made  use  of 
than  other  human  writings.11 


II.  =  Luke  xvi.  29.  Abraham  saith 
unto  him,  They  have  Moses  and 
the  prophets,  let  them  hear  them. 
Ver.  31.  And  he  said  unto  him,  If 
they  hear  not  Moses  and  the  pro- 
phets, neither  will  they  be  per- 
suaded, though  one  rose  from  the 
dead.  *  Eph.  ii.  23.  And  are  built 
upon  the  foundation  of  the  apostles 
and  prophets,  Jesus  Christ  himself 
being  the  chief  corner-stone.  Rev. 
xxii,  18,  For  I  testify  unto  every 
man  that  heareth  the  words  of  the 
prophecy  of  this  book,  If  any  man 
shall  add  unto  these  things,  God 
shall  add  unto  him  the  plagues  that 
are  written  in  this  book.  Ver.  19. 
And  if  any  man  shall  take  away 
from  the  words  of  the  book  of  this 
prophecy,  God  shall  take  away  his 
part  out  of  the  book  of  life,  and 
out  of  the  holy  city,  and  from  the 
things  which  are  written  in  this 


book.  2  Tim.  iii.  16.  All  scrip- 
ture is  given  by  inspiration  of 
God,  and  is  profitable  for  doc- 
trine, for  reproof,  for  correction, 
for  instruction  in  righteousness. 

III.  hLuke  xxiv.  27.  And  be- 
ginning at  Moses  and  all  the  pro- 
phets, he  expounded  unto  them 
in  all  the  scriptures  the  things 
concerning  himself.  Ver.  44.  And 
he  said  unto  them,  These  are  the 
words  which  I  spake  unto  you, 
while  I  was  yet  with  you,  that 
all  things  must  be  fulfilled  which 
were  written  in  the  law  of  Moses, 
and  in  the  Prophets,  and  in  the 
Psalms,  concerning  me.  Rom.  iii. 
2.  Much  every  way :  chiefly,  be- 
cause that  unto  them  were  com- 
mitted the  oracles  of  God.  2  Pet. 
i.  21.  For  the  prophecy  came  not 
in  old  time  by  the  will  of  man, 
but    holy   men  of  God  spake  as 


Chap.  I. 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


29 


IV.  The  authority  of  the  holy  scripture,  for  which  it 
ought  to  be  believed  and  obeyed,  dependeth  not  upon  the 
testimony  of  any  man  or  church,  but  wholly  upon  God, 
(who  is  truth  itself,)  the  author  thereof;  and  therefore  it  is 
to  be  received,  because  it  is  the  word  of  God.1 

V.  We  may  be  moved  and  induced  by  the  testimony  of 
the  Church  to  a  high  and  reverend  esteem  of  the  holy  scrip- 
ture/ and  the  heavenliness  of  the  matter,  the  efficacy  of  the 
doctrine,  the  majesty  of  the  style,  the  consent  of  all  the 
parts,  the  scope  of  the  whole,  (which  is  to  give  all  glory  to 
God,)  the  full  discovery  it  makes  of  the  only  way  of  man's 
salvation,  the  many  other  incomparable  excellencies,  and 
the  entire  perfection  thereof,  are  arguments  whereby  it  doth 
abundantly  evidence  itself  to  be  the  word  of  God;  yet,  not- 
withstanding, our  full  persuasion  and  assurance  of  the  infal- 
lible truth,  and  divine  authority  thereof,  is  from  the  inward 
work  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  bearing  witness  by  and  with  the 
word  in  our  hearts.1 


they   were   moved   by  the    Holy 
Ghost 

IV.  s  2  Pet.  i.  19.  We  have  also 
a  more  sure  word  of  prophecy, 
whereunto  ye  do  well  that  yc  take 
heed,  as  unto  a  light  that  shineth 
in  a  dark  place,  until  the  day 
dawn,  and  the  day-star  arise  in 
your  hearts.  Ver.  21.  For  the  pro- 
phecy came  not  in  old  time  by 
the  will  of  man;  but  holy  men  of 
God  spake  as  they  were  moved  by 
the  Holy  Ghost.  2  Tim.  iii.  16. 
All  scripture  is  given  by  inspira- 
tion of  God,  and  is  profitable  for 
doctrine,  for  reproof,  for  correc- 
tion, for  instruction  in  righteous- 
Bess,  1  John  v.  9.  If  we  receive 
the  witness  of  men,  the  witness  of 
God  is  greater :  for  this  is  the 
witness  of  God,  which  he  hath 
testified  of  his  Son.  1  Thess.  ii. 
13.  For  this  cause  also  thank  we 
God  without  ceasing,  because 
when  ye  received  the  word  of 
God,  which  ye  heard  of  us,  ye  re- 
ceived it  not  as  the  word  of  men, 


but,  as  it  is  in  truth,  the  word  of 
God,  which  effectually  worketh 
also  in  you  that  believe. 

V.  k"l  Tim.  iii.  15.  But  if 
I  tarry  long,  that  thou  mayest 
know  how  thou  oughtest  to  be- 
have thyself  "in  the  house  of  God, 
which  is  the  church  of  the  living 
God,  the  pillar  and  ground  of  the 
truth. 

1  1  John  ii.  20.  But  ye  have  an 
unction  from  the  Holy  One,  and  ye 
k  n  o  w  a  1 1  thin gs.  Ve r.  27.  Bu t  the 
anointing  which  ye  have  received 
of  him  abideth  in  you,  and  ye 
need  not  that  any  man  teach  you: 
but  as  the  same  anointing  teach- 
eth  you  of  all  things,  and  is  truth, 
and  is  no  lie;  and  even  as  it  hath 
taught  you,  ye  shall  abide  in  him. 
John  xvi.  13.  Howbeit,  when  he, 
the  Spirit  of  truth,  is  come,  he 
will  guide  you  into  all  truth:  for 
he  shall  not  speak  of  himself;  but 
whatsoever  he  shall  hear,  that  shall 
he  speak;  and  he  will  show  you 
things  to  come.  Ver.  14.   He  shall 


The  Confession  of  Faith, 


Chap.  I. 


VI.  The  whole  counsel  of  God,  concerning  all  things 
necessary  for  his  own  glory,  man's  salvation,  faith,  and  life, 
is  either  expressly  set  down  in  scripture,  or  by  good  and 
necessary  consequence  maybe  deduced  from  scripture:  unto 
which  nothing  at  any  time  is  to  be  added,  whether  by  new 
revelations  of  the  Spirit*  or  traditions  of  men.m  Neverthe- 
less, we  acknowledge  the  inward  illumination  of  the  Spirit 
of  God  to  be  necessary  for  the  saving  understanding  of  such 
things  as  are  revealed  in  the  word;11  and  that  there  are  some 
circumstances  concerning  the  worship  of  God,  and  govern- 
ment of  the  Church,  common  to  human  actions  and  socie- 


glorify  me  :  for  he  shall  receive  of 
mine,  and  shall  show  it  unto  you. 
1  Cor.  ii.  10.  But  God  hath  reveal- 
ed them  unto  us  by  his  Spirit;  for 
the  Spirit  searcheth  all  things,  yea, 
the  deep  things  of  God.  Ver.  11. 
For  what  man  knoweth  the  things 
of  a  man,  save  the  spirit  of  man 
which  is  in  him?  even  so  the 
tilings  of  God  knoweth  no  man, 
but  the  Spirit  of  God.  Ver.  12. 
Now  we  have  received,  not.  the 
spirit  of  the  world,  but  the  Spirit 
which  is  of  God;  that  we  might 
know  the  things  that  are  freely 
given  to  us  of  God.  fsa.  lix.  21. 
As  for  me,  this  is  my  covenant 
with  them,  saith  the  Lord,  My 
Spirit  that  is  upon  thee,  and  rny 
words  which  I  have  put  in  thy 
mouth,  shall  not  depart  out  of  thy 
mouth,  nor  out  of  the  mouth  of 
thy  seed,  nor  out  of  the  mouth  of 
thy  seed's  seed,  saith  the  Lord, 
from  henceforth  and  for  ever. 

V[.  m2  Tim.  iii.  15.  And  that 
from  a  child  thou  hast  known  the 
holy  scriptures,  which  are  able  to 
make  thee  wise  unto  salvation, 
through  faith  which  is  in  Christ  Je- 
sus. Ver.  16.  All  scripture  is  given 
by  inspiration  of  God,  and  is  pro- 
fitable for  doctrine,  for  reproof,  for 
correction,  for  instruction  in  righ- 
teousness :  Ver.  17.  That  the  man 


of  God  may  be  perfect,  thoroughly 
furnished  unto  all  good  works. 
Gal.  i.  8.  But  though  we,  or  an 
angel  from  heaven,  preach  any 
other  gospel  unto  you  than  that 
which  we  have  preached  unto  you, 
let  him  be  accursed.  Ver.  9.  As 
we  said  before,  so  say  I  now  again, 
If  any  man  preach  any  other  gospel 
unto  you  than  that  ye  have  re- 
ceived, let  him  be  accursed.  2 
Thes.  ii.  2.  That  ye  be  not  soon 
shaken  in  mind,  or  be  troubled, 
neither  by  spirit,  nor  by  word,  nor 
by  letter,*  as  from  us,  as  that  the 
day  of  Christ  is  at  hand. 

B  John  vi.  45.  It  is  written  in 
the  prophets,  And  they  shall  be  all 
taught  of  God.  Every  man  there- 
fjre  that  hath  heard,  and  hatli 
learned  of  the  Father,  cometh. 
unto  me.  1  Cor.  ii.  9.  But  as  it  is 
written,  Eye  hath  not  seen,  nor  ear 
heard,  neither  have  entered  into 
the  heart  of  man,  the  things  which 
God  hath  prepared  for  them  that 
love  him.  Ver.  10.  But  God  hath 
revealed  them  unto  us  by  his  Spi- 
rit; for  the  Spirit  searcheth  all 
things,  yea,  the  deep  things  of  God. 
Verril.  For  what  man  knoweth 
the  things  of  a  man,  save  the  spirit 
of  man  which  is  in  him?  even  so 
the  things  of  God  knoweth  no  man, 
but  tire  Spirit  of  God.    Ver.  12. 


Chap.  I. 


The  Confession  of  Faith, 


31 


ties,  which  are  to  be  ordered  by  the  light  of  nature  and 
Christian  prudence,  according  to  the  general  rules  of  the 
word,  which  are  always  to  be  observed.0 

VII.  All  things  in  scripture  are  not  alike  plain  in  them- 
'selves,  nor  alike  clear  unto  ail;?  yet  those  things  which  are 
necessary  to  be  known,  believed,  and  observed,  for  salva- 
tion, are  so  clearly  propounded  and  opened  in  some  place 
of  scripture  or  other,  that  not  only  the  learned,  but  the  un- 
learned, in  a  due  use  of  the  ordinary  means,  may  attain 
unto  a  sufficient  understanding  of  them.q 

VIH.  The  Old  Testament  in  Hebrew,  (which  was  the  na- 
tive language  of  the  people  of  God  of  old,)  and  the  Xew  Tes- 
tament in  Greek,  (which  at  the  time  of  the  writing  of  it  was 
most  generally  known  to.  the  nations,)  being  immediately  in- 
spired by  God,  and  by  his  singular  care  and  providence  kept 
pure  in  all  ages,  are  therefore  authentical  ;r  so  as  in  all  con- 
troversies of  religion,  the  Church  is  finally  to  appeal  unto 
them.5  But  because  these  original  tongues  are  not  known 
to  all  the  people  of  God,  who  have  right  unto  and  interest 
in  the  scriptures,  and  are  commanded,  in  the  fear  of  God, 


Now  wo  have  received,  not  the 
spirit  of  the  world,  but  the  Spirit 
which  is  of  God  ;  that  we   might 
know  the  things  that  are  fr 
given  to  us  of  God. 

0  1  Cor.  xi.  13.  Judge  in  your- 
selves, is  it  comely  that  a  woman 
pray  unto  God  uncovered  ?  Ver.  14. 
Doth  not  even  nature  itself  teach 
you,  that  if  a  man  have  long  hair, 
it  is  a  shame  unto  him]  1  Cor. 
xiv.  26.  How  is  it  then,  brethren, 
when  ye  come  together,  every  one 
of  you  hath  a  psalm,  hath  a  dec- 
trine,  hath  a  tongue,  hath  a  reve- 
lation, hath  an  interpretation?  Let 
all  things  be  done  unto  edifying. 
Ver.  40.  Let  all  things  be  done 
decentlv  and  in  order. 

VII.  p  2  Pet.  iii.  10.  As  also  in 
all  his  epistles,  speaking  in  them 
of  these  things,  in  which  are  some 
things    hard     to    be    understood, 


which  they  that  are  unlearned  and 
unstable  wrest,  as  they  do  also  the 
other  scriptures,  unto  their  own 
destruction. 

«  Psal.  cxix.  105.  Thy  word  is  a 
lamp  unto  my  feet,  and  a  light  unto 
my  path.  Ver.  130.  The  entrance 
of  thy  words  giveth  light,  it  giveth 
understanding  unto  the  simple. 

VIII.  r  Mat.  v.  18.  For  verily  I 
say  unto  you,  Till  heaven  and  earth 
pass,  one  jot  or  one  tittle  shall  in 
no  wise  pass  from  the  law,  till  all 
be  fulfilled. 

s  I^a.  viii.  2fr  To  the  law,  and  to 
the  testimony:  if  they  speak  not 
according  to  this  word,  it  is  be- 
cause there  is  no  light  in  them. 
Acts  xv.  15.  And  to  this  agree  the 
words  of  the  prophets,  as  it  is  writ- 
ten. John  v.  39.  Search  the  scrip- 
tures ;  for  in  them  ye  think  ye  have 
eternal   life:   and   they  are   they 


The  Confession  of  Faith, 


Chap.  I. 


to  read  and  search  them,*  therefore  they  are  to  be  translated 
into  the  vulgar  language  of  every  nation  unto  which  they 
come,u  that  the  word  of  God  dwelling  plentifully  in  all,  they 
may  worship  him  in  an  acceptable  manner/7  and,  through 
patience  and  comfort  of  the  scriptures,  may  have  hope.x 

IX.  The  infallible  rule  of  interpretation  of  scripture  is 
the  scripture  itself;  and  therefore,  when  there  is  a  question 
about  the  true  and  full  sense  of  any  scripture,  (which  is 
not  manifold,  but  one,)  it  must  be  searched  and  known  b}^ 
other  places  that  speak  more  clearly.5 

X.  The  supreme  Judge,  by  which  all  controversies  of 
religion  are  to  be  determined,  and  all  decrees  of  councils, 
opinions  of  ancient  writers,  doctrines  of  men,  and  private 
spirits,  are  to  be  examined,  and  in  whose  sentence  we  are 


which  testify  of  me  :  Ver.  46.  For 
had  ye  believed  Moses,  ye  would 
have  believed  me;  for  h.e  wrote  of 
me. 

1  John  v.  39.  Search  the  scrip- 
tures; for  in  them  ye  think  ye 
have  eternal  life:  and  they  are 
they  which  testify  of  me. 

u  1  Cor.  xiv.  6.  Now,  brethren, 
if  I  come  unto  you  speaking  with 
tongues,  what  shall  I  profit  you, 
except  I  shall  speak  to  you  either 
by  revelation,  or  by  knowledge, 
or  by  prophesying,  or  by  doctrine? 
Ver.  9.  So  likewise  ye,  except  ye 
utter  by  the  tongue  words  easy  to 
be  understood,  how  shall  it  be 
known  what  is  spoken?  for  ye 
shall  speak  into  the  air.  Ver.  11. 
Therefore,  if  I  know  not  the  mean- 
ing of  the  voice,  I  shall  be  unto 
him  that  speaketh  a  barbarian; 
and  he  that  speaketh  shall  be  a  bar- 
barian unto  me.  Ver.  12.  Even  so 
ye,  forasmuch  as  ye  are  zealous  of 
spiritual  gifts,  seek  that  ye  may  ex- 
cel to  the  edifying  of  the  church. 
Ver.  24.  But  if  all  prophesy,  and 
there  come  in  one  that  believeth 
not,  or  one  unlearned,  he  is  con- 
vinced of  all,  he  is  judged  of  all. 
Ver.  27.    If  any  man  speak  in  an 


unknown  tongue,  let  it  be  by  two, 
or  at  the  most  by  three,  and  that 
by  course ;  and  iet  one  interpret. 
Ver.  28.  But  if  there  be  no  inter- 
preter, let  him  keep  silence  in  the 
church  :  and  let  him  speak  to  him- 
self, and  to  God. 

w  Col.  iii.  16.  Let  the  word  of 
Christ  dwell  in  you  richly  in  all 
wisdom,  teaching  and  admonishing 
one  another  in  psalms,  and  hymns, 
and  spiritual  songs,  singing  with 
grace  in  your  hearts  to  the  Lord. 

x  Rom.  xv.  4.  For  whatsoever 
things  were  written  aforetime, 
were  written  fur  our  learning;  that 
we  through  patience  and  comfort 
of  the  scriptures  might  have  hope. 

IX.  y  2  Pet.  i.  20.  Knowing  this 
first,  that  no  prophecy  of  the  scrip- 
ture is  of  any  private  interpretation. 
Ver.  21.  For  the  prophecy  came  not 
in  old  time  by  the  will  of  man:  but 
holy  men  of  God  spake  as  they 
were  moved  by  the  Holy  Ghost. 
Acts  xv.  15.  And  to  this  agree  the 
words  of  the  prophets,  as  it  is  writ- 
ten, Ver.  16.  After  this  I  will  re- 
turn, and  will  build  again  the  ta- 
bernacle of  David  which  is  fallen 
down,  and  I  will  build  again  the 
ruins  thereof,  and  I  will  set  it  up. 


Chap.  II. 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


to  rest,  can  be  no  other  but  the  Holy  Spirit  speaking  in 
the  Scripture.2 


CHAPTER  II.     Of  God,  and  of  the  Holy  Trinity. 

There  is  but  one  only*  living  and  true  God,b  who 
is  infinite  in  being  and  perfection,0  a  most  pure  spi- 
rit,d  invisible,6  without  body,  parts/  or  passions,5  immuta- 


X.  »Matth.  xxii.  29.  Jesus  an- 
swered and  said  unto  them,  Ye  do 
err,  not  knowing  the  scriptures, 
nor  the  power  of  God.  Yer.  31. 
But  as  touching  the  resurrection 
of  the  dead,  have  ye  not  read  that 
whicli  was  spoken  unto  you  by 
God,  saying.  Eph.  ii.  20.  And  are 
built  upon  the  foundation  of  the 
apostles  and  prophets,  Jesus  Christ 
himself  being  the  chief  corner- 
stone. With  Acts  xxviii.  23.  And 
when  they  agreed  not  among 
themselves,  they  departed,  after 
that  Paul  had  spoken  one  word, 
Well  spake  the  Holy  Ghost  by 
Esaias  the  prophet  unto  our  fa- 
thers. 

I.  aDeut.  vi.  4.  Hear,  O  Israel ; 
The  Lord  our  God  is  one  Lord. 
1  Cor.  viii.  4.  As  concerning  there- 
fore the  eating  of  those  things  that 
are  offered  in  sacrifice  unto  idols, 
we  know  that  an  idol  is  nothing  in 
the  world,  and  that  there  is  none 
other  God  but  one.  Ver.  6.  But 
to  us  there  is  but  one  God,  the 
Father,  of  whom  are  all  things, 
and  we  in  him ;  and  one  Lord  Je- 
sus Christ,  by  whom  are  all  things, 
and  we  by  him.  ♦ 

b  1  Thess.  i.  9.  For  they  them- 
selves show  of  us  what  manner  of 
entering  in  we  had  unto  you,  and 
how  ye  turned  to  God  from  idols, 
to  serve  the  living  and  true  God. 
Jef.  x.  10.  But  the  Lord  is  the 
true  God,  he  is  the  living  God, 
and  an  everlasting  King. 


c  Job.  xi.  7.  Canst  thou  by  search- 
ing find  out  God]  canst  thou  find 
out  the  Almighty  unto  perfection  ? 
Ver.  S.  It  is  as  high  as  heaven,  what 
canst  thou  do]  deeper  than  hell, 
what  canst  thou  know  ?  Ver.  9. 
The  measure  thereof  is  longer  than 
the  earth,  and  broader  than  the  sea. 
Job  xx vi.  14.  Lo,  these  are  parts 
of  his  ways;  but  how  little  a  por- 
tion is  heard  of  him!  but  the  thun- 
der of  his  power  who  can  under- 
stand ! 

d  John  iv.  24.  God  is  a  Spirit ; 
and  they  that  worship  him,  must 
worship  him  in  spirit  and  in  truth. 

e  1  Tim.  i.  17.  Now  unto  the 
King  eternal,  immortal,  invisible, 
the  only  wise  God,  be  honour  and 
glory  for  ever  and  ever.     Amen. 

f  JDeut.  iv.  15.  Take  ye  therefore 
good  heed  unto  yourselves,  (for  ye 
saw  no  manner  of  similitude  on 
the  day  that  the  Lord  spake  unto 
you  in  Horeb,  out  of  the  midst  of 
the  fire.)  Ver.  1G.  Lest  ye  corrupt 
yourselves,  and  make  you  a  gra- 
ven image,  the  similitude  of  any 
figure,  the  likeness  of  male  or 
female.  John  iv.  24.  God  is  a 
Spirit;  and  they  that  worship  him, 
must  worship  him  in  spirit  and  in 
truth.  With  Luke  xxiv.  39.  Be- 
hold my  hands  and  my  feet,  that 
it  is  I  myself;  handle  me,  and  see; 
for  a  spirit  hath  not  flesh  and  bones, 
as  ye  see  me  have. 

5  Acts  xiv.  11.  And  when  the 
people  saw  what  Paul  had  done. 


34 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


Chap.  II. 


able,h  immense, ":  eternal,k  incomprehensible,1  almighty,"1 
most  wise,n  most  holy,0  most  free,?  most  absolute,q  work- 
ing all  things  according  to  the  counsel  of  his  own  immu- 
table and  most  righteous  will,'  for  his  own  glory:8  most 


they  lifted  up  their  voices,  saying, 
in  the  speech  of  Lycaorwa,  The 
gods  are  come  down  to  us  in  the 
likeness  of  men.  Ver.  15.  And  say- 
ing-, Sirs,  why  do  ye  these  things] 
We  also  are  men  of  like  passions 
with  you,  and  preach  unto  you, 
that  ye  should  turn  from  these  va- 
nities unto  the  living  God,  which 
made  heaven,  and  earth,  and  the 
sea,  and  all  things  that  are  therein. 

h  James  i.  17.  Every  good  gift 
and  every  perfect  gift  is  from  above, 
and  cometh  down  from  the  Father 
of  lights,  with  whom  is  no  vari- 
ableness, neither  shadow  of  turn- 
ing. Mai.  iii.  0.  Fori  rm  the  Lord, 
I  change  not :  therefore  ye  sons  of 
Jacob  are  not  consumed. 

'  1  Kings  viii.  27.  But  will  God 
indeed  dwell  on  the  earth]  Be- 
he'd,  the  heaven,  and  heaven  of 
heavens  cannot  contain  thee,  how 
much  l(t=s  this  house  that  I  have 
builded  ?  Jcr.  xxiii.  23.  Am  I  a 
God  at  hand,  saith  the  Lord,  and 
not  a  God  afar  off?  Ver  24.  Can 
any  hide  himself  in  secret  places, 
that  I  shall  not  see  him]  saith  the 
Lord :  do  not  I  fill  heaven  and 
earth  ]  saith  the  Lord. 

k  Psal.  xc.  2.  Before  the  moun- 
tains were  brought  forth,  or  ever 
thou  hadst  formed  the  earth  and 
the  world,  even  from  everlasting  to 
everlasting  thou  art  God.  1  Tim. 
i.  17.  Now  unto  the  King  eternal, 
immortal,  invisible,  the  only  wise 
God,  be  honour  and  glory  for  ever 
and  ever.     Amen. 

1  Psal.  cxlv.  3.  Great  is  the  Lord, 
and  greatly  to  be  praised  ;  and  his 
greatness  is  unsearchable. 


m  Gen.  xvii.  1.  And  when 
Abram  was  ninety  years  old  and 
nine,  the  Lord  appeared  to  Ab- 
ram, and  said  unto  him,  I  am  the 
almighty  God :  walk  before  me, 
and  be  thou  perfect.  Rev.  iv.  8. 
And  the  four  beasts  had  each  of 
them  six  wings  about  him  and, 
they  were  full  of  eyes  within: 
and  they  rest  not  day  and  night, 
saying,  Hoi}'-,  holy,  holy,  Lord 
God  Almighty,  which  was,  and  is, 
and  is  to  come. 

n  Rom.  xvi.  27.  To  God  only 
wise,  be  glory  through  Jesus  Christ 
for  ever.     Amen. 

0  Isa.  vi.  3.  And  one  cried  un- 
to another,  and  said,  Holy,  holy, 
holy  is  the  Lord  of  hosts,  the 
whole  earth  is  fuil  of  his  glory. 
Rev.  iv.  8.  [Sec  letter  m  immedi- 
ately foregoing.'] 

p  Psal.  cxv.  3.  But.  our  God  is  in 
the  heavens:  he  hath  done  what- 
soever he  pleaseth. 

i  Exod.  iii.  14.  And  God  said  un- 

ioses,  I  AM   THAT  I  AM; 

and  he  said,  Thus  shalt  thou  say 

unto  the  children  of  Israel,  I  AM 

hath  sent  me  unto  you. 

'  Bph.  i.  11.  In  whom  also  we 
have  obtained  an  inheritance,  be- 
ing predestinated  according  to  the 
purpose  of  him  who  worketh  all 
things  after  the  counsel  of  his  own 
will. 

8  Prov.  xvi.  4.  The  Lord  hath 
made  all  things  for  himself;  yea, 
even  the  wicked  for  the  day  of 
evil.  Rom.  xi.  36.  For  of  him, 
and  through  him,  and  to  him, 
are  all  things:  to  whom  be  glory 
for  ever.    Amen. 


Chap.  II. 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


loving/  gracious,  merciful,  long-suffering,  abundant  in  good- 
ness and  truth,  forgiving  iniquity,  transgression,  and  sin  ;u 
the  rewarder  of  them  that  diligently  seek  him  ;w  and  withal 
most  just  and  terrible  in  his  judgments;5  hating  all  sin,* 
and  who  will  by  no  means  clear  the  guilty.2 

II.  God  hatli  all  life,"  glory,*  goodness,0  blessedness/  in 


1  1  John  iv.  8.  He  that  loveth 
not,  knoweth  not  God,  for  G. 
love.  Ver.  l'i.  And  we  have  known 
and  believed  the  love  that  God 
hath  to  us.  God  is  love;  and  he 
that  dwelleth  in  love,  dwelleth  in 
God,  and  God  in  him. 

d.  xxxiv.  6.  And  the  Lord 
passed  by  before  him,  and  pro- 
claimed, The  Lord,  the  Lord  God, 
merciful  and  gracious,  long-suffer- 
ing1, and  abundant  in  goodness  and 
truth.  Ver.  7.  Keeping  mercy  for 
thousands,  forgiving  iniquity,  and 
transgression,  and  sin,  and  that 
will  by  no  means  clear  the  guilty; 
visiting  the  iniquity  of  the  fathers 
upon  the  children,  and  upon  the 
children's  children,  unto  the  third 
and  to  the  fourth  generation. 

%r  Heb.  xi.  6.  But  without  faith 
it  is  impossible  to  please  him ;  for 
he  that  cometh  to  God  must  be- 
lieve that  he  is,  and  that  he  is  a 
rewarder  of  them  that  diligently 
seek  him. 

x  Neh.  ix.  32.  Now  therefore, 
our  God,  the  great,  the  mighty, 
and  the  terrible  God,  who  keep- 
est  covenant  and  mercy,  let  not 
all  the  trouble  seem  little  before 
thee  that  hath  come  upon  us,  on 
our  kings,  on  our  princes,  and  on 
our  priests,  and  on  our  prophets, 
and  on  our  fathers,  and  on  all  thy 
people,  since  the  time  of  the  kings 
of  Assyria  unto  this  day.  Ver.  33. 
Howbeit  thou  art  just  in  all  that 
is  brought  upon  us;  for  thcru  hast 
done  right,  but  we  have  done  wick- 
edly. 


»  Psal.  v.  5.  The  foolish  shall  not 
stand  in  thy  sight:  thou  hatest  all 
workers  of  iniquity.  Ver.  (J.  Thou 
shalt  destroy  them  that  speak  leas- 
ing: the  Lord  will  abhor  the  bloody 
and  deceitful  man. 

z  Nah.  i.  2.  God  is  jealous,  and 
the  Lord  revengeth ;  the  Lord  re- 
vengeth  and  is  furious:  the  Lord 
will  take  vengeance  on  his  adver- 
saries, and  he  reserveth  wrath  for 
his  enemies.  Ver.  3.  The  Lord  is 
slow  to  anger,  and  great  in  power, 
and  will  not  at  all  acquit  the  wick- 
ed :  the  Lord  hath  his  way  in  the 
whirlwind,  and  in  the  storm,  and 
the  clouds  are  the  dust  of  his 
feet.  Exod.  xxxiv.  7.  Keeping- 
mercy  for  thousands,  forgiving  ini- 
quity, and  transgression,  and  sin, 
and  that  will  by  no  means  clear 
the  guilty;  visiting  the  iniquity  of 
the  fathers  upon  the  children,  and 
upon  the  children's  children,  unto 
the  third  and  to  the  fourth  gene- 
ration. 

II.  a  John  v.  26.  For  as  the  Fa- 
ther hath  life  in  himself,  so  hath  he 
given  to  the  Son  to  have  life  in 
himself. 

b  Acts  vii.  2.  And  he  said,  Men, 
brethren,  and  fathers,  hearken : 
The  God  of  glory  appeared  unto 
our  father  Abraham,  when  he  was 
in  Mesopotamia,  before  he  dwelt  in 
Charran. 

c  Psal.  cxix.  63.  Thou  art  good, 
and  doest  good,  teach  me  thy  sta- 
tutes. 

d  1  Tim.  vi.  15.  Which  in  his 
times  he  shall  show,  who  is  the 


The  Confession  of  Faith, 


Chap.  II. 


and  of  himself;  and  is  alone  in  and  unto  himself  all-sufficient, 
not  standing  in  need  of  any  creatures  which  he  hath  made,6 
nor  deriving  any  glory  from  them/  but  only  manifesting  his 
own  glory,  in,  by,  unto,  and  upon  them :  he  is  the  alone  foun- 
tain of  all  beings,  of  whom,  through  whom,  and  to  whom,  are 
all  things  ;s  and  hath  most  sovereign  dominion  over  them,  to 
do  by  them,  for  them,  or  upon  them,  whatsoever  himself 
pleaseth.h  In  his  sight  all  things  are  open  and  manifest;1  his 
knowledge  is  infinite,  infallible,  and  independent  upon  the 
creaturc,k  so  as  nothing  is  to  him  contingent  or  uncertain.' 


blessed  and  only  Potentate,  the 
King  of  kintrs,  and  Lord  of  lords. 
Rom.  ix.  5.  Whose  are  the  fathers, 
and  of  whom  as  concerning  the 
flesh  Christ  came;  who  is  over  all, 
God  blessed  fbr  ever.     Amen. 

e  Acts  xvii.  24.  God,  that  made 
the  world,  and  all  things  therein, 
seeing  that  he  is  Lord  of  heaven 
and  earth,  dwelieth  not  in  temples 
made  with  hands:  Ver.  25.  Neither 
is  worshipped  with  men's  hands, 
as  though  he  needed  any  thing, 
seeing  he  giveth  to  all  life,  and 
breath,  and  all  things. 

f  Job  xxii.  2.  Can  a  man  be  pro- 
fitable unto  God,  as  he  that  is  wise 
may  be  profitable  unto  himself] 
Ver.  3.  Js  it  any  pleasure  to  the 
Almighty  that  thou  art  righteous? 
or  is  it  gain  to  him  that  thou 
makest  thy  ways  perfect  1 

*  Rom.  xi.  36.  For  of  him,  and 
through  him,  and  to  him,  are  all 
things:  to  whom  be  glory  for  ever. 
Amen. 

h  Rev.  iv.  11.  Thou  art  wor- 
thy, O  Lord,  to  receive  glory, 
and  honour,  and  power:  for  thou 
hast  created  all  things,  and  for 
thy  pleasure  they  are  and  were 
created.  1  Tim.  vi.  15.  [See  let- 
ter* immediately  foregoing.']  Dan. 
iv.  25.  That  they  shall  drive  thee 
from  men,  and  thy  dwelling  shall 
be  with  the  beasts  of  the  field; 


and  they  shall  make  thee  to  eat 
grass  as  oxen,  and  they  shall  wet 
thee  with  the  dew  of  heaven,  and 
seven  times  shall  pass  over  thee, 
till  thou  know  that  the  most  High 
ruleth  in  the  kingdom  of  men, 
and  giveth  it  to  whomsoever  he 
will.  Ver.  35.  And  all  the  inha- 
bitants of  the  earth  are  reputed  as 
nothing :  and  he  doeth  according 
to  his  will  in  the  army  of  heaven, 
and  among  the  inhabitants  of  the 
earth;  and  none  can  stay  his 
hand,  or  say  unto  him,  What  doest 
thou  1 

'Heb.  iv.  13.  Neither  is  there 
any  creature  that  is  not  manifest  in 
his  sight:  but  all  things  are  naked 
and  opened  unto  the  eyes  of  him 
with  whom  we  have  to  do. 

k  Rom.  xi.  33.  O  the  depth  of 
the  riches,  both  of  the  wisdom  and 
knowledge  of  God  !  how  unsearch- 
able are  his  judgments,  and  his 
ways  past  finding  out !  Ver.  34. 
For  who  hath  known  the  mind  of 
the  Lord:  or  who  hath  been  his 
counsellor'?  Peal,  cxlvii.  5.  Great 
is  our  Lord,  and  of  great  power : 
his  understanding  is  infinite. 

1  Acts  xv.  18.  Known  unto  God 
are  all  his  works  from  the  begin- 
ning of  the  world.  Ezek.  xi.  5. 
And  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  fell 
upon  me,  and  said  unto  me,  Speak, 
Thus  saith  the  Lord,  Thus  have 


Chap.  H. 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


He  is  most  holy  in  all  his  counsels,  in  all  his  works,  and  in 
all  his  commands.111  To  him  is  due  from  angels  and  men, 
and  every  other  creature,  whatsoever  worship,  service,  or 
obedience,  he  is  pleased  to  require  of  them.n 

III.  In  the  unity  of  the  Godhead  there  be  three  persons.. 
of  one  substance*  power,  and  eternity;  God  the  Father. 
God  the  Son,  and  God  the  Holy  Ghost.0  The  Father  is 
of  none,  neither  begotten  nor  proceeding;  the  Son  is  eter- 
nally begotten  of  the  Father;?  the  Holy  Ghost  eternally  pro- 
ceeding from  the  Father  and  the  Son.q 


ye  said,  O  house  of  Israel :  for  I 
know  the  things  that  come  into 
your  mind,  every  one  of  them. 

M  Psal.  cxlv.  17.  The  Lord  is 
righteous  in  all  his  ways,  and  holy 
in  all  his  works.  Rom.  vii.  13. 
Wherefore  the  law  is  holy,  and 
the  commandment  holy,  and  just, 
and  good. 

n  Rev.  v.  12.  Saying  with  a  loud 
voice,  Worthy  is  the  Lamb  that 
was  slain  to  receive  power,  and 
riches,  and  wisdom,  and  strength, 
and  honour,  and  glory,  and  bl 
ing.  Ver.  13.  And  every  creature 
which  is  in  heaven,  and  on  the 
earth,  and  under  the  earth,  and 
such  as  are  in  the  sea,  and  all  that 
are  in  them,  heard  I  saying,  Bless- 
ing, and  honour,  and  glory,  and 
power,  be  unto  him  that  sitteth 
upon  the  throne,  and  unto  the 
Lamb,  forever  and  ever.  Yer.  14. 
And  the  four  beasts  said,  Amen. 
And  the  four  and  twenty  elders 
fell  down  and  worshipped  him  that 
liveth  for  ever  and  ever. 

III.  °  1  John  v.  7.  For  there  are 
three  that  bear  record  in  heaven, 
the  Father,  the  Word,  and  the 
Holy  Ghost;  and  these  three  are 
one.  Mat.  iii.  16.  And  Jesus,  when 
he  was  baptized,  went  up  straight- 
way out  of  the   water;   and,  lo, 


the  heavens  were  opened  unto 
him,  and  he  saw  the  Spirit  of 
God  descending  like  a  dove,  and 
lighting  upon  him.  Ver.  17.  And 
lo,  a  voice  from  heaven,  saying, 
This  is  my  beloved  Son,  in  whom 
I  am  well  pleased.  Mat.  xxviii.  19. 
Go  ye  therefore  and  teach  all  na- 
tions, baptizing  them  in  the  name 
of  the  Father,  and  of  the  Son,  and 
of  the  Holy  Ghost.  2  Cor.  xiii.  14. 
The  grace  of  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  and  the  love  of  God,  and 
the  communion  of  the  Holy  Ghost, 
be  with  you  all.     Amen. 

f  John  i.  14.  And  the  Word  was 
made  flesh,  and  dwelt  among  us, 
(and  we  beheld  his  glory,  the  glory 
as  of  the  only  begotten  of  the  Fa- 
ther.) full  of  grace  and  truth.  Ver. 
18.  No  man  hath  seen  God  at  any 
time;  the  only  begotten  Son,  which 
is  in  the  bosom  of  the  Father,  he 
hath  declared  him. 

i  John  xv.  26.  But  when  the 
Comforter  is  come,  whom  I  will 
send  unto  you  from  the  Father, 
even  the  Spirit  of  truth,  which 
proceedeth  from  the  Father,  he 
shall  testify  of  me.  Gal.  iv.  6.  And 
because  ye  are  sons,  God  hath 
sent  forth  the  Spirit  of  his  Son 
into  your  hearts,  crving,  Abba. 
Father. 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


Chap.  III. 


CHAPTER.  III.     Of  GotVs  Eternal  Decree. 

God  from  all  eternity  did,  by  the  most  wise  and  holy 
counsel  of  his  own  will,  freely  and  unchangeably  ordain 
whatsoever  comes  to  pass:a  yet  so,  as  thereby  neither  is 
God  the  author  of  sin,b  nor  is  violence  offered  to  the  will 
of  the  creatures,  nor  is  the  liberty  or  contingency  of  second 
causes  taken  away,  but  rather  established.0 

II.  Although  God  knows  whatsoever  may  or  can  come 
to  pass  upon  all  supposed  conditions  ;d  yet  hath  he  not  de- 


T.  aEph.  i.  11.  In  whom  also  we 
have  obtained  an  inheritance,  be- 
ing- predestinated  according  to  the 
purpose  of  him  who  worketh  all 
things  after  the  counsel  of  his  own 
will.  Rom.  xi.  33.  O  the  depth  of 
the  riches  both  of  the  wisdom  and 
knowledge  of  God  !  how  unsearch- 
able are  his  judgments,  and  his 
ways  past  finding  out !  Heb,  vi.  17. 
Wherein  God,  willing  more  abun- 
dantly to  show  unto  the  heirs  of 
promise  the  immutability  of  his 
counsel,  coiifirmed  it  by  an  oath. 
Rom.  ix.  15.  For  he  saith  to  Mo- 
ses, I  will  have  mercy  on  whom  I 
will  have  mercy,  and  I  will  have 
compassion  on  whom  I  will  have 
compassion.  Ver.  18.  Therefore 
hath  he  mercy  on  whom  he  will 
have  mercy,  and  whom  he  will  he 
hardeneth. 

b  James  i.  13.  Let  no  man  say 
when  he  is  tempted,  I  am  tempted 
of  God:  for  God  cannot  be  tempt- 
ed with  evil,  neither  tempteth  he 
any  man.  Ver.  17.  Every  good 
gift  and  every  perfect  gift  is  from 
above,  and  cometh  down  from  the 
Father  of  lights,  with  whom  is  no 
variableness,  neither  shadow  of 
turning.  1  John  i.  5.  This  then 
is  the  message  which  we  have 
heard  of  him,  and  declare  unto 
you,  that  God  is  light,  and  in  him 
is  no  darkness  at  all. 


cActs  ii.23.  Him,  being  delivered 
by  the  determinate  counsel  and 
foreknowledge  of  God,  ye  have 
taken,  and  by  wicked  hands  have 
crucified  and  slain.  Mat.  xvii.  12. 
But  I  say  unto  you,  That  Elias  is 
come  already,  and  they  knew  him 
not,  but  have  done  unto  him  what- 
soever they  listed:  likewise  shall 
also  the  Son  of  man  suffer  of  them. 
Acts  iv.  27.  For  of  a  truth,  against 
thy  holy  child  Jesus,  whom  thou 
hast  anointed,  both  Herod  and 
Pontius  Pilate,  with  the  Gentiles 
and  the  people  of  Israel,  were  ga- 
thered together,  Ver.  28.  For  to 
do  whatsoever  thy  hand  and  thy 
counsel  determined  before  to  be 
done.  John  xix.  11.  Jesus  an- 
swered, Thou  couldest  have  no 
power  at  all  against  me,  except 
it  were  given  Thee  from  above: 
therefore  he  that  delivered  me 
unto  thee  hath  the  greater  sin. 
Prov-  xvi.  33.  The  lot  is  cast  into 
the  lap;  but  the  whole  disposing 
thereof  is  of  the  Lord. 

If.  d  Acts  xv.  18.  Known  unto 
God  are  all  his  works  from  the 
beginning  of  the  world.  1  Sam. 
xxiii.  11.  Will  the  men  of  Keilah 
deliver  me  up  into  his  hand  ]  Will 
Saul  come  down,  as  thy  servant 
hath  heard'!  O  Lord  God  of  Israel, 
I  beseech  thee,  tell  thy  servant. 
And  the  Lord  said,  He  will  come 


Chap.  III. 


The  Confession  of  Faith, 


creed  any  thing  because  he  foresaw  it  as  future,  or  as  that 
which  would  come  to  pass  upon  such  conditions.6 

IN.  By  the  decree  of  God,  for  the  manifestation  of  his 
glory,  some  men  and  angels f  are  predestinated  unto  ever- 
lasting life,  and  others  foreordained  to  everlasting  death.5 

IV.  These  angels  and  men,  thus  predestinated  and  fore- 
ordained, are  particularly  and  unchangeably  designed;  and 
their  number  is  so  certain  and  definite,  that  it  cannot  be 
either  increased  or  diminished. '■'■ 


down.  V~er.  12.  Then  said  David, 
Will  the  men  of  Kcilah  deliver 
me  and  my  men  into  the  hand  of 
Saul]  And  the  Lord  said,  They 
will  deliver  thee  up.  Mat.  xi.  21. 
Wo  unto  thee,  Chorazin  !  wo  unto 
thee,  Bethsaida!  for  if  the  mighty 
works  which  were  done  in  you 
had  been  done  in  Tyre  and  Sidon, 
they  wou!d  have  repented  long 
ago  in  sackcloth  and  ashes.  Ver. 
23.  And  thou  Capernaum,  which 
art  exalted  unto  heaven,  shalt  be 
brought  down  to  hell:  fur  if  the 
mighty  works  which  have  been 
done  in  thee  had  been  done  in 
Sodom,  it  would  have  remained 
until  this  day. 

e  Rom.  ix.  11.  For  the  children 
being  not  yet  born,  neither  having 
done  any  good  or  evil,  that  the 
purpose  of  God  according  to  elec- 
tion might  stand,  not  of  work?, 
but  of  him.  that  calleth,  Ver.  13. 
As  it  is  written,  Jacob  have  I  loved, 
but  Esau  have  I  hated.  Ver.  10. 
So  then,  it  is  not  of  him  that  wil- 
leth,  nor  of  him  that  runneth,  but 
of  God  that  showeth  mercy.  Ver. 
IS.  Therefore  hath  he  mercy  on 
whom  he  will  have  mercy,  and 
whom  he  will  he  hardeneth. 

III.  fl   Tim.   v.  21.     I  charge 

thee  before  God  and  the  Lord  Je- 

I  sus  Christ,  and   the  elect  angels, 

|  that   thou   observe    these    things, 

without  preferring  one  before  ano- 


ther, doing  nothing  by  partiality. 
Mat.  xxv.  41.  Then  shall  he  say 
also  unto  them  on  the  left  hand, 
Depart  from  me,  ye  cursed,  into 
everlasting  fire,  prepared  for  the 
devil  and  his  angels. 

«  Rom.  ix.  22."  What  if  God,  wil- 
ling to  show  his  wrath,  and  to  make 
his  power  known,  endured  with 
much  lon2r-surTering  the  vessels  of 
wrath  fitted  to  destruction  :  Ver. 
23.  And  that  he  might  make  known 
the  riches  of  his  glory  on  the  ves- 
sels of  mercy,  which  he  had  afore 
prepared  unto  glory]  Eph.  i.  5. 
Having  predestinated  us  unto  the 
adoption  of  children  by  Jesus 
Christ  to  himself,  according  to  the 
good  pleasure  of  his  will,  Ver.  6. 
To  the  praise  of  the  glory  of  his 
grace,  wherein  he  hath  made  us 
accepted  in  the  beloved.  Prov. 
xvi.  4.  The  Lord  hath  made  all 
things  for  himself;  yea,  even  the 
wicked  for  the  day  of  evil. 

IV.  h  2  Tim.  ih  19.  Neverthe- 
less the  foundation  of  God  stand- 
eth  sure,  having  this  seal,  The 
Lord  knoweth  thern  that  are  his. 
And,  let.  every  one  that  namelh 
the  name  of  Christ  depart  from 
iniquity.  John  xiii.  18.  I  speak 
not  of  you  all ;  I  know  whom  I 
have  chosen:  but  that  the  scrip- 
ture may  be  fulfilled,  He  that 
eateth  bread  with  me  hath  lifted 
up  his  heel  against  me. 


40 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


Chap.  III. 


V.  Those  of  mankind  that  are  predestinated  unto  life.. 
God,  before  the  foundation  of  the  world  was  laid,  accord- 
ing to  his  eternal  and  immutable  purpose,  and  the  secret 
counsel  and  good  pleasure  of  his  will,  hath  chosen  in  Christ 
unto  everlasting  glory,1  out  of  his  mere  free  grace  and  love, 
without  any  foresight  of  faith  or  good  works,  or  perseve- 
rance in  either  of  them,  or  any  other  thing  in  the  creature, 
as  conditions,  or  causes  moving  him  thereunto  ;k  and  all  to 
the  praise  of  his  glorious  grace.1 

VI.  As  God  hath  appointed  the  elect  unto  glory,  so  hath 
he,  by  the  eternal  and  most  free  purpose  of  his  will,  fore- 
ordained all  the  means  thereunto,"1     Wherefore  they  who 


V.  s  Epb.  i.  4.  According-  as 
he  hath  chosen  us  in  him  before 
the  foundation  of  the  world,  that 
we  should  be  holy,  and  without 
blame  before  him  in  love:  Ver.  9. 
Having  made  known  unto  us  the 
mystery  of  his  will,  according  to 
his  good  pleasure,  which  he  hath 
purposed  in  himself:  Ver.  11.  Io 
whom  also  we  have  obtained  an 
inheritance,  being  predestinated 
according  to  the  purpose  of  him 
who  worketh  all  things  after  the 
counsel  of  his  own  will.  Rom. 
viii.  30.  Moreover,  whom  he  did 
predestinate,  them  he  also  called ; 
and  whom  he  called,  them  he  also 
justified;  and  whom  he  justified, 
them  he  also  glorified.  2  Tim. 
i.  9.  Who  hath  saved  us,  and 
called  us  with  a  holy  calling, 
not  according  to  our  works,  but 
according  to  his  own  purpose  and 
grace,  which  was  given  us  in 
Christ  Jesus  before  the  world  be- 
gan. 1  Thess.  v.  9.  For  £od  hath 
not  appointed  us  to  wrath;  but 
to  obtain  salvation  by  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ. 

k  Rom.  ix.  11, 13,  16.  [See  let- 
ter e  immediately  foregoing.']  Eph. 
i.  4,  9.  [See  letter  'l  immediately 
foregoing.] 


1  Eph.  i.  6.  To  the  praise  of 
the  glory  of  his  grace,  wherein  he 
hath  made  us  accepted  in  the  Be- 
loved. Ver.  12.  That  we  should 
be  to  the  praise  of  his  glory,  who 
first  trusted  in  Christ. 

VI.  ^lPet  i.2.  Elect  accord- 
ing to  the  foreknowledge  of  God 
the  Father,  through  sanctification 
of  the  Spirit  unto  obedience,  and 
sprinkling  of  the  blood  of  Jesus 
Christ.  Eph.  i.  4.  According  as 
he  hath  chosen  us  in  him  before 
the  foundation  of  the  world,  that 
we  should  be  holy,  and  without 
blame  before  him  in  love :  Ver.  5. 
Having  predestinated  us  unto  the 
adoption  of  children  by  Jesus 
Christ  to  himself,  according  to 
the  good  pleasure  of  his  will. 
Eph.  ii.  10.  For  we  are  his 
workmanship,  created  in  Christ 
Jesus  unto  good  works,  which 
God  hath  before  ordained  that 
we  should  walk  in  them.  2 
Thess.  ii.  13.  But  we  are  bound 
to  give  thanks  alway  to  God 
for  you,  brethren,  beloved  of  the 
Lord,  because  God  hath  from 
the  beginning  chosen  you  to 
salvation,  through  sanctification 
of  the  Spirit,  and  belief  of  the 
truth. 


Chap.  Ilf. 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


41 


are  elected  being  fallen  in  Adam,  are  redeemed  by  Christ/' 
are  effectually  called  unto  faith  in  Christ  by  his  Spirit  work- 
ing in  due  season ;  are  justified,  adopted,  sanctified,0  and 
kept  by  his  power  through  faith  unto  salvation.?  Neither 
are  any  other  redeemed  by  Christ,  effectually  called,  justi- 
fied, adopted,  sanctified,  and  saved,  but  the  elect  only.q 

VII.  The  rest  of  mankind,  God  was  pleased,  according  to 
the  unsearchable  counsel  of  his  own  will,  whereby  he  ex- 
tendeth  or  withholdeth  mercy  as  he  pleaseth,  for  the  glory 
of  his  sovereign  power  over  his  creatures,  to  pass  by,  and 
to  ordain  them  to  dishonour  and  wrath  for  their  sin,  to  the 
praise  of  his  glorious  justice/ 


11 1  Thes.  v.  9.  For  God  hath  not 
appointed  us  to  wrath,  but  to  ob- 
tain salvation  by  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ.  Ver.  10.  Who  died  for  us, 
that  whether  we  wake  or  sleep, 
we  should  live  together  with  him. 
Tit.  ii.  14.  Who  gave  himself  fur 
us,  that  he  might  redeem  us  from 
.all  iniquity,  and  purify  unto  him- 
self a  peculiar  people,  zealous  of 
good  works. 

0  Rom.  viii.  30.  Moreover,  whom 
he  did  predestinate,  them  he  also 
called  ;  and  whom  he  called,  them 
he  also  justified :  and  whom  he 
justified,  them  he  also  glorified. 
£ph.  i.  5.  Having  predestinated  us 
unto  the  adoption  of  children  by 
Jesus  Christ  to  himself,  according 
to  the  good  pleasure  of  his  \ 
2  Thes.  ii.  13.  But  we  are  bound 
to  give  thanks  a'hvay  to  God  for 
you,  brethren,  beloved  of  the  L^rd, 
because  God  hath^from  the  be- 
ginning chosen  you  to  salvation, 
through  smctirication  of  the  Spi- 
rit, and  belief  of  the  truth. 

p  1  Pet.  i.  5.  Who  are  kept  by 
the  power  of  God  through  faith 
unto  salvation,  ready  to  be  reveal- 
ed in  the  last  time. 

i  John  xvii.  9.  I  pray  for  them  : 
I  pray  not  for  the  world,  but  for. 


them  which  thou  hast  given  me,  for 
they  are  thine.  Rom.  viii.  28.  And 
we  know  that  all  things  work  to- 
gether for  good  to  them  that  love 
God,  to  thcrn  who  are  the  called 
according  to  his  purpose,  &c.  [to 
the  end  of  the  chapter.]  John  vi.  64. 
But  there  are  some  of  you  that  be- 
lieve not.  For  Jesus  knew  from 
the  beginning  who  they  were  that 
believed  not,  and  who  should  be- 
tray him.  Ver.  05.  And  he  said, 
Therefore  said  I  unto  you,  That  no 
man  can  come  unto  me  except  it 
were  given  unto  him  of  my  Father. 
John  x.  26.  But  ye  believe  not, 
because  ye  are  not  of  my  sheep, 
as  I  said  unto  you.  John  viii.  47. 
He  that  is  of  God,  heareth  God's 
words:  ye  therefore  hear  them 
not,  because  ye  are  not  of  God. 
1  John  ii.  19.  They  went  out  from 
as,  but  they  were  not  of  us:  for 
if  they  had  been  of  us,  they 
would  no  doubt  have  continued 
with  us;  but  they  went  out,  that 
they  might  be  made  manifest  that 
thev  were  net  all  of  us. 

VII.  «  Matth.  xi.  25.  At  that 
time  Jesus  answered  and  said,  I 
thank  thee,  O  Father,  Lord  of 
heaven  and  earth,  because  thou 
hast   hid   these    things  from   the 


42 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


Chap.  Ill, 


VIIL  The.  doctrine  of  this  high  mystery  of  predestination 
is  to  be.  handled  with  special  prudence  and  care,8  that  men 
attending  the  will  of  God  revealed  in  his  word,  and  yield- 
ing obedience  thereunto,  may,  from  the  certainty  of  their 
effectual  vocation,  be  assured  of  their  eternal  election.4  So 
shall  this  doctrine  afford  matter  of  praise,  reverence,  and 
admiration  of  God,u  and  of  humility,  diligence,  and  abun- 
dant consolation,  to  all  that  sincerely  obey  the  Gospel." 


wise  and  prudent,  and  hast  reveal- 
ed them  unto  babes.  Ver.  26.  Even 
so,  Father,  for  so  it  seemed  good 
in  thy  Bight.  Rom.  ix.  17.  For  the 
scripture  saith  unto  Pharaoh,  Even 
for  this  same  purpose  have  I  raised 
thee  up,  that  I  might  show  my 
power  in  thee,  and  that  my  name 
might  be  declared  throughout  all 
the  earth.  Ver.  18.  Therefore  hath 
lie  mercy  on  whom  he  will  have 
mercy,  and  whom  he  will  be  har- 
ricneth.  Ver.  21.  Hath  not  the 
potter  power  over  the  claj-,  of  the 
same  lump  to  make  one  vessel 
unto  honour,  and  another  unto  dis- 
honour? Ver.  22.  What  if  God, 
willing  to  show  his  wrath,  and  to 
make  his  power  known,  endured 
with  much  long-suffering  the  ves- 
sels of  wrath  fitted  to  destruction] 
2  Tim.  it.  19.  Nevertheless  the 
foundation  of  God  standeth  sure, 
having  this  seal,  The  Lord  know- 
eth  them  that  are  his.  And,  let 
every  one  that  nameth  the  name 
of  Christ  depart  from  iniquity. 
Ver.  20.  But  in  a  great  house  there 
are  not  only  vessels  of  gold  and  of 
silver,  but  also  of  wood  and  of 
earth;  and  sime  to  honour,  and 
some  to  dishonour.  Jude,  ver.  4. 
For  there  are  certain  men  crept  in 
unawares,  who  were  before  of  old 
ordained  to  this  condemnation, 
ungodly  men,  turning  the  grace 
of  our  God    into    lasciviousness, 


and  denying  the  only  Lord  God, 
and  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  1  Pet. 
ii.  8.  And  a  stone  of  stumbling, 
and  a  rock  of  offence,  even  to 
them  which  stumble  at  the  word, 
being  disobedient,  whereunto  also 
they  were  appointed. 

VIII.  8Rom.  ix.  20.  Nay  but,  O 
man,  who  art  thou  that  repliest 
against  God]  shall  the  thing  form 
ed  say  to  him  that  formed  it,  Why 
hast  thou  made  me  thus]  Rom. 
xi.  33.  O  the  depth  of  the  riches 
both  of  the  wisdom  and  knowledge 
of  God  !  how  unsearchable  are  his 
judgments,  and  his  ways  past  find- 
ing out !  Deut.  xxix.  *29.  The  se- 
cret things  belong  unto  the  Lord 
pd:  but  those  things  which 
are  revealed  belong  unto  us  and  to 
our  children  for  ever,  that  we  may 
do  nil  the  words  of  this  law. 

1 2  Pet.  i.  10.  Wherefore  the 
rather,  brethren,  give  all  diligence 
to  make  your  calling  and  election 
sure  :  for  if  ye  do  these  things,  ye 
shall  never  fall. 

J  Eph.  i.  6.  To  the  praise  of  the 
glory  of  his  grac*e,  wherein  he  hath 
made  us  accepted  in  the  Beloved. 
Rom.  xi.  33.  [See  letter  s  immedi- 
ately foregoing.] 

w  Rom.  xi.  5.  Even  so  then  at 
this  present  time  also  there  is  a 
remnant  according  to  the  elec- 
tion of  grace.  Ver.  6.  And  if  by 
grace,  then  is  it  no  more  of  works : 


Chap.  IV. 


TJic  Confession  of  Faith. 


43 


CHAPTER  IV.    Of  Creation. 

It  pleased  God  the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost,a  for  the 
manifestation  of  the  glory  of  his  eternal  power,  wisdom, 
and  goodness,b  in  the  beginning,  to  create,  or  make  of  no- 
thing, the  world,  and  all  things  therein,  whether  visible  or 
invisible,  in  the  space  of  six  days,  and  all  very  good.c 

II.  After  God  had  made  all  other  creatures,  he  created 


otherwise  grace  is  no  more  grace. 
But  if  it  be  of  works,  then  it  is  no 
more  grace:  otherwise  work  is  no 
more  work.  Ver.  20.  Well;  be- 
cause of  unbelief  they  were  broken 
off,  and  thou  standest  by  faith. 
Be  not  high-minded,  but  fear.  2 
Pet.  i.  10.  [See  letter l  immediate- 
ly  foregoing.]  Rom.  viii.  33.  Who 
shall  lay  any  thing  to  the  charge 
of  God's  elect  1  It  is  God  that  jus- 
tified. Luke  x.  20.  Notwithstand- 
ing, in  this  rejoice  not,  that  the  spi- 
rits are  subject  unto  you;  but  ra- 
ther rejoice,  because  your  nai 
are  written  in  heaven." 

I.  » Heb.  i.  2.  Hath  in  these  last 
days  spoken  unto  us  by  his  Son, 
whom  he  hath  appointed  heir  of 
all  things,  by  whom  also  he  made 
the  worlds.  John  i.  2.  The  same 
was  in  the  beginning  with  God. 
Ver.  3.  All  things  were  made  by 
him :  and  without  him  was  not 
any  thing  made  that  was  made. 
Gen.  i.  2.  And  the  earth  was  with- 
out form  and  void;  and  darkness 
was  upon  the  face  of  the  deep :  and 
the  Spirit  of  God  moved  upon  the 
face  of  the  waters.  Job  xxvi.  13. 
By  his  Spirit  he  hath  garnished 
the  heavens;  his  hand  hath  formed 
the  crooked  serpent.  Job  xxxiii. 
4.  Tiie  Spirit  of  God  hath  made 
me,  and  the  breath  of  the  Almighty 
hath  2fiven  me  life. 

_b  Rom.  i.  50.  For  the  invisible 
things  of  him  from  the  creation  of 


the  world  are  clearly  seen,  being 
understood  by  the  things  that  are 
made,  even  his  eternal  power  and 
Godhead;  so  that  they  are  without 
excuse.  Jer.  x.  12.  He  hath  made 
the  earth  by  his  power,  he  hath 
established  the  world  by  his 
dom,  and  hath  stretched  out  the 
heavens  by  his  discretion.  Psalm 
civ.  24.  O  Lord,  how  manifold  are 
thy  works!  in  wisdom  hast  thou 
made  them  all:  the  earth  is  full  of 
thy  riches.  Psalm  xxxiii.  5.  He 
loveth  righteousness  and  judgment: 
the  earth  is  full  of  the  goodness  of 
the  Lord.  Ver.  6.  By  the  word  of 
the  Lord  were  the  heavens  made, 
and  all  the  host  of  them  by  the 
breath  of  his  mouth. 

c  [The  ichole  first  Chapter  of 
Gen]  Heb.  xi.  3.  Through  faith 
we  understand  that  the  worlds 
were  framed  by  the  word  of  God, 
so  that  things  which  are  seen 
were  not  made  of  things  which 
do  appear.  Col.  i.  16.  For  by 
him  were  all  things  created  that 
are  in  heaven,  and  that  are  in 
earth,  visible  and  invisible,  whe- 
ther they  be  thrones,  cr  domi- 
nions, or  principalities,  or  powers; 
all  things  were  created  by  him, 
and  for  him.  Acts  xvii  24.  God, 
that  made  the  world,  and  all 
things  therein,  seeing  that  he  is 
Lord  of  heaven  and  earth,  dwell- 
eth  not  in  temples  made  with 
hands. 


44 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


Chap.  IV. 


man,  male  and  female/  with  reasonable  and  immortal 
souls,e  endued  with  knowledge,  righteousness,  and  true  ho- 
liness, after  his  own  image/  having  the  law  of  God  written 
in  their  hearts,8  and  power  to  fulfil  it;h  and  yet  under  a 
possibility  of  transgressing,  being  left  to  the  liberty  of  their 
own  will,  which  was  subject  unto  change.1  Beside  this  law 
written  in  their  hearts,  they  received  a  command  not  to 
eat  of  the  tree  of  the  knowledge  of  good  and  evil  ;k  which 


II.  d  Gen.  1.  27.  So  God  created 
man  in  his  own  image,  in  the  image 
of  God  created  he  him  ;  male  and 
female  created  he  them. 

E  Gen.  ii.  7.  And  the  Lord  God 
formed  man  of  the  dust  of  the 
ground,  and  breathed  into  his  nos- 
trils the  breath  of  life;  and  man 
became  a  living  soul.  With  Eccl. 
xii.  7.  Then  shall  the  dust  return 
to  the  earth  as  it  was ;  and  the 
spirit  shall  return  unto  God  who 
gave  it.  And  Luke  xxiii.  43.  And 
Jesus  said  unto  him,  Verily  I  say 
unto  thee,  To-day  shalt  ttiou  be 
with  me  in  paradise.  And  Matt. 
x.  28.  And  fear  not  them  which 
kill  the  body,  but  are  not  able  to 
kill  the  soul;  but  rather  fear  him 
which  is  able  to  destroy  both  soul 
and  body  in  hell. 

f  Gen.  i.  26.  And  God  said,  Let 
us  make  man  in  our  image,  after 
our  likeness;  and  let  them  have 
dominion  over  the  fish  of  the  sea, 
and  over  the  fowl  of  the  air,  and 
over  the  cattle,  and  over  all  the 
earth,  and  over  every  creeping 
thing  that  creepeth  upon  the  earth. 
Col.  iii.  10.  And  have  put  on  the 
new  man,  which  is  renewed  in 
knowledge,  after  the  image  of 
him  that  created  him.  Ephes. 
iv.  24.  And  that  ye  put  on  the 
new  man,  which  after  God  is  cre- 
ated in  righteousness  and  true  ho- 
liness. 

*  Rom.   ii.   14.   For   when  the 


Gentiles,  which  have  not  the  law, 
do  by  nature  the  things  contained 
in  the  law,  these  having  not  the 
law,  are  a  law  unto  themselves: 
Ver.  15.  Which  show  the  work  of 
the  law  written  in  their  hearts, 
their  conscience  also  bearing  wit- 
ness, and  their  thoughts  the  mean 
while  accusing  or  else  excusing 
one  another. 

h  Eccl.  vii.  29.  Lo,  this  only 
have  I  found,  that  God  hath  made 
man  upright;  but  they  have  sought 
out  many  inventions. 

1  Gen.  iii.  6.  And  when  the  wo- 
man saw  that  the  tree  was  good  for 
food,  and  that  it  was  pleasant  to 
the  eyes,  and  a  tree  to  be  desired 
to  make  one  wise;  she  took  of  the 
fruit  thereof,  and  did  eat,  and  gave 
also  unto  her  husband  with  her, 
and  he  did  eat.  Eccl.  vii.  29-  [See 
letter  h  immediately  foregoing.] 

k  Gen.  ii.  17.  But  of  the  tree  of 
the  knowledge  of  good  and  evil, 
thou  shall  not  eat  of  it ;  for  in  the 
day  that  thou  eatest  thereof,  thou 
shalt  surely  die.  Gen.  iii.  8.  And 
they  heapd  the  voice  of  the  Lord 
God  walking  in  the  garden  in  the 
cool  of  the  day :  and  Adam  and 
his  wife  hid  themselves  from  the 
presence  of  the  Lord  God  amongst 
the  trees  of  the  garden.  Ver.  9. 
And  the  Lord  God  called  unto 
Adam,  and  said  unto  him,  Where 
art  thou  1  Ver.  10.  And  he  said,  I 
heard   thy  voice  in   the  garden : 


Chap.  V. 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


45 


while  they  kept,  they  were  happy  in  their  communion  with 
God,  and  had  dominion  over  the  creatures,1 


CHAPTER  V.     Of  Providence. 

God,  the  great  Creator  of  all  things,  doth  uphold, a  direct, 
dispose,  and  govern  all  creatures,  actions,  and  things,b  from 
the  greatest  even  to  the  least,c  by  his  most  wise  and  holy 


and  I  was  afraid,  because  I  was 
naked  ;  and  I  hid  myself.  Ver.  11. 
And  he  said,  Who  told  thee  that 
thou  wast  naked  1  Hast  thou  eaten 
of  the  tree,  whereof  I  commanded 
thee  that  thou  shouldest  not  eat ! 
Ver.  23.  Therefore  the  Lord  God 
sent  him  forth  from  the  garden  of 
Eden,  to  till  the  ground  from 
whence  he  was  taken. 

1  Gen.  i.  26.  And  God  said,  Let 
us  make  man  in  our  image,  after 
our  likeness:  and  let  them  have 
dominion  over  the  fisli  of  the  sea, 
and  over  the  fowl  of  the  air,  and 
over  the  cattle,  and  over  all  the 
earth,  and  over  every  creeping 
thing  that  creepeth  upon  the  earth. 
Ver.  23.  And  God  blessed  them; 
and  God  said  unto  them,  Be  fruit- 
ful and  multiply,  and  replenish  the 
earth,  and  subdue  it ;  and  have  do- 
minion over  the  fish  of  the  sea,  and 
over  the  fowl  of  the  air,  and  over 
every  living  thing  that  moveth 
upon  the  earth. 

I.  aHeb.  i.  3.  Who  being  the 
brightness  of  his  glory,  and  the  ex- 
press image  of  his  person,  and  up- 
holding all  things  by  the  word  of 
his  power,  when  he  had  by  himself 
purged  our  sins,  sat  down  on  the 
right  hand  of  the  Majesty  on  high. 

b  Dan.  iv.  34  And,  at  the  end 
of  the  days,  I  Nebuchadnezzar 
lifted  up  mine  eyes  unto  heaven, 
and  mine  understanding  returned 
unto  me,  and  I  blessed  the  moat 


High,  and  I  praised  and  honoured 
him  that  liveth  for  ever,  whose  do- 
minion is  an  everlasting  dominion, 
and  his  kingdom  is  from  genera- 
tion to  generation.  Ver.  35.  And 
all  the  inhabitants  of  the  earth  are 
reputed  as  nothing :  and  he  doeth 
according  to  his  will  in  the  army 
of  heaven,  and  among  the  inhabi- 
tants of  the  earth;  and  none  can 
stay  his  hand,  or  say  unto  him, 
What  doest  thou  3  Psal.  exxxv.  6. 
Whatsoever  the  Lord  pleased,  that 
did  he  in  heaven,  and  in  earth,  in 
the  seas,  and  all  deep  places.  Acts 
xvii.  25.  Neither  is  worshipped 
with  men's  hands,  as  though  he 
needed  any  thing,  seiing  he  giveth 
to  all  life,  and  breath,  and  all  things, 
Ver.  26.  And  hath  made  of  one 
blood  all  nations  of  men,  for  to 
dwell  on  all  the  face  of  the  earth, 
and  hath  determined  the  times  be- 
fore appointed,  and  the  bounds  of 
their  habitation.  Ver.  26.  For  in 
him  we  live,  and  move,  and  have 
our  being;  as  certain  also  of  your 
own  poets  have  said,  For  we  are 
also  his  offspring.  Job,  Chapters 
xxxviii,  xxxix,  xl,  xli. 

c  Matth.  x.  29.  Are  not  two 
sparrows  sold  for  a  farthing  ?  and 
one  of  them  shall  not  fall  on  the 
ground  without  your  Father.  Ver. 
30.  But  the  very  hairs  of  your 
head  are  all  numbered.  Ver.  31. 
Fear  ye  not  therefore,  yo  are  of 
more  value  than  many  sparrows. 


46 


The  Confession  of  Faith, 


Chap.  V. 


providence/  according  to  his  infallible  foreknowledge,6  and 
the  free  and  immutabLe  counsel  of  his  own  will/  to  the  praise 
of  the  glory  of  his  wisdom,  power,  justice,  goodness,  and 
mercy. s 

II.  Although,  in  relation  to  the  foreknowledge  and  decree 
of  God,  the  first  cause,  all  things  come  to  pass  immutably 
and  infallibly;11  yet,  by  the  same  providence,  he  ordereth 
them  to  fall  out  according  to  the  nature  of  second  causes, 
either  necessarily,  freely,  or  contingently.1 


d  Prov.  xv.  3.  The  eyes  of  the 
Lord  are  in  every  place,  beholding 
the  evil  and  the  good.  Psal.  civ. 
24.  O  Lord,  how  manifold  are  thy 
works!  in  wisdom  hast  thou  made 
them  all:  the  earth  is  full  of  thy 
riches.  Psal.  cxlv.  17.  The  Lord 
is  righteous  in  all  hi3  ways,  and 
holy  in  all  his  works. 

e  Acts  xv.  18.  Known  unto  God 
are  all  his  works  from  the  begin- 
ning of  the  world.  Psal.  xciv.  8. 
Understand,  ye  brutish  among  the 
people:  and  ye  fools,  when  will  ye 
be  wise]  Ver.  9.  He  that  planted 
the  ear,  shall  he  not  hear]  he  that 
formed  the  eye,  shall  he  not  see1? 
Yer.  10.  He  that  chastiseth  the 
heathen,  shall  not  he  correct?  he 
that  teacheth  man  knowledge, 
shall  not  he  know]  Ver.  11.  The 
Lord  knoweth  the  thoughts  of  man, 
that  they  are  vanity. 

f  Eph.  i.  11.  In  whom  also  we 
have  obtained  an  inheritance,  being 
predestinated  according  to  the  pur- 
pose of  him  who  worketh  all  things 
after  the  counsel  of  his  own  will. 
Psal.xxxiii.  10.  The  Lord  bringetb 
the  counsel  of  the  heathen  to 
nought;  he  maketh  the  devices  of 
the  people  of  none  effect.  Ver.  11. 
The  counsel  of  the  Lord  standeth 
for  ever,  the  thoughts  of  his  heart 
to  all  generations. 

s  Isa.  lxiii.  14.  As  a  beast  goeth 
down  into  the  valley,  the  Spirit  of 


the  Lord  caused  him  to  rest;  so 
didst  thou  lead  thy  people,  to  make 
thyself  a  glorious  name.  Eph.  iii. 
10.  To  the'intent  that  now  unto  the 
principalities  and  powers  in  hea- 
venly places  might  be  known  by 
the  church  the  mani!old  wisdom  of 
God.  Rom.  ix.  17.  For  the  scrip- 
ture saith  unto  Pharaoh,  Even  for 
this  same  purpose  have  I  raised 
thee  up,  that  I  might  show  my 
power  in  thee,  and  that  my  name 
might  be  declared  throughout  all 
the' earth.  Gen.  xlv.  7.  And  God 
sent  me  before  you,  to  preserve  you 
a  posterity  in  the  earth,  rind  to  save 
your  lives  by  a  great  deliverance. 
Psal.  cxlv.  7.  They  shall  abundant- 
ly utter  the  memory  of  thy  great 
goodness,  and  shall  sing  of  thy 
righteousness. 

II.  h  Acts  ii.  23.  Him,  being  de- 
livered by  the  determinate  counsel 
and  foreknowledge  ofGod,  ye  have 
taken,  and  by  wicked  hands  have 
crucified  and  slain. 

1  Gen.  viii.  22.  While  the  earth 
remaineth,  seed-time  and  harvest, 
and  cold  and  heat,  and  summer, 
and  winter,  and  day  and  night, 
shall  not  cease.  Jer.  xxxi.  35. 
Thus  saith  the  Lord,  which  giveth 
the  eun  for  a  light  by  day,  and  the 
ordinances  of  the  moon  and  of  the 
stars  for  a  light  by  night;  which 
divideth  the  sea,  when  the  waves 
thereof  roar ;  the  Lord  of  hosts  is 


Chap.  V. 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


47 


III.  God  in  his  ordinary 
means,k  yet  is  free  to  work 
them,"  at  his  pleasure. 


providence   maketh   use    of 
without,1  above,m  and   against 


his  name.  Exod.  xxi.  13.  And  if  a 
man  lie  nut  in  wait,  but  God  deli- 
ver him  into  his  hand;  then  I  will 
appoint  thee  a  place  whither  he 
shall  flge.  With  Deut.  xix.  5.  As 
when  a  man  goeth  into  the  wood 
with  his  neighbour  to  hew  wood, 
'and  his  hand  fetcheth  a  stroke  with 
the  axe  to  cut  down  the  tree,  and 
the  head  slippeth  from  the  helve, 
and  lighteth  upon  his  neighbour, 
that  he  die;  he  shall  flee  unto  one 
of  those  cities,  and  live.  1  Kings 
xxii.  28.  And  Micaiah  said,  If  thou 
return  at  all  in  peace,  the  Lord  hath 
not  spoken  by  me.  And  he  said, 
Hearken,  O  people,  every  one  of 
you.  Ver.  34.  And  a  certain  man 
drew  a  how  at  a  venture,  and  smote 
the  king  of  Israel  between  the  joints 
of  the  harness:  wherefore  he  said 
unto  the  driver  of  his  chariot,  Turn 
thine  hand,  and  carry  me  out  of 
the  host,  for  I  am  wounded.  Isa. 
x.  6.  I  will  send  him  against  a  hy- 
pocritical nation;  and  against  the 
people  of  my  wrath  will  I  give  him 
a  charge,  to  take  the  spoil,  and  to 
take  the  prey,  and  to  tread  them 
down  like  the  mire  of  the  streets. 
Ver.  7.  Howbeit,  he  meaneth  not 
so,  neither  doth  his  heart  think  so; 
but  it  is  in  his  heart  to  destroy, 
and  cut  off  nations  not  a  few. 

III.  k  Acts  xxvii.  31.  Paul  said  to 
the  centurion,  and  to  the  soldiers, 
Except  these  abide  in  the  ship,  ye 
cannot  be  saved.  Ver.  44.  And  the 
rest,  some  on  boards,  and  some  on 
broken  pieces  of  the  ship  :  and  so  it 
came  to  pass  that  they  escaped  all 
safe  to  land.  Isa.  lv.  10.  For  as 
the  rain  cometh  down,  and  the 
snow  from  heaven,  and  returneth 
cot  thither,  but  watereth  the  earth, 


and  maketh  it  bring  forth  and  bud, 
that  it  may  give  seed  to  the  sower, 
and  bread  to  the  eater:  Ver.  11. 
So  shall  my  word  be  that  goeth 
forth  out  of  my  mouth  :  it  shall  not 
return  unto  me  void,  but  it  shall 
accomplish  that  which  I  please, 
and  it  shall  prosper  in  the  thing 
whereto  I  sent  it.  Hos.  ii.  21.  And 
it  shall  come  to  pass  in  that  day,  I 
will  hear,  saith  the  Lord;  I  will 
hear  the  heavens,  and  they  shall 
hear  the  earth.  Ver.  22.  And  the 
earth  shall  hear  the  corn,  and  the 
wine,  and  the  oil,  and  they  shall 
hear  Jezreel. 

1  Hos.  i.  7-  But  I  will  have  mercy 
upon  the  house  of  Judah,  and  will 
save  them  by  the  Lord  their  God, 
and  will  not  save  them  by  bow,  nor 
by  sword,  nor  by  battle,  by  horses, 
nor  by  horsemen.  Mat.  iv.  4.  But 
he  answered  and  said,  It  is  written, 
Man  shall  not  live  by  bread  alone, 
but  by  every  word  that  proceedeth 
out  of  the  mouth  of  God.  Jobxxxiv. 
10.  Therefore  hearken  unto  me,  ye 
men  of  understanding:  Far  be  it 
from  God,  that  he  should  do  wick- 
edness, and  from  the  Almighty, 
that  he  should  commit  iniquity. 

m  Rom.  iv.  19.  And  being  not 
weak  in  faith,  he  considered  not 
his  own  body  now  dead,  when  he 
was  about  a  hundred  years  old, 
neither  yet  the  deadness  of  Sara's 
womb.  Ver.  20.  He  staggered  not 
at  the  promise  of  God  through 
unbelief;  but  was  strong  in  faith, 
giving  glory  to  God  :  Ver.  21.  And 
being  fully  persuaded,  that  what 
he  had  promised  he  was  able  also 
to  perform. 

D  2  Kings  vi.6.  And  the  man  of 
God  said,  Where  fell  it?     And  he 


48 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


Chap.  V. 


IV.  The  almighty  power,  unsearchable  wisdom,  and  infi- 
nite goodness  of  God,  so  far  manifest  themselves  in  his  pro- 
vidence, that  it  extendeth  itself  even'to  the  first  fall,  and  all 
other  sins  of  angels  and  men,0  and  that  not  by  a  bare  per- 
mission/ but  such  as  hath  joined  with  it  a  most  wise  and 
powerful  bounding,*1  and  otherwise  ordering  and  governing 


showed  him  the  place.  And  he  cut 
down  a  stick,  and  cast  it  in  thither, 
and  the  iron  did  swim.  Dan.  iii. 
27.  And  the  princes,  governors,  and 
captains,  and  the  king's  counsel- 
lors, being  gathered  together,  saw 
these  men,  upon  whose  bodies  the 
fire  had  no  power,  nor  was  a  hair 
of  their  head  singed,  neither  were 
their  coats  changed,  nor  the  smell 
of  fire  had  passed  on  them. 

IV.  °  Rom.  xi.  32.  For  God  hath 
concluded  them  all  in  unbelief, 
that  he  might  have  mercy  upon 
all.  Ver.  33.  O  the  depth  of  the 
riches  both  of  the  wisdom  and 
knowledge  of  God  !  how  unsearch- 
able are  his  judgments,  and  his 
ways  past  finding  out!  Ver.  34. 
For  who  hath  known  the  mind  of 
the  Lord,  or  who  hath  been  his 
counsellor?  2  Sam.  xxiv.  1.  And 
again  the  anger  of  the  Lord  was 
kindled  against  Israel,  and  he 
moved  David  against  them,  to  say, 
Go,  number  Israel  and  Juclah. 
With  1  Chron.  xxi.  1.  And  Satan 
stood  up  against  Israel,  and  pro- 
voked David  to  number  Israel. 
1  Kings  xxii.  22.  And  the  Lord 
said  unto  him,  Wherewith  1  And 
he  said,  I  will  go  forth,  and  I  will 
be  a  lying  spirit  in  the  mouth  of 
all  his  prophets.  And  he  said, 
Thou  shalt  persuade  him,  and  pre- 
vail also:  go  forth,  and  do  so.  Ver. 
23.  Now  therefore,  behold,  the 
Lord  hath  put  a  lying  spirit  in  the 
mouth  of  all  these  thy  prophets, 
and  the  Lord  hath  spoken  evil 
concerning  thee.    1  Chron.  x.  4. 


Then  said  Saul  to  his  armour- 
bearer,  Draw  thy  sword,  and 
thrust  me  through  therewith;  lest 
these  uncircumcised  come  and 
abuse  me.  But  his  armour-bearer 
would  not,  for  he  v/as  sore  afraid. 
So  Saul  took  a  sword,  and  fell  upon 
it.  Ver.  13.  So  Saul  died  for 
his  transgression  which  he  com- 
mitted against  the  Lord,  even 
against  the  word  of  the  Lord, 
which  he  kept  not,  and  also  for 
asking  counsel  of  one  that  had  a 
familiar  spirit,  to  inquire  of  it; 
Ver.  14.  And  inquired  not  of  the 
Lord  :  therefore  he  slew  him,  and 
turned  the  kingdom  unto  David, 
the  son  of  Jesse.  2  Sam.  xvi.  10. 
And  the  king  said,  What  have  I  to 
do  with  you,  ye  sons  of  Zeruiah? 
so  let  him  curse,  because  the  Lord 
hath  said  unto  him,  Curse  David. 
Who  shall  then  say,  Wherefore 
hast  thou  done  so?  Acts  ii.  23. 
Him,  being  delivered  by  the  deter- 
minate counsel  and  foreknowledge 
of  God,  ye  have  taken,  and  by 
wicked  hands  have  crucified  and 
slain.  Acts  iv.  27.  For  of  a  truth 
against  thy  holy  child  Jesus,  whom 
thou  hast  anointed,  both  Herod  and 
Pontius  Pilate,  with  the  Gentiles 
and  the  people  of  Israel,  were  ga- 
thered together,  Ver.  28.  For  to  do 
whatsoever  thy  hand  and  thy  coun- 
sel determined  before  to  be  done. 

p  Acts  xiv.  16.  Who  in  times 
past  suffered  all  nations  to  walk 
in  their  own  ways. 

*Psal.  Ixxvi.  10.  Surely  the 
wrath  of  man  shall  praise  thee: 


Chap.  V. 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


49 


of  them,  in  a  manifold  dispensation,  to  his  own  holy  ends;: 
yet  so  as  the  sinfulness  thereof  proceedeth  only  from  the 
creature,  and  not  from  God;  who,  being  most  holy  and 
righteous,  neither  is  nor  can  be  the  author  or  approver 
of  sin." 

V.  The  most  wise,  righteous,  and  gracious  God,  doth 
oftentimes  leave  for  a  season  his  own  children  to  manifold 
temptations,  and  the  corruption  of  their  own  hearts 
chastise  them  for  their  former  sins,  or  to  discover  unto 
them  the  hidden  strength  of  corruption,  and  deceitfulness 
of  their  hearts,  that  they  may  be  humbled  ::  and  to  raise 


the  remainder  of  wrath  shalt  thou 
restrain.  2  Kings  xix.  28.  Because 
thy  rage  against  rae,  and  thy  tu- 
mult, is  come  up  into  mine  ears  : 
therefore  I  will  put  my  hook  in 
thy  nose,  and  my  bridle  in  thy 
lips,  and  I  will  turn  thee  back  by 
the  way  by  which  thou  earnest 

r  Gen.  1.  20.  But  as  for  you,  ye 
thought  evil  against  me  ;  but  God 
meant  it  unto  good,  to  bring  to 
pass,  as  it  is  thi  ve  much 

people  alive.  Isa.  x.  6.  1  will  send 
him  against  a  hypocritical  nation, 
and  against  the  people  of  my  wrath 
will  I  give  him  a  charge,  to  take 
the  spoil,  and  to  take  the  prey,  and 
to  tread  them  down  like  the  mire 
of  the  streets.  Ver.  7.  Howbeit 
he  meaneth  not  so,  neither  doth 
his  heart  think  so;  but  it  is  in  his 
heart  to  destroy  and  cut  on  nations 
not  a  few.  Ver.  12.  Wherefore  it 
shall  come  to  pass,  that,  when  the 
Lord  hath  performed  his  whole 
work  upon  mount  Zion,  and  on 
Jerusalem,  I  will  punish  the  fruit 
of  the  stout  heart  of  the  king  of 
Assyria,  and  the  glory  of  his  high 
looks. 

s  James  i.  13.  Let  no  man  say 
when  he  is  tempted,  I  am  tempted 
of  God :  for  God  cannot  be  tempted 
with  evil,  neither  tempteth  he  any 
man :  Ver.  14.  But  everv  man  is 
5 


tempted,  when  he  is  drawn  f 
of  his  own  lust,  and  enticed.  Ver. 
17.  Every  good  gift,  and  every  per- 
fect gift,  is  from  above,  and  cometh 
down  from  the  Father  of  lights, 
with  whom  is  no  variableness,  nei- 
ther shadow  of  turning.  1  John  ii. 
16.  For  all  that  is  in  the  world,  the 
lust  of  the  flesh,  and  the  lust  of  the 
.  and  the  pride  of  life,  is  not  of 
the  Father,  but  is  of  the  world. 
Psal.  1.  21.  These  things  hast  thou 
done,  and  I  kept  silence :  thou 
thoughtest  that  I  was  altogether 
such  a  one  as  thyself:  but  I  will 
reprove  thee,  and  set  them  in  order 
before  thine  ev 

].  25.  But  Heze- 
kiah  rendered  not  again  according 
to  the  benefit  done  unto  him  :  for 
his  heart  was  lifted  up:  therefore 
there  was  wrath  upon  him,  and 
upon  Judah  and  Jerusalem.  Ver. 
26.  Notwithstanding,  Hezekiah 
humbled  himself  for  the  pride  of 
his  heart,  (both  he  and  the  inhabi- 
tants of  Jerusalem.)  so  that  the 
wrath  of  the  Lord  came  not  upon 
them  in  the  days  of  Hezekiah. 
Ver.  31.  Howbeit,  in  the  business 
of  the  ambassadors  of  the  princes 
of  Babylon,  who  sent  unto  him  to 
inquire  of  the  wonder  that  was 
done  in  the  land,  God  left  him,  to 
try  him,  that  he  might  know  all 


50 


Tlie  Confession  of  Faith. 


Chap.  V. 


them  to  a  more  close  and  constant  dependence  for  their  sup- 
port upon  himself,  and  to  make  them  more  watchful  against 
all  future  occasions  of  sin,  and  for  sundry  other  just  and 
holy  ends.a 

VI.  As  for  those  wicked  and  ungodly  men,  whom  God 
as  a  righteous  judge,  for  former  sins,  doth  blind  and  har- 
den,* from  them  he  not  only  withholdeth  his  grace,  where- 
by they  might  have  been  enlightened  in  their  understand- 


that  was  in  his  heart.  2  Sam.  xxiv. 
1.  And  again  the  anger  of  the  Lord 
was  kindled  against  Israel,  and  he 
moved  David  against  them  to  say, 
Go,  number  Israel  and  Judah. 

u  2  Cor.  xii.  7.  And  lest  I  should 
be  exalted  above  measure,  through 
the  abundance  of  the  revelations, 
there  was  given  to  me  a  thorn  in 
the  flesh,  the  messenger  of  Satan 
to  buffet  me,  lest  I  should  be  ex- 
alted above  measure.  Ver.  8.  For 
this  thing  I  besought  the  Lord 
thrice,  that  it  might  depart  from 
me.  Ver.  9.  And  he  said  unto  me, 
My  grace  is  sufficient  for  thee:  for 
my  strength  is  made  perfect  in 
weakness.  Most  gladly  therefore 
will  I  rather  glory  in  my  infirmi- 
ties, that  the  power  of  Christ  may 
rest  upon  me.  Psa]Axx\\i.  through- 
out.  *  Psal.  Ixxvii.  1.  I  cried  unto 
God  with  my  voice,  even  unto  God 
with  my  voice ;  and  he  gave  car 
unto  me.  Ver.  10.  And  I  said, 
This  is  my  infirmity  :  but  I  will  re- 
member the  years  of  the  right  hand 
of  the  most  High.  Ver.  12.  I  will 
meditate  also  of  all  thy  work,  and 
talk  of  thy  doings.  [Read  the  in- 
termediate verses  in  the  Bible.] 
Mark  xiv.  from  the  66th  verse  to 
the  end,  with  John  xxi.  15.  So  when 
they  had  dined,  Jesus  saith  to  Si- 
mon Peter,  Simon,  son  of  Jonas, 
lovest  thou  me  more  than  these  1 
He  saith  unto  him,  Yea,  Lord ; 
thou  knowest  that  I  love    thee. 


He  saith  unto  him,  Feed  my  lambs. 
Ver;  16.  He  saith  to  him  again  the 
second  time,  Simon,  son  of  Jonas, 
lovest  thou  me  1  He  saith  unto 
him,  Yea,  Lord  ;  thou  knowest  that 
I  love  thee.  He  saith  unto  him, 
Feed  my  sheep.  Ver.  17.  He  saith 
unto  him  the  third  time,  Simon, 
son  of  Jonas,  lovest  thou  me!  Pe- 
ter was  grieved,  because  he  said 
unto  him  the  third  time,  Lovest 
thou  me  1  And  he  said  unto  him, 
Lord,  thou  knowest  all  things;  thou 
knowest  that  I  love  thee.  Jesus 
saith  unto  him,  Feed  my  sheep. 

VI.  x  Rom.  i.  24.  Wherefore 
God  also  gave  them  up  to  unciean- 
ness,  through  the  lusts  of  their  own 
hearts,  to  dishonour  their  own  bo- 
dies between  themselves.  Ver.  26. 
For  this  cause  God  gave  them  up 
unto  vile  affections:  for  even  their 
women  did  change  the  natural  use 
into  that  which  is  against  nature. 
Ver.  28.  And  even  as  they  did  not 
like  to  retain  God  in  their  know- 
ledge, God  gave  them  over  to  a  re- 
probate mind,  to  do  those  things 
which  are  not  convenient.  Rom. 
xi.  7.  What  then  1  Israel  hath  not 
obtained  that  which  he  seeketh 
for,  but  the  election  hath  obtain- 
ed it,  and  the  rest  were  blinded, 
Ver  8.  (According  as  it  is  written, 
God  hath  given  them  the  spirit 
of  slumber,  eyes  that  they  should 
not  see,  and  ears  that  they  should 
not  hear,)  unto  this  day. 


Chap.  V 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


51 


.  and  wrought  upon  in  their  hearts;5"  but  sometimes  also 
withdraweth  the  gilts  which  they  had,z  and  exposeth  them 
to  such  objects  as  their  corruption  makes  occasion  of  sin;1 
and  withal,  gives  them  over  to  their  own  lusts,  the  tempta- 
tions of  the  world,  and  the  power  of  Satan:*  whereby  it 
comes  to  pass,  that  they  harden  themselves,  even  under  those 
means  which  God  useth  for  the  softening  of  others.0 


y  Deut.  xxix.  4.  Yet  the  Lord 
hath  not  given  you  a  heart  to 
perceive,  and  eyes  to  see,  and  ears 
to  hear,  unto  this  day. 

1  Mat.  xiii.  12.  For  whosoever 
hath,  to  him  shall  be  given,  and  he 
shall  have  more  abundance:  but 
whosoever  hath  not,  from  him  shall 
be  taken  away  even  that  he  hath. 
Mat.  xxv.  29.  For  unto  every  one 
that  hath  shall  be  given,  and  he 
^shall  have  abundance:  but  from 
him  that  hath  not,  shall  be  taken 
away  even  that  which  he  hath. 

*  Deut.  ii.  30.  But  Silion  king  of 
Heshbon  would  not  let  us  pass  by 
him;  for  the  Lord  thy  God  harden- 
ed his  spirit,  and  made  his  heart 
obstinate,  that  he  might  deliver 
him  into  thy  hand,  as  appeareth 
this  day.  2  Kings  viii.  12.  And 
Hazael  said,  Why  weepeth  my 
lord  ?  And  he  answered,  Because 
I  know  the  evil  that  thou  wilt  do 
unto  the  children  of  Israel:  their 
strong  holds  wilt  thou  set  on  fire, 
and  their  young  men  wilt  thou 
slay  with  the  sword,  and  wilt  dash 
their  children,  and  rip  up  their 
women  with  child.  Ver.  1-3.  And 
Hazael  said,  But  what!  is  thy  ser- 
vant a  dog,  that  he  should  do  this 
great  thing  ]  And  Elisha  answer- 
ed, The  Lord  hath  showed  me  that 
thou  shalt  be  king  over  Syria. 

fcPsa!.  lxxxi.  11.  But  my  people 
would  not  hearken  to  my  voice, 
and  Israel  would  none  of  me. 
Ver.  12.  So  I  gave  them  up  unto 


their  own  hearts'  lust;  and  they 
walked  in  their  own  counsels. 
2  Thess.  ii.  10.  And  with  all  de- 
ceivableness  of  unrighteousness  in 
them  that  perish;  because  they 
received  not  the  love  of  the  truth, 
that  they  might  be  saved.  Ver.  11. 
And  for  this  cause  God  shall  send 
them  strong  delusion,  that  they 
should  believe  a  lie ;  Ver.  12.  That 
they  all  might  be  damned  who 
believed  not  the  truth,  but  had 
pleasure  in  unrighteousness. 

c  Exod.  vii.  3.  And  I  will  harden 
Pharaoh's  heart,  and  multiply  my 
signs  and  my  wonders  in  the  land 
of  Egypt.  With  Exod.  viii.  1-3. 
But  when  Pharaoh  saw  that  there 
was  respite,  he  hardened  his  heart, 
and  hearkened  not  unto  them;  as 
the  Lord  had  said.  Ver.  32.  And 
Pharaoh  hardened  his  heart  at  this 
time  also,  neither  would  he  let  the 
people  go.  2  Cor.  ii.  15.  For  we 
are  unto  God  a  sweet  savour  of 
Christ,  in  them  that  are  saved,  and 
in  them  that  perish.  Ver.  16.  To 
the  one  we  are  the  savour  of  death 
unto  death,  and  to  the  other  the 
savour  of  life  unto  life;  and  who  is 
sufficient  for  these  things  !  Isa.  viii. 
14.  And  he  shall  be  for  a  sanctuary : 
but  for  a  stone  of  stumbling,  and 
for  a  rock  of  offence,  to  both  the 
houses  of  Israel ;  for  a  gin,  and  for 
a  snare,  to  the  inhabitants  of  Je- 
rusalem. 1  Pet.  ii.  7.  Unto  you 
therefore  which  believe  he  is  pre- 
cious :  but  unto  them  which  be 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


Chap.  VI. 


VII.  As  the  providence  of  God  doth,  in  general,  reach  to 
all  creatures;  so,  after  a  most  special  manner,  it  taketh  care 
of  his  church,  and  disposeth  all  things  to  the  good  thereof.* 


CHAPTER  VI.   Of  the  Fall  of  Man,  of  Sin,  and  of  the 
Punishment  thereof. 

Our  first  parents  being  seduced  by  the  subtlety  and 
temptation  of  Satan,  sinned  in  eating  the  forbidden 
fruit.*     This  their  sin,  God  was  pleased,  according  to  his 


obedient,  the  stone  which  the 
builders  disallowed,  the  same  is 
made  the  head  of  the  corner.  Ver. 
8.  And  a  stone  of  stumbling,  and  a 
rock  of  offence,  even  to  them  which 
stumble  at  the  word,  being  disobe- 
dient; wbereunto  also  they  were 
appointed.  Isa.  vi.  9.  And  he  said, 
Go  and  tell  this  people,  Hear  ye  in- 
deed, but  understand  not;  and  see 
ye  indeed,  but  perceive  not.  Ver. 
10.  Make  the  heart  of  this  people 
fat,  and  make  their  ears  heavy,  and 
shut  their  eyes;  lest  they  see  with 
their  eyes,  and  hear  with  their  ears, 
and  understand  with  their  heart, 
and  convert,  and  be  healed.  With 
Acts  xxviii.  26.  Saying,  Go  unto 
this  people,  and  say,  Hearing  ye 
shall  hear,  and  shall  not  under- 
stand ;  and  seeing  ye  shall  see,  and 
not  perceive.  Ver.  27.  For  the  heart 
of  this  people  is  waxed  gross,  and 
their  cars  are  dull  of  hearing,  and 
their  eyes  have  they  closed ;  lest 
they  should  see  with  their  eyes,  and 
hear  with  their  ears,  and  under- 
stand with  their  heart,  and  should 
be  converted,  and  I  should  heal 
them. 

VII. d  1  Tim.  iv.  10.  For  there- 
fore we  both  labour,  and  suffer  re- 
proach, because  we  trust  in  the 
living  God,  who  is  the  Saviour  of 
all  men,  especially  of  those  that  be- 


lieve. Amos  ix.  8.  Behold,  the  eyes 
of  the  Lord  God  are  upon  the  sinful 
kingdom,  and  I  will  destroy  it  from 
off  the  face  of  the  earth ;  saving  that 
I  will  not  utterly  destroy  the  house 
of  Jacob,  saith  the  Lord.  Ver.  9. 
For,  lo,  I  will  command,  and  I  will 
sift  the  house  of  Israel  among  all 
nations,  like  as  corn  is  silted  in  a 
sieve,  yet  shall  not  the  least  grain 
fall  upon  the  earth.  Rom.  viii.  28. 
And  we  know  that  all  things  work 
together  for  good  to  them  that  love 
God,  to  them  who  are  the  called 
according  to  his  purpose.  Isa.  xliii. 
3.  For  I  am  the  Lord  thy  God,  the 
Holy  One  of  Israel,  thy  Saviour:  I 
gave  Egypt  for  thy  ransom,  Ethio- 
pia and  Seba  for  thee.  Ver.  4.  Since 
thou  wast  precious  in  my  sight, 
thou  hast  been  honourable,  and  I 
have  loved  thee;  therefore  will  I 
give  men  for  thee,  and  people  for 
thy  life.  Ver.  5.  Fear  not;  for  I  am 
with  thee:  I  will  bring  thy  seed 
from  the  east,  and  gather  thee  from 
the  west.  Ver.  14.  Thus  saith  the 
Lord,  your  Redeemer,  the  Holy 
One  of  Israel,  For  your  sake  I  have 
sent  to  Babylon,  and  have  brought 
down  all  their  nobles,  and  the 
Chaldeans,  whose  cry  is  in  the  ships. 
I.  a  Gen.  iii.  13.  And  the  Lord 
God  said  unto  the  woman,  What 
is  this  that  thou  hast  done  1    And 


Chap.  VI. 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


0; 


and  holy  counsel,  to  permit,  having  purposed  to  order 
it  to  his  own  gloi 

If.  By  this  siD  they  fell  from  their  original  righte 
and  communion  with  God,c  and  so  became  dead  in 
and  wholly  defiled  in  all  the  faculties  and  parts  of  sou1. 
body/ 

III.  They  being  the  root  of  all  mankind,  the  guilt  oi 
sin  was  imputed,rand  the  same  death  in  sin  and  corrupted 


th6  woman  said,  The  serpent  be- 
guiled me,  and  I  did  eat.  2  Cor. 
xi.  3.  But  I  £ear,  lest  by  any  means, 
as  the  serpent  beguiled  Eve 
thro:  _  flety,  so  your  minds 

should  be  corrupted  from  the 
plicity  that  is  in  Christ 

•  Rom.  xi.  32.  For  God  hath  con- 
cluded them  all  in  unbelief,  that 
he  might  have  mercy  upon  all. 

Gen.  i::\  6.  And  when  the 
woman  saw  that  the  tree  was 
good  fbr  food,  and  that  it  was 
pleasant  to  the  eyes,  and  a  tree 
to  be    desired  to  rnike  one  v. 

took  of  the  fruit  thereof,  and 
did  eat;  and  gave  also  unto  her 
husband  with  her,  and  he  did  eat. 
Ver.  7.  And  the  eyes  of  them  both 
were  openeJ,  and  they  knew  that 
they  were  naked  :  and  they  sewed 
fig-leaves  together,  and  made 
themselv'.  And 

they  heard  the  voice  of  the  Lord 
Goi  walking  in  the  garden  in  the 
cool  of  the  day :    and  Adam 

from  the 
presence  cf  the  Lord  God  amongst 
the  trees  of  the  garden.     Eccl.  vii. 
:i!y  have 

God  .hath  mide  man  upr_ 
but   they   Lave  sought  out  m 
inventions.     Rom.  ii:.  23.  For  all 
have  sinned,  a:; 
glory  of  God. 

f  the  tree  of 
the   knowledge  of  good  and 
-  not  eat  of  it :  I 

that  thou  eatest  thereof,  thou 


shalt  surely  die.     Eph.  ii.  1. 
hath  he  quickened,  who 
dead  in  trespasses- and  sins. 

ito  the  pure  all 
things  are   pure:    but  unto  them 
that  are  defiled  and  unbelievi: 
nothing  pure,  but  even  their  mind 
and  conscience  is  defiled.    G?: 
•3.  Arid  God  saw  that  the  wicked- 
ness of  man  was  great  in  the  e  . 
and  that  every  imagination  of  the 

-  heart  wa- 
continually.  J  The  heart 

is  deceitful  above  all  things,  and 
desperately  wicked,  who  can  ki 
it  J     Rorr.  s  written, 

There  is  none  righteous,  no,  not 
one:  Ver.  11. 

understandeth,  there  is  none  that 
:th  after  God:  Ver,  12,  They 
are  all  gone  out  of  the  w 
are  together  become  un 
there  is  none  tlut  doeth  gco. . 
not  one.     Ver.  13.  Their  thr: 
an    open    sepulchre;    with    their 
tongues  they  have    used  deceit; 
the  poison  of  asps  is  under  their 
lips:  Ver.  14.  Whose  mouth  i- 
of  cursing  and  bitterness:  Ver.  1". 
Their  feet  are  swift  to  shed  b! : 
16.  Destruction  and  nv 
are  in  their  ways:  Ver.  17.  . 
the  way  of  peace  have  they 
known :  Ver.  IS.  There  is  no 
:  before  their  e 
III. -Gen.  i.  27.  So'  God  c 
man  in  his  own  image,  in  the  image 
of  God  created  he  him:  male  and 
female  created  he  them. 


54 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


Chap.  VI. 


nature   conveyed  to  all  their  posterity,  descending  from 
them  by  ordinary  generation.8 

IV.  From  this  original  corruption,  whereby  we  are  ut- 
terly indisposed,  disabled,  and  made  opposite  to  all  good,h 


And  God  blessed  them ;  and  God 
said  unto  them,  Be  fruitful,  and 
multiply,  and  replenish  the  earth, 
and  subdue  it:  and  have  dominion 
over  the  fish  of  the  sea,  and  over 
the  fowl  of  the  air,  and  over  every 
living  tiling  that  moveth  upon  the 
earth.     And  Gen.  ii.  16.  And  the 
Lord  God    commanded    the  man, 
saying,  Of  every  tree  of  the  garden 
thou   maycst  freely  eat:  Ver.  17. 
But  of  the  tree  of  the  knowledge  of 
good  and  evil  thou  shalt  not  eat  of 
it :  for  in  the  day  that  thou  eatest 
.thereof  thou  shalt  surely  die.    And 
Acts  xvii.  26.  And  hath  made  of 
one  blood  all  nations  of  men,  for  to 
dwell  on  all  the  face  of  the  earth, 
and  hath  determined  the  times  be- 
fore appointed,  and  the  bounds  of 
their  habitation.      With  Rom.  v. 
12.  WTherefore,  as  by  one  man  sin 
entered  into  the  world,  and  death 
by  sin;  and  so  death  passed  upon 
all  men,  for  that  all  have  sinned. 
Ver.  15.  But  not  as  the  offence,  so 
also  is  the  free  gift.   For  if  through 
the  offence  of  one  many  be  dead  ; 
much  more  the  grace  of  God,  and 
the  gift  by  grace,  which  is  by  one 
man,  Jesus  Christ,  hath  abounded 
unto  many.     Ver.  16.  And  not  as 
it  was  by  one  that  sinned,  so  is 
the  gift:   for  the  judgment  was  by 
one  to  condemnation  ;  but  the  free 
gift  is  of  many  offences  unto  justi- 
fication.    Ver.  17.  For  if  by  one 
man's   offence  death    reigned   by 
one;  much  more  they  which  re- 
ceive abundance  of  grace,  and  of 
the   gift    of    righteousness,   shall 
reign  in  life  by  one,  Jesus  Christ. 
Ver.  18.  Therefore,  as  by  the  of- 


fence of  one,  judgment  came  upon 
all  men  to  condemnation  ;  even  so, 
by  the  righteousness  of  one,  the 
free  gift  came  upon  all  men  unto 
justification  of  life.  Ver.  19.  For 
as  by  one  man's  disobedience  many 
were  made  sinners;  so  by  the  obe- 
dience of  one  shall  many  be  made 
righteous.  And  1  Cor.  xv.  21. 
For  since  by  man  came  death,  by 
man  came  also  the  resurrection  of 
the  dead.  Ver.  22.  For  as  in  Adam 
all  die,  even  so  in  Christ  shall  all 
be  made  alive.  *  Ver.  45.  And  so 
it  is  written,  The  first  man  Adam 
was  made  a  living  soul,  the  last 
Adam  was  made  a  quickening 
spirit.  *  Ver.  49.  And  as  we  have 
borne  the  image  of  the  earthy, 
we  shall  also  bear  the  image  of 
the  heavenly. 

&  Psal.  Ii.  5.  Behold,  I  was  shapen 
in  iniquity;  and  in  sin  did  my  mo- 
ther conceive  me.  Gen.  v.  &  And 
Adam  lived  a  hundred  and  thirty 
years,  and  begat  a  son  in  his  own 
likeness,  after  his  image,  and  call- 
ed his  name  Seth.  Job  xiv.  4. 
Who  can  bring  a  clean  thing  out 
of  an  unclean'?  not  one.  Job  xv. 
14.  What  is  man  that  he  should 
be  clean?  and  he  which  is  born  of 
a  woman,  that  he  should  be  righ- 
teous ] 

IV.  h  Rom .  v.  6.  For  when  we 
were  yet  without  strength,  in  due 
time  Christ  died  for  the  ungodly. 
Rom.  viii.  7.  Because  the  carnal 
mind  is  enmity  against  God ;  for  it 
is  not  subject  to  the  law  of  God, 
neither  indeed  can  be.  Rom.  vii. 
18.  For  I  know  that  in  me  (that 
is,  in  my  flesh)  dwelleth  no  good 


Chap.  VI. 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


55 


and  wholly  inclined  to  all  evil,1  do  proceed  all  actual  trans- 
gressions.* 

V.  This  corruption  of  nature,  during  this  life,  doth  re- 
main in  those  that  are  regenerated:1  and  although  it  be 
through  Christ  pardoned  and  mortified,  yet  both  itself,  and 
all  the  motions  thereof,  are  truly  and  properly  sin.m 


thing:  for  to  will  is  present  with 
me;  but  how  to  perform  that 
which  is  good  I  find  not.  Col.  i. 
21.  And  you  that  were  sometime 
alienated,  and  enemies  in  your 
mind  by  wicked  works,  yet  now 
hath  he  reconciled. 

1  Gen.  vi.  5.  And  God  saw  that 
the  wickedness  of  man  was  great 
in  the  earth,  and  that  every  imagi- 
nation of  the  thoughts  of  his 
heart  was  only  evil  continually. 
Gen.  viii.  21.  And  the  Lord  smell- 
ed  a  sweet  savour;  and  the  Lord 
said  in  his  heart,  I  will  not  again 
curse  the  ground  any  more  for 
man's  sake;  for  the  imagination  of 
man's  heart  is  evil  from  his  youth  : 
neither  will  I  again  smite  any 
more  every  thing  living,  as  I  have 
done.  Rom.  iii.  10.  As  it  is  writ- 
ten, There  is  none  righteous,  no, 
not  one;  Ver.  11.  There  is  none 
that  understandeth,  there  is  none 
that  seeketh  after  God.  Ver.  12. 
They  are  all  gone  out  of  the  way, 
they  are  together  become  unpro- 
fitable; there  is  none  that  doeth 
good,  no,  not  one. 

k  James  i.  14.  But  every  man  is 
tempted,  when  he  is  drawn  away 
of  his  own  lust,  and  enticed.  Ver. 
15.  Then  when  lust  hath  conceived, 
it  bringeth  forth  sin ;  and  sin, 
when  it  is  finished,  bringeth  forth 
death.  Eph.ii.  2.  Wherein  in  time 
past  ye  walked  according  to  the 
course  of  this  world,  according  lo 
the  prince  of  the  power  of  the^air, 
the  spirit  that  now  worketh  in  the 
children  of  disobedience.     Ver.  3. 


Among  whom  also  we  all  had  our 
conversation  in  times  past,  in  the 
lusts  of  our  flesh,  fulfilling  the  de- 
sires of  the  flesh  and  of  the  mind  ; 
and  were  by  nature  the  children  of 
wrath,  even  as  others.  Mat.  xv.  19. 
For  out  of  the  heart  proceed  evil 
thoughts,  murders,  adulteries,  for- 
nications, thefts,  false  witness, 
blasphemies. 

V.  '  1  John  i.  8.  If  we  say  that 
we  have  no  sin,  we  deceive  our- 
selves, and  the  truth  is  not  in.  us. 
Ver.  10.  If  we  say  that  we  have  not 
sinned,  we  make  him  a  liar,  and  his 
word  is  not  in  us.  Rom.  vii.  14. 
For  we  know  that  the  law  is  spi- 
ritual :  but  I  am  carnal,  sold  under 
sin.  Ver.  17.  Now  then,  it  is  no 
more  I  that  do  it,  but  sin  that 
dwelleth  in  me.  Ver.  18.  For  I 
know  that  in  me  (that  is,  in  my 
flesh)  dwelleth  no  good  thing  :  for 
to  will  is  present  with  me ;  but 
how  to  perform  that  which  is  good 
I  find  not.  Ver.  23.  But  I  see  an- 
other law  in  my  members  warring 
against  the  law  of  my  mind,  and 
bringing  me  into  captivity  to  the 
law  of  sin  which  is  in  my  mem- 
bers. James  iii.  2.  For  in  many 
things  we  offend  all.  If  any  man 
offend  not  in  word,  the  same  is  a 
perfect  man,  and  able  also  to  bridle 
the  whole  body.  Prov.  xx.  9.  Who 
can  say,  I  have  made  my  heart 
clean,  I  am  pure  from  my  sin? 
Eccl.  vii.  20.  For  there  is  not  a 
just  man  upon  earth,  that  doeth 
good,  and  sinneth  not. 

m  Rorn.  vii.  5.    For   when   we 


56 


The  Confession  of  Fait k. 


Chap.  VI. 


VI.  Every  sin,  both  original  and  actual,  being  a  trans- 
gression of  the  righteous  law  of  God,  and  contrary  there- 
unto,11 doth,  in  its  own  nature,  bring  guilt  upon  the  sin- 
ner,0 whereby  he  is  bound  over  to  the  wrath  of  God,p  and 
curse  of  the  law,q  and  so  made  subject  to  death/  with  all 
miseries  spiritual,3  temporal/  and  eternal." 


were  in  the  flesh,  the  motions  of 
sins,  which  were  by  the  law,  did 
work  in  our  members  to  bring 
forth  fruit  unto  death.  Ver.  7. 
What  shall  we  say  then  1  Is  the 
law  sin  1  God  forbid.  Nay,  I  had 
not  known  sin  but  by  the  law;  for 
I  had  not  known  lust,  except  the 
law  had  said,  Thou  shalt  not  covet. 
Ver.  8.  But  sin,  taking  occasion  by 
the  commandment,  wrought  in  me 
all  manner  of  concupiscence.  For 
without  the  law  sin  was  dead. 
Ver.  25.  I  thank  God,  through  Je- 
sus Christ  our  Lord.  So  then 
with  the  mind  I  myself  serve  the 
law  of  God;  but  with  the  flesh  the 
law  of  sin.  Gal.  v.  17.  For  the 
flesh  lusteth  against  the  Spirit,  and 
the  Spirit  against  the  flesh  :  and 
these  are  contrary  the  one  to  the 
other;  so  that  ye  cannot  do  the 
things  that  ye  would. 

VI.  n  1  John  iii.  4.  Whosoever 
committeth  sin  transgresseth  also 
the  law;  for  sin  is  the  transgres- 
sion of  the  law. 

0  Rom.  ii.  15.  Which  show  the 
work  of  the  law  written  in  their 
hearts,  their  conscience  also  bear- 
ing witness,  and  their  thoughts  the 
mean  while  accusing,  or  else  ex- 
cusing one  another.  Rom.  iii.  9. 
What  then?  are  we  better  than 
they  1  No,  in  no  wise ;  for  we 
have  before  proved  both  Jews  and 
Gentires,  that  they  are  all  under 
sin.  Ver.  19.  Now  we  know  that 
what  things  soever  the  law  saith, 
it  saith  to  them  who  are  under  the 
law:   that   every  mouth    may  be 


stopped,  and  all  the  world  may 
become  guilty  before  God. 

p  Eph.  ii.  3.  Among  whom  also 
we  all  had  our  conversation  in 
times  past,  in  the  lusts  of  our 
flesh,  fulfilling  the  desires  of  the 
flesh  and  of  the  mind  ;  and  were 
by  nature  the  children  of  wrath, 
even  as  others. 

q  Gal.  iii.  10.  For  as  many  as 
are  of  the  works  of  the  law  are 
under  the  curse  :  for  it  is  written, 
Cursed  is  every  one  that  conti- 
nueth  not  in  all  things  which  are 
written  in  the  book  of  the  law  to 
do  them. 

r  Rom.  vi.  23.  For  the  wages  of 
sin  is  death:  but  the  gift  of  God, 
is  eternal  life,  through  JesusChrist 
our  Lord. 

s  Eph.  iv.  18.  Having  the  under- 
standing darkened,  being  alien- 
ated from  the  life  of  God  through 
the  ignorance  that  is  in  them,  be- 
cause of  the  blindness  of  their  heart. 

*  Rom.  viii.  20.  For  the  creature 
was  made  subject  to  vanity,  not 
willingly,  but  by  reason  of  him 
who  hath  subjected  the  same  in 
hope.  Lam.  iii.  39.  Wherefore 
doth  a  living  man  complain,  a  man 
for  the  punishment  of  his  sins? 

u  Mat.  xxv.  41.  Then  shall  he 
say  also  unto  them  on  the  left  hand, 
Depart  from  me,  ye  cursed,  into 
everlasting  fire,  prepared  for  the 
devil  and  his  angels.  2  Thcss.  i. 
9.  Who  shall  be  punished  with 
everlasting  destruction  from  the 
presence  of  the  Lord,  and  from 
the  glory  of  his  power. 


Chap.  VII. 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


57 


CHAPTER  VII.     Of  God's  Covenant  villi  Man. 

The  distance  between  God  and  the  creature  is  so  great 
that  although  reasonable  creatures  do  owe  obedience  unto 
him  as  their  Creator,  yet  they  could  never  have  any  fruition 
of  him  as  their  blessedness  and  reward,  but  by  some  volun- 
tary condescension  on  God's  part,  which  he  hath  been 
pleased  to  express  by  way  of  covenant." 

II.  The  first  covenant  made  with  man  was  a  covenant  of 
works,b  wherein  life  was  promised  to  Adam,  and  in  him 


L  a  Isa.  xl.  13.  Who  hath  di- 
rected the  Spirit  of  the  Lord,  or, 
being  his  counsellor,  hath  taught 
him  )  Ver.  14.  With  whom  took  he 
counsel,  and  who  instructed  him, 
and  taught  him  in  the  path  of 
judgment,  and  taught  him  know- 
ledge, and  showed  to  him  the 
of  understanding  ?  Ver.  15.  Behold, 
the  nations  are  a3  a  drop  of  a 
bucket,  and  are  counted  as  the 
small  dust  of  the  balance:  be- 
hold, he  taketh  up  the  isles  as  a 
very  little  thing.  Ver.  16.  And  Le- 
banon is  not  sufficient  to  burn,  nor 
the  beasts  thereof  sufficient  for  a 
burnt-offering.  Ver.  17.  All  nations 
before  him  are  as  nothing;  and 
they  are  counted  to  him  less  than 
nothing,  and  vanity.  Job  ix.  32. 
For  he  is  not  a  man  as  I  am.  that  I 
should  answer  him,  and  we  should 
come  together  in  judgment.  Ver. 
33.  Neither  is  there  any  days-man 
betwixt  us,  that  might  lay  his  hand 
upon  us  both.  1  Sam.  ii.  25.  If 
one  man  sin  against  another,  the 
judge  shall  judge  him:  but  if  a 
man  sin  against  the  Lord,  who 
shall  entreat  for  him  !  Psal.  cxiii.  5. 
Who  is  like  unto  the  Lord  our 
God,  who  dwelleth  on  high !  A. 
C.  Who  humbleth  himself  to  be- 
hold the  things  that  are  in  heaven, 
and  in  the  earth  !  Psal.  c.  2.  Serve 
the  Lord  with  gladness :  come  be^ 


fore  his  presence  with  singing. 
Ver.  3.  Know  ye  that  the  Lord  he 
is  God :  it  is  he  that  hath  made  us, 
and  not  we  ourselves:  we  are  his 
people,  and  the  sheep  of  his  pas- 
ture. Job  xxii.  2.  Can  a  man  be 
profitable  unto  God,  as  he  that  is 
wise  may  be  profitable  unto  him- 
self? Ver.  3.  Is  it  any  pleasure 
to  the  Almighty  that  thou  art 
righteous !  or  is  it  gain  to  him 
that  thou  makest  thy  ways  per- 
fect ?  Job  xxxv.  7.  If  thou  be 
righteous,  what  givest  thou  him  ? 
or  what  receiveth  he  of  thine  hand ! 
Ver.  Bl  Thy  wickedness  may  hurt 
a  man  as  thou  art,  and  thy  righ- 
teousness may  profit  the  son  of 
man.  Luke  xvii.  10.  So  likewise 
ye,  when  ye  shall  have  done  all 
those  things  which  are  command- 
ed you,  say,  We  are  unprofitable 
servants:  we  have  done  that  which 
was  our  duty  to  do.  Acts  xvii.  24. 
God,  that  made  the  world,  and  all 
things  therein,  seeing  that  he  is 
Lord  of  heaven  and  earth,  dwell- 
eth not  in  temples  made  with 
hands:  Ver.  25.  Neither  is  wor- 
shipped with  men's  hands,  as 
though  he  needed  any  thing,  see- 
ing he  givetli  to  all  life,  and 
breath,  and  all  things. 

II.  b  Gal.  iii.  12.  And  the  law 
is  not  of  faith :  but,  The  man 
that  doeth  them  shall  live  in  them. 


58 


The  Confession  of  Faith, 


Chap.  VII. 


to  his  posterity,0  upon  condition  of  perfect  and  personal  obe- 
dience.d 

III.  Man  by  his  fall  having  made  himself  incapable  of 
life  by  that  covenant,  the  Lord  was  pleased  to  make  a  se- 
cond,6 commonly  called  the  Covenant  of  Grace:  wherein  he 
freely  offereth  unto  sinners  life  and  salvation  by  Jesus 
Christ,  requiring  of  them  faith  in  him,  that  they  may  be 
saved  ;f  and  promising  to  give  unto  all  those  that  are  or- 
dained unto  life  his  Holy  Spirit,  to  make  them  willing  and 
able  to  believe,5 


c  Rom.  x.  5.  For  Moses  describ- 
ed the  righteousness  which  is  of 
the  law,  that  the  man  which  doeth 
those  things  shall  live  by  them. 
Rom.  v.  12,  to  20.  [See  chapter 
vi.     Sec.  3.  letter  f.] 

d  Gen.  ii.  17.  But  of  the  tree  of 
the  knowledge  of  good  and  evil, 
thou  shalt  not  eat  of  it;  for  in  the 
day  that  thou  eatest  thereof,  thou 
shalt  surely  die.  Gal.  iii.  10.  For 
as  many  as  are  of  the  works  of  the 
law  are  under  the  curse :  for  it  is 
written,  Cursed  is  every  one  that 
continueth  not  in  all  things  which 
are  written  in  the  book  of  the  law 
to  do  them. 

III.  e  Gal.  iii.  21.  Is  the  law  then 
against  the  promises  of  God?  God 
forbid :  for  if  there  had  been  a  law 
given  which  could  have  given  life, 
verily  righteousness  should  have 
been  by  the  law.  Rom.  viii.  3. 
For  what  the  law  could  not  do,  in 
that  it  was  weak  through  the  flesh, 
God  sending  his  own  Son  in  the 
likeness  of  sinful  flesh,  and  for  sin 
condemned  sin  in  the  flesh.  Rorn. 
iii.  20.  Therefore  by  the  deeds  of 
the  law  there  shall  no  flesh  be  jus- 
tified in  his  sight:  for  by  the  law 
is  the  knowledge  of  sin.  Ver.  21. 
But  now  the  righteousness  of  God 
without  the  la  wis  manifested,  being 
witnessed  by  the  law  and  the  pro- 
phets. Gen.  iii.  15.  And  I  will  put 


enmity  between  thee  and  the  wo- 
man, and  between  thy  seed  and  her 
seed:  it  shall  bruise  thy  head,  and 
thou  shalt  bruise  his  heel.  Isa. 
xlii.  6.  I  the  Lord  have  called  thee 
in  righteousness,  and  will  hold  thine 
hand,  and  will  keep  thee,  and  give 
thee  for  a  covenant  of  the  people, 
for  a  light  of  the  Gentiles. 

f  Mark  xvi.  15.  And  he  said 
unto  them,  Go  ye  into  all  the  world, 
and  preach  the  gospel  to  every 
creature.  Ver.  16.  He  that  be- 
lieveth,  and  is  baptized,  shall  be 
saved;  but  he  that  believeth  not, 
shall  be  damned.  John  iii.  16. 
For  God  so  loved  the  world,  that 
he  gave  his  only  begotten  Son, 
that  whosoever  believeth  in  him 
should  not  perish,  but  have  ever- 
lasting life.  Rom.  x.  6.  But  the 
righteousness  which  is  of  faith 
spcaketh  on  this  wise,  Say  not  in 
thine  heart,  Who  shall  ascend  into 
heaven]  (that  is,  to  bring  Christ 
down  from  above:)  Ver.  9.  That 
if  thou  shalt  confess  with  thy 
mouth  the  Lord  Jesus,  and  shalt 
believe  in  thine  heart  that  God 
hath  raised  him  from  the  dead, 
thou  shalt  be  saved.-  Gal.  iii.  11. 
But  that  no  man  is  justified  by  the 
law  hi  the  sight  of  God,  it  is  evi- 
dent: for,  The  just  shall  live  by  faith. 

«  Ezek.  xxxvi.  26.  A  new  heart 
also  will  I  give  you,  and  a  new 


Chap.  VII. 


The  Confession  of  Faith, 


59 


IV.  This  covenant  of  grace  is  frequently  set  forth  in  the 
scripture  by  the  name  of  a  Testament,  in  reference  to  the 
death  of  Jesus  Christ  the  testator,  and  to  the  everlasting 
inheritance,  with  all  things  belonging  to  it,  therein  be- 
queathed.11 

V.  This  covenant  was  differently  administered  in  the 
time  of  the  law,  and  in  the  time  of  the  gospel :;  under  the 
law  it  was  administered  by  promises,  prophecies,  sacrifices, 
circumcision,  the  paschal  lamb,  and  other  types  and  ordi- 
nances delivered  to  the  people  of  the  Jews,  all  fore-signify- 
ing Christ  to  come,k  which  were    for  that'  time  sufficient 


spirit  will  I  put  within  you ;  and 
I  will  take  away  the  stony  heart 
out  of  your  flesh,  and  I  will  give 
you  a  heart  of  flesh.  Ver.  27. 
And  I  will  put  my  Spirit  within 
you,  and  cause  you  to  walk  in  my 
statutes,  and  ye  shall  keep  my 
judgments,  and  do  them.  John 
vi.  44.  No  man  can  come  to  me, 
except  the  Father  which  hath  sent 
me  draw  him:  and  I  will  raise  him 
up  at  the  last  day.  Ver.  4").  It  is 
written  in  the  prophets,  And  they 
shall  be  all  taught  of  God.  Every 
man  therefore  that  hath  heard,  and 
hath  learned  of  the  Father,  cometh 
unto  me. 

IV.  h  Heb.  ix.  15.  And  for  this 
cause  he  is  the  Mediator  of  the 
new  testament,  that  by  means  of 
death,  for  the  redemption  of  the 
transgressions  that  were  under  the 
first  testament,  they  which  are 
called  might  receive  the  promise 
of  eternal  inheritance.  Ver.  16. 
For  where  a  testament  is,  there 
must  also  of  necessity  be  the  death 
of  the  testator.  Ver.  17.  For  a 
testament  is  of  force  after  men  are 
dead:  otherwise  it  is  of  no  strength 
at  all  while  the  J,estator  liveth. 
Heb.  vii.  22.  By  so  much  was 
Jesus  made  a  surety  of  a  better 
testament.  Luke  xxii.  20.  Like- 
wise also  the  cup  after  supper, 


saying,  This  cup  is  the  new  tes- 
tament in  my  blood,  which  is  shed 
for  you.  1  Cor.  xi.  25.  After  the 
same  manner  alto  he  took  the 
cup,  when  he  had  supped,  say- 
ing, This  cup  is  the  new  testa- 
ment in  my  blood:  this  do  ye,  as 
oft  as  ye  drink  it,  in  remembrance 
of  me. 

V.  *  2  Cor.  iii.  6.  Who  also  hath 
made  usable  ministers  of  the  new 
testament ;  not  of  the  letter,  but 
of  the  spirit:  for  the  letter  killeth, 
but   the   spirit   giveth   life.     Ver. 

7.  But  if  the  ministration  of  death, 
written  and  engraven  in  stones, 
was  glorious,  so  that  the  chil- 
dren of  Israel  could  not  steadfastly 
behold  the  face  of  Moses  for  the 
glory  of  his  countenance,  which 
glory  was  to  be  done  away  ;  Ver. 

8.  How  shall  not  the  ministra- 
tion of  the  Spirit  be  rather  glo- 
rious] Ver.  9.  For  if  the  mi- 
nistration of  condemnation  be 
glory,  much  more  doth  the  minis- 
tration of  righteousness  exceed  in 
glory. 

k  (Heb.  Chapters  viii.  ix.  x. 
Rom.  iv.  11.  And  he  received  the 
sign  of  circumcision,  a  seal  of  the 
righteousness  of  the  faith  which 
he  had  yet  being  uncircumcised  ; 
that  he  might  be  the  father  of  all 
them   that  believe,   though    they 


60 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


Chap.  VII, 


and  efficacious,  through  the  operation  of  the  Spirit,  to  in- 
struct and  build  up  the  elect  in  faith  in  the  promised  Mes- 
siah,1 by  whom  they  had  full  remission  of  sins,  and  eternal 
salvation ;  and  is  called  the  Old  Testament."1 

VI.  Under  the  gospel,  when  Christ  the  substance11  was 
exhibited,  the  ordinances  in  which  this  covenant  is  dis- 
pensed are  the  preaching  of  the  word,  and  the  administra- 
tion of  the  sacraments  of  Baptism  and  the  Lord's  supper;0 


be  not  circumcised ;  that  righte- 
ousness might  be  imputed  unto 
them  also.  Col.  ii.  11.  In  whom 
also  ye  are  circumcised  with  the 
circumcision  made  without  hands, 
in  putting  off  the  body  of  the  sins 
of  the  flesh  by  the  circumcision  of 
Christ:  Ver.  12.  Buried  with  him 
in  baptism,  wherein  also  ye  are 
risen  w7ith  him  through  the  faith 
of  the  operation  of  God,  who  hath 
raised  him  from  the  dead.  1  Cor. 
v.  7.  Purge  out,  therefore,  the 
old  leaven,  that  ye  may  be  a  new 
lump,  as  ye  are  unleavened.  For 
even  Christ  our  passover  is  sacri- 
ficed for  us. 

1  1  Cor.  x.  1.  Moreover,  bre- 
thren, I  would  not  that  ye  should 
be  ignorant,  how  that  all  our  fa- 
thers were  under  the  cloud,  and 
all  passed  through  the  sea ;  Ver.  2. 
And  were  all  baptized  unto  Moses 
in  the  cloud  and  in  the  sea ;  Ver. 
3.  And  did  all  eat  the  same  spi- 
ritual meat;  Ver.  4.  And  did  all 
drink  the  same  spiritual  drink: 
(for  they  drank  of  that  spiritual 
Rock  that  followed  them:  and 
that  Rock  was  Christ.)  Heb.  xi. 
13.  These  all  died  in  faith,  not 
having  received  the  promises,  but 
having  seen  them  afar  off,  and 
were  persuaded  of  them,  and 
embraced  them,  and  confessed 
that  they  were  strangers  and  pil- 
grims on  the  earth.  John  viii.  56. 
Your  father  Abraham  rejoiced  to 


sec  my  day :  and  he  saw  it,  and 
was  glad. 

m  Gal.  iii.  7.  Know  ye,  therefore, 
that  they  which  are  of  faith,  the 
same  are  the  children  of  Abraham. 
Ver.  8.  And  the  scripture  foresee- 
ing that  God  would  justify  the 
heathen  through  faith,  preached 
before  the  gospel  unto  Abraham, 
saying,  In  thee  shall  all  nations  be 
blessed.  Ver.  9.  So  then  they  which 
be  of  faith  are  blessed  with  faith- 
ful Abraham.  Ver.  14.  That  the 
blessing  of  Abraham  might  come 
on  the  Gentiles  through  Jesus 
Christ ;  that  we  might  receive  the 
promise  of  the  Spirit  through  faith. 

VI.  n  Col.  ii.  17.  Which  are  a 
shadow  of  things  to  come;  but 
the  body  is  of  Christ. 

0  Mat.  xxviii.  19.  Go  ye  there- 
fore and  teach  all  nations,  bap- 
tizing them  in  the  name  of  the 
Father,  and  of  the  Son,  and  of 
the  Holy  Ghost :  Ver.  20.  Teach- 
ing them  to  observe  all  things 
whatsoever  I  have  commanded 
you :  and,  3o,  I  am  with  you  al- 
way,  even  unto  the  end  of  the 
world,  Amen.  1  Cor.  xi.  23.  For 
I  have  received  of  the  Lord  that 
which  also  I  delivered  unto  you, 
That  the  Lord  Jesus,  the  same 
night  in  which  he  was  betrayed, 
took  bread :  Ver.  24.  And,  when 
he  had  given  thanks,  he  brake  it, 
and  said,  Take,  eat;  this  is  my 
body,  which  is  broken  for  you: 


Chap.  VII. 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


61 


which,  though  fewer  in  number,  and  administered  with 
more  simplicity  and  less  outward  glory,  yet  in  them  it  is 
held  forth  in  more  fulness,  evidence,  and  spiritual  efficacy,? 
to  all  nations,  both  Jews  and  Gentiles  ;q  and  is  called  the 
New  Testament/  There  are  not  therefore  two  covenants 
of  grace  differing  in  substance,  but  one  and  the  same  under 
various  dispensations.5 


this  do  in  remembrance  of  me. 
Ver.  25.  After  the  same  manner 
also  he  took  the  cup,  when  he  had 
supped,  saying,  This  cup  is  the 
new  testament  in  my  blood:  this 
do  ye,  as  oft  as  ye  drink  it,  in  re- 
membrance of  me. 

*  Heb.  xii.  22.  But  ye  are  come 
onto  mount  Sion,  and  unto  the 
city  of  the  living-  God,  the  hea- 
venly Jerusalem,  and  to  an  in- 
numerable company  of  angels, 
Ver.  23.  To  the  general  assembly 
and  church  of  the  first-born, 
which  are  written  in  heaven,  and 
to  God  the  Judge  of  all,  and  to 
the  spirits  of  just  men  made  per- 
fect. Ver.  24.  And  to  Jesus  the 
Mediator  of  the  new  covenant, 
and  to  the  blood  of  sprinkling, 
that  speaketh  better  things  than 
that  of  Abel.  Ver.  25.  See  that  ye 
refuse  nofhim  that  speaketh:  tor 
if  they  escaped  not,  who  refused 
him  that  spake  on  earth,  much 
more  shall  not  we  escape,  if  we 
turn  away  from  him  that  speak- 
eth from  heaven  :  Ver.  2(3.  Whose 
voice  then  shook  the  earth :  but 
now  he  hath  promised,  saying, 
Yet  once  more  I  shake  not  the 
earth  only,  but  also  heaven.  Ver. 
-?7.  And  this  word,  Yet  once  more, 
signifieth  the  removing  of  those 
things  that  are  shaken,  as  of  things 
that  are  made,  that  those  things 
which  cannot  be  shaken  may  re- 
main. Jer.  xxxi.  33.  But  this  shall 
be  the  covenant  that  I  will  make 
with  the  house  of  Israel:  After 
6 


those  days,  saith  the  Lord,  I  will 
put  my  law  in  their  inward  parts, 
and  write  it  in  their  hearts,  and 
will  be  their  God,  and  they  shall 
be  my  people.  Ver.  34.  And  they 
shall  teach  no  more  every  man  his 
neighbour,  and  every  man  his  bro- 
ther, saying,  Know  the  Lord;  for 
they  shall  all  know  me,  from  the 
least  of  them  unto  the  greatest  of 
them,  saith  the  Lord:  for  I  will 
forgive  their  iniquity,  and  I  will 
remember  their  sin  no  more. 

i  Matt,  xxviii.  19.  [See  letter  °, 
immediately  foregoing.]  Eph.  ii. 
15.  Having  abolished  in  his  flesh 
the  enmity,  even  the  law  of  com- 
mandments contained  in  ordi- 
nances, for  to  make  in  himself  of 
twain,  one  new  man,  so  making 
peace ;  Ver.  16.  And  that  he  might 
reconcile  both  unto  God  in  one 
body  by  the  cross,  having  slain 
the  enmity  thereby;  Ver.  17.  And 
came,  and  preached  peace  to  you 
which  were  afar  off,  and  to  them 
that  were  nigh-  Verse  18-  For 
through  him  we  both  have  access 
by  one  Spirit  unto  the  Father. 
Ver.  19-  Now,  therefore,  ye  are 
no  more  strangers  and  foreign- 
ers, but  fellow-citizens  with  the 
saints,  and  of  the  household  of 
God- 

r  Luke  xxir  20.  Likewise  also 
the  cup  after  supper,  saying,  This 
cup  is  the  new  testament  in  my 
blood,  which  is  shed  for  you. 

E  Gal-  iii.  14-  That  the  blessing 
of  Abraham  might  come  on  th» 


62 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


Chap.  VIIL 


CHAPTER  VIIL    Of  Christ  the  Mediator. 

It  pleased  God,  in  his  eternal  purpose,  to  choose  and  or- 
dain the  Lord  Jesus,  his  only  begotten  Son,  to  be  the 
Mediator  between  God   and  man;5  the  Prophet,b  Priest,c 


Gentiles  through  Jesus  Christ; 
that  we  might  receive  the  promise 
of  the  Spirit  through  faith.  Ver. 
16.  Now  to  Abraham  and  his  seed 
were  the  promises  made.  He  saith 
not,  And  to  seeds,  as  of  many;  but 
as  of  one,  And  to  thy  seed,  which 
is  Christ.  Acts  xv.  11.  But  we  be- 
lieve that  through  the  grace  of  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  we  shall  be 
saved  even  as  they.  Rom.  iii.  21. 
But  now  the  righteousness  of  God 
without  the  law  is  manifested,  be- 
ing witnessed  by  the  law  and  the 
prophets :  Ver.  22.  Even  the  righ- 
teousness of  God,  which  is  by  faith 
of  Jesus  Christ,  unto  all  and  upon 
all  them  that  believe;  for  there  is 
no  difference:  Ver.  23.  For  all  have 
sinned,  and  come  short  of  the  glory 
of  God.  Ver.  30.  Seeing  it  is  one 
God  which  shall  justify  the  cir- 
cumcision by  faith,  and  uncircum- 
cision  through  faith.  Psal.  xxxii.  1. 
Blessed  is  he  whose  transgression 
is  forgiven,  whose  sin  is  covered. 
With  Rom.  iv.  3.  For  what  saith 
the  scripture]  Abraham  believed 
God,  and  it  was  counted  unto  him 
for  righteousness.  Ver.  6.  Even 
as  David  also  describeth  the  bless- 
edness of  the  man  unto  whom 
God  imputeth  righteousness  with- 
out works.  Ver.  16.  Therefore  it 
is  of  faith,  that  it  might  be  by 
grace;  to  the  end  the  promise 
might  be  sure  to  all  the  seed;  not 
to  that  only  which  is  of  the  law, 
but  to  that  also  which  is  of  the 
faith  of  Abraham,  who  is  the  fa- 
ther of  us  all ;  Ver.  17.  (As  it  is 
written,  I  have  made  thee  a  father 


of  many  nations,)  before  him  whom 
he  believed,  even  Gcd,  who  quick- 
eneth  the  dead,  and  calleth  those 
things  which  be  not  as  though  they 
were.  Ver.  23.  Now,  it  was  not 
written  for  his  sake  alone,  that  it 
was  imputed  to  him;  Ver.  24.  But 
for  us  also,  to  whom  it  shall  be 
imputed,  if  we  believe  on  him  that 
raised  up  Jesus  our  Lord  from  the 
dead.  Heb.  xiii.  8.  Jesus  Christ 
the  same  yesterday,  and  to-day. 
and  for  ever.      _ 

I.  a  Tsa.  xlii.  1.  Behold  my  ser- 
vant whom  I  uphold,  mine  elect 
in  whom  my  soul  delighteth :  I 
have  put  my  Spirit  upon  him,  he 
shall  bring  forth  judgment  to  the 
Gentiles.  1  Pet.  i.  19.  But  with 
the  precious  blood  of  Christ,  as  of 
a  Limb  without  blemish  and  with- 
out spot:  Ver.  20.  Who  verily  was 
foreordained  before  the  foundation 
of  the  world,  but  was  manifest  in 
these  last  times  for  you.  John  iii. 
16.  For  God  so  loved  the  world, 
that  he  gave  his  only  begotten  Son, 
that  whosoever  believeth  in  him 
should  not  perish,  but  have  ever* 
lasting  life.  1  Tim.  ii.  5.  For  there 
is  one  God,  and  one  Mediator  be- 
tween God  and  men,  the  man 
Christ  Jesus. 

b  Acts  iii.  22.  For  Moses  truly 
said  unto  the  fathers,  A  prophet 
shall  the  Lord  your  God  raise  up 
unto  you  of  your  brethren,  like 
unto  me;  him  shall  ye  hear  in  all 
things  whatsoever  he  shall  say 
unto  you. 

c  Heb.  v.  5.  So  also  Christ  glo- 
rified not  himself  to  be   made  a 


Chap.  VIII. 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


and  King;d  the  Head  and  Saviour  of  his  Church:6  the  Heir 
of  all  things-/  and  Judge  of  the  world:5  unto  whom  he  did 
from  all  eternity  give  a  people  to  be  his  seed,h  and  to  be 
by  him  in  time  redeemed,  called,  justified,  sanctified,  and 
glorified.1 

II.  The  Son  of  God,  the  second  person  in  the  Trinity,  be- 
ing verv  and  eternal  God,  of  one  substance,  and  equal  with 
the  Father,  did,  when  the  fulness  of  time  was  come,  take 
upon  him  man's  nature,*  with  all  the  essential  properties  and 


high  priest;  but  he  that  said  unto 
him,  Thou  art  my  Son,  to-day 
have  I  begotten  thee.  Yer.  G.  As 
he  saith  also  in  another  place, 
Thou  art  a  priest  for  ever,  after 
the  order  of  Melchisedec. 

d  Psal.  ii.  6.  Yet  have  I  set  my 
King  upon  my  holy  hill  of  Zion. 
Luke  i.  33.  And  he  shall  reign  over 
the  house  of  Jacob  for  ever,  and  of 
his  kingdom  there  shall  be  no  end. 

e  Eph.  v.  23.  For  the  husband 
is  the  head  of  the  wife,  even  as 
Christ  is  the  head  of  the  church: 
and  he  is  the  saviour  of  the  body. 

£  Heb.  i.  2.  Hath  in  these  last 
days  spoken  unto  us  by  his  Son, 
whom  he  hath  appointed  heir  of 
all  things,  by  whom  also  he  made 
the  worlds. 

«  Acts  xvii.  31.  Because  he  hath 
appointed  a  day  in  the  which  he 
will  judge  the  world  in  righteous- 
ness, by  that  man  whom  he  hath 
ordained ;  whereof  he  hath  given 
assurance  unto  all  men,  in  that  he 
hath  raised  him  from  the  dead. 

h  John  xvii.  6.  I  have  manifest- 
ed thy  name  unto  the  men  which 
thou  gavest  me  out  of  the  world : 
thine  they  were,  and  thou  gavest 
them  me;  and  they  have  kept  thy 
word.  Psal.  xxii.  30.  A  seed  shall 
serve  him,  it  shall  be  accounted  to 
the  Lord  for  a  generation.  Isa. 
liii.  10.  Yet  it  pleased  the  Lord  to 
bruise  him:  he   hath   put  him  to 


grief:   when  thou  shalt  make  his 
soul  an  offering  for  sin,  he  shall 
see  his  seed,  he  shall  prolong 
days,  and  the  pleasure  of  the  Lord 
shall  prosper  in  his  hand. 

1  1  Tim.  ii.  G.  Who  gave  him- 
self a  ransom  for  all,  to  be  testi- 
fied in  due  time.  Isa.  Iv.  4.  Be- 
hold, I  have  given  him  for  a  wit- 
ness to  the  people,  a  leader  and 
commander  to  the  people.  Yer.  5. 
Behold,  thou  shalt  call  a  nation 
that  thou  knowest  not;  and  na- 
tions that  knew  not  thee  shall  run 
unto  thee,  because  of  the  Lord 
thy  God,  and  for  the  Holy  One  of 
Israel ;  for  he  hath  glorified  thee. 
1  Cor.  i.  30.  But  of  him  are  ye 
in  Christ  Jesus,  who  of  God  is 
made  unto  us  wisdom,  and  righ- 
teousness, and  sanctification,  and 
redemption. 

II.  k  John  i.  1.  In  the  begin- 
ning was  the  Word,  and  the 
Wo'rd  was  with  God,  and  the 
Word  was  God.  Vcr.  14.  And  the 
Word  was  made  flesh,  and  dwelt 
among  us,  (and  we  beheld  his 
glory,  the  glory  as  of  the  only 
begotten  of  the  Father,)  full  of 
grace  and  truth.  1  John  v.  20.  And 
we  know  that  the  Son  of  God  is 
come,  and  hath  given  us  an  un- 
derstanding, that  we  may  know 
him  that  is  true:  and  we  are  in 
him  that  is  true,  even  in  his  Son 
Jesus  Christ.     This    is  the   true 


64 


The  Confession  of  Faith, 


Chap.  VIII. 


common  infirmities  thereof,  yet  without  sin;1  being  con- 
ceived by  the  power  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  in  the  womb  of  the 
Virgin  Mary,  of  her  substance.™  So  that  two  whole,  per- 
fect, and  distinct  natures,  the  Godhead  and  the  manhood, 
were  inseparably  joined  together  in  one  person,  without 
conversion,  composition,  or  confusion."  Which  person  is 
very  God  and  very  man,  yet  one  Christ,  the  only  Mediator 
between  God  and  man.c 


God,  and  eternal  life.  Phil.  ii.  6. 
Who  being  in  the  form  of  God, 
thought  it  not  robbery  to  be  equal 
with  God.  Gal.  iv.  4.  But  when 
the  fulness  of  the  time  was  come, 
God  sent  forth  his  Son,  made  of 
a  woman,  made  under  the  law. 

1  Heb.  ii.  14.  Forasmuch  then  as 
the  children  are  partakers  of  fresh 
and  blood,  he  also  himself  likewise 
took  part  of  the  same;  that  through 
death  he  might  destroy  him  that 
had  the  power  of  death,  that  is, 
the  devil.  Ver.  16.  For  verily  he 
took  not  on  him  the  nature  of  an- 
gels; but  he  took  on  him  the  seed 
of  Abraham.  Ver.  17.  Wherefore 
in  all  things  it  behooved  him  to  be 
made  like  unto  his  brethren;  that 
he  might  be  a  merciful  and  faith- 
ful high  priest  in  things  pertaining 
to  God,  to  make  reconciliation 
for  the  sins  of  the  people.  Heb. 
iv.  15.  For  we  have  not  a  high 
priest  which  cannot  be  touched 
with  the  feeling  of  our  infirmi- 
ties ;  but  was  in  all  points  tempt- 
ed like  as  we  are,  yet  without 
sin. 

m  Luke  i.  27.  To  a  virgin 
espoused  to  a  man  whose  name 
was  Joseph,  of  the  house  of  David ; 
and  the  virgin's  name  was  Mary. 
Ver.  31.  And,  behold,  thou  shalt 
conceive  in  thy  womb,  and  bring 
forth  a  Son,  and  shalt  call  his 
name  Jesus.  Ver.  35.  And  the 
ansfel  answered  and  said  unto  her, 


The  Holy  Ghost  shall  come  upon 
thee,  and  the  power  of  the  Highest 
shall  overshadow  thee :  therefore 
also  that  holy  thing  which  shall  be 
born  of  thee  shall  be  called  the  Son 
of  God.  Gal.  iv.  4.  [See  letter  * 
immediately  foregoing.] 

B  Luke  i.  35.  [See  the  foregoing 
Verse.]  Col.  ii.  9.  For  in  him 
dwelleth  all  the  fulness  of  the  God- 
head bodily.  Rom.  ix.  5.  Whose 
are  the  fathers,  and  of  whom  as 
concerning  the  flesh  Christ  came, 
who  is  over  all,  God  blessed  for 
ever.  Amen.  1  Pet.  iii.  18.  For 
Christ  also  hath  once  suffered  for 
sins,  the  just  for  the  unjust,  that 
he  might  bring  us  to  God ;  being 
put  to  death  in  the  flesh,  but 
quickened  by  the  Spirit.  1  Tim. 
iii.  16.  And,  without  controversy, 
great  is  the  mystery  of  godliness: 
God  was  manifest  in  the  flesh, 
justified  in  the  Spirit,  seen  of  an- 
gels, preached  unto  the  Gentiles, 
believed  on  in  the  world,  received 
up  into  glory. 

0  Rom.  i.  3.  Concerning  his  Son 
Jesus  Christ,  our  Lord,  which  was 
made  of  the  seed  of  David  accord- 
ing to  the  flesh:  Ver.  4.  And  de- 
clared to  be  the  Son  of  God  with 
power,  according  to  the  Spirit  of 
holiness,  by  the  resurrection  from 
the  dead.  1  Tim.  ii.  5.  For  there 
is  one  God,  and  one  Mediator  be- 
tween God  and  men,  the  man 
Christ  Jesus. 


Chap.  VIII. 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


65 


III.  The  Lord  Jesus,  in  his  human  nature  thus  united  to 
the  divine,  was  sanctified  and  anointed  with  the  Holy  Spi- 
rit above  measure  ;^  having  in  him  all  the  treasures  of  wis- 
dom and  knowledge  ?  in  whom  it  pleased  the  Father  that 
all  fulness  should  dwell  :r  to  the  end,  that  being  holy,  harm- 
less, undefilcd.  and  full  of  grace  and  truth,5  he  might  be  tho- 
roughly furnished  to  execute  the  office  of  a  Mediator  and 
Surety.*  Which  office  he  took  not  unto  himself,  but  was 
thereunto  called  by  his  Father ;«  who  put  all  power  and 
judgment  into  his  hand,  and  gave  him  commandment  to  ex- 
ecute the  same/ 

IV.  This  office  the  Lord  Jesus  did  most  willingly  under- 
take:1" which,  that  he  might  discharge,  he  was  made  under 


III.  p  Psal.  xlv.  7.  Thou  lovest 
righteousness,  and  hatest  wicked- 
ness: Therefore  God,  thy  God, 
hath  anointed  thee  with  the  oil  of 
gladness  above  thy  fellows.  John 
iii.  34.  For  he  whom  God  hath 
sent  speaketh  the  words  of  God : 
for  God  giveth  not  the  Spirit  by 
measure  unto  him. 

i  Col.  ii.  3.  In  whom  are  hid 
all  the  treasures  of  wisdom  and 
knowledge. 

r  Col.  i.  19.  For  it  pleased  the 
Father  that  in  him  should  all  ful- 
ness dwell. 

s  Heb.  vii.  20.  For  such  a  high 
priest  became  us,  who  is  holy, 
harmless,  undefiled,  separate  from 
sinners,  and  made  higher  than  the 
heavens.  John  i.  14.  And  the 
Word  was  made  flesh,  and  dwelt 
among  us,  (and  we  beheld  his 
glory,  the  glory  as  of  the  only 
begotten  of  the  Father,)  full  of 
grace  and  truth. 

( Acts  x.  33.  How  God  anointed 
Jesus  of  Nazareth  with  the  Holy 
Ghost,  and  with  power;  who  went 
about  doing  good,  and  healing  all 
that  were  oppressed  of  the  devil: 
for  God  was  with  him.  Heb.  xii. 
24.  And  to  Jesus  the  Mediator 
6* 


of  the  new  covenant,  and  to  the 
blood  of  sprinkling,  that  speak- 
eth better  things  than  that  of 
Abel.  Heb.  vii  22.  By  so  much 
was  Jesus  made  a  surety  of  a  bet- 
ter testament. 

u  Heb.  v.  4.  And  no  man  taketh 
this  honour  unto  himself,  but  he 
that  is  called  of  God,  as  was 
Aaron  :  Vcr.  5.  So  also,  Christ  glo- 
rified not  himself  to  be  made  a 
high  nrict-t ;  but  he  that  said  unto 
him,  Thou  art  my  Son,  tc-day  have 
I  begotten  thee. 

*  John  v.  22.  For  the  Father 
judgeth  no  man ;  but  hath  com- 
mitted all  judgment  unto  the  Son  : 
Ver.  27.  And  hath  given  him  au- 
thority to  execute  judgment  also, 
because  he  is  the  Son  of  man. 
Mat.  xxviii.  18.  And  Jesus  came 
and  spake  unto  them,  saying,  All 
power  is  given  unto  me  in  hea- 
ven and  in  earth.  Acts  ii.  36. 
Therefore  let  all  the  house  of  Is- 
rael know  assuredly,  that  God 
hath  made  that  same  Jesus,  whom 
ye  have  crucified,  both  Lord  and 
Christ. 

IV.  y  Psal.  xl.  7.  Then  said  I. 
Lo,  I  come:  in  the  volume  of  the 
book  it    is    written  of  me:  Ver, 


66 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


Chap.  VIII. 


the  law,z  and  did  perfectly  fulfil  it;a  endured  most  grie- 
vous torments  immediately  in  his  soul,b  and  most  painful 
sufferings  in  his  body;c  was  crucified,  and  died;d  was 
buried,  and  remained  under  the  power  of  death,  yet  saw 
no   corruption.6      On   the   third   day  he   arose   from  the 


8.  I  delight  to  do  thy  will,  O  my 
God  ;  yea,  thy  law  is  within  my 
heart,  With  Heb.  x.  5.  Where- 
fore, when  he  cometh  into  the 
world,  he  saith,  Sacrifice  and  of- 
fering thou  wouldest  not,  but  a 
body  hast  thou  prepared  me: 
Ver.  6.  In  burnt  offerings  and  sa- 
crifices for  sin  thou  hast  had  no 
pleasure.  Ver.  7.  Then  said  I,  Lo, 
I  come  (in  the  volume  of  the  book 
it  is  written  of  me)  to  do  thy  will, 
O  God.  Ver.  8.  Above  when  he 
said,  Sacrifice,  and  offering,  and 
burnt-offerings,-  and  offering  for 
sin  thou  wouldest  not,  neither 
hadst  pleasure  therein,  (which  are 
offered  by  the  law;)  Ver.  9.  Then 
ijaid  he,  Lo,  I  come  to  do  thy  will, 
O  God.  He  taketh  away  the  first, 
that  he  may  establish  the  second. 
Ver.  10.  By  the  which  will  we  are 
sanctified  through  the  offering  of 
the  body  of  Jesus  Christ  once  for 
all.  John  x.  18.  No  man  taketh  it 
from  me,  but  I  lay  it  down  of  my- 
self: I  have  power  to  lay  it  down, 
and  I  have  power  to  take  it  again. 
This  commandment  have  I  re- 
ceived of  my  Father.  Phil.  ii.  8. 
And  being  found  in  fashion  as  a 
man,  he  humbled  himself  and  be- 
came obedient  unto  death,  even  the 
death  of  the  cross. 

2  Gal.  iv.  4.  But  when  the  ful- 
ness of  the  time  was  come,  God 
sent  forth  his  Sen,  made  of  a  wo- 
man, made  under  the  law. 

a  Mat.  iii.  15.  And  Jesus  an- 
swering, said  unto  him,  Suffer  it 
to  be  so  now :  for  thus  it  be- 
cometh  us  to  fulfil  all  righteous- 


ness. Then  he  suffered  him.  Mat. 
v.  17.  Think  not  that  I  am  come 
to  destroy  the  law  or  the  prophets : 
I  am  not  come  to  destroy,  but  to 
fulfil. 

b  Mat.  xxvi.  37.  And  he  took 
with  him  Peter,  and  the  two  sons 
of  Zebedee,  and  began  to  be  sor- 
rowful, and  very  heavy.  Ver.  38. 
Then  saith  he  unto  them,  My  soul 
is  exceeding  sorrowful,  even  unto 
death:  tarry  ye  here,  and  watch 
with  me.  Luke  xxii.  44.  And  be- 
ing in  an  agony,  he  prayed  more 
earnestly :  and  his  sweat  was  as  it 
were  great  drops  of  blood  falling 
down  to  the  ground.  Mat.  xxvii. 
46.  And  about  the  ninth  hour  Je- 
sus cried  with  a  loud  voice,  say- 
ing, Eli,  Eli,  lama  sabachthani! 
that  is  to  say,  My  God,  My  God, 
why  hast  thou  forsaken  me  ] 

c  Matthew,  Chapters  xxvi.  and 
xxvii. 

d  Philip,  ii.  8.  [See-the  last  scrip- 
ture in  >'  immediately  foregoing.] 

e  Acts  ii.  23.  Him,  being  deli- 
vered by  the  determinate  counsel 
and  foreknowledge  of  God,  ye 
have  taken,  and  by  wicked  hands 
have  crucified  and  slain:  Ver.  24. 
Whom  God  hath  raised  up,  having 
loosed  the  pains  of  death:  be- 
cause it  was  not  possible  that  he 
should  be  hold  en  of  it.  Ver.  27. 
Because  thou  wilt  not  leave  my 
soul  in  hell,  neither  wilt  thou  suf- 
fer thine  Holy  One  to  see  corrup- 
tion. And  Acts  xiii.  37.  But  he 
whom  God  raised  again  saw  no 
corruption.  Rom.  vi.  9.  Know- 
ing that  Christ,  being  raised  from 


Chap.  VIII. 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


67 


dead/  with  the  same  body  in  which  he  suffered  ;g  with 
which  also  he  ascended  into  heaven,  and  there  sitteth  at 
the  right  hand  of  his  Father,*  making  intercession/  and 
shall  return  to  judge  men  and  angels  at  the  end  of  the 
world.k 


the  dead,  dieth  no  more;    death 
hath  no  more  dominion  over  him. 

1 1  Cor.  xv.  3.  For  I  delivered 
unto  you  first  of  all  that  which  I 
also  received,  how  that  Christ  died 
for  our  sins  according  to  the  scrip- 
tures: Ver.  -1.  And  that  he  was 
buried,  and  that  he  rose  again  the 
third  day  according  to  the  scrip- 
tures: *  Ver.  5.  And  that  he 
was  seen  of  Cephas,  then  of  the 
twelve. 

*  John   xx.  25.  The  other  dis- 
ciples therefore  said  unto  him,  We 
have  seen  the  Lord.     But  he  said 
unto  them,  Except  I  shall  sec  in 
his  hands  the  print  of  the  nr 
put  my  finger  into  the  print 
nails,  and  thrust  my  hand  into  his 
side,  I  will  not  believe.     Y 
Then  saith  he  to  Thomas,  I 
hither  thy  finger,  and  behold  my 
hands ;  and  reach  hither  thy  hand, 
and  thrust  it  into  my  side  :  and  be 
not  faithless,  but  believing. 

-1  Mark  xvi.  19.  So  then,  after  the 
Lord  had  spoken  unto  them,  he 
was  received  up  into  heaven,  and 
sat  on  the  right  hand  of  God. 

i  Rom.  viii.  34.  Who  is  he  that 
condemneth?-  It  is  Christ  that 
died,  yea  rather,  that  is  risen 
again,  who  is  even  at  the  right 
hand  of  God,  who  also  r 
intercession  for  us.  Heb.  ix.  24. 
For  Christ  is  not  entered  into  the 
holy  places  made  with  hands, 
which  are  the  figures  of  the  true; 
but  into  heaven  itself,  now  to  ap- 
pear in  the  presence  of  God  for 
us.  Heb.  vii.  25.  Wherefore  he 
is  able  also  to  save  them  to  the 


uttermost  that  come  unto  God 
by  him,  seeing  he  ever  liveth  to 
make  intercession  for  them. 

k  Rom.  xiv.  9.  For  to  this  end 
Christ  both  died,  and  rose,  and 
revived,  that  he  might  be  Lord 
both  of  the  dead  and  living.  Ver. 
10.  But  why  dost  thou  judge  thy 
brother]  or  why  dost  thou  set  at 
nought  thy  brother?  for  we  shall 
all  stand  before  the  judgment- 
seat  of  Christ.     Acts  i.  11.  Which 

-lid,  Ye  men  of  Galilee,  why 
stand  ye  gazing  up  into  heaven  : 
this  same  Jesus  which  is  taken  up 
from  yon  into /heaven,  shall  so 
come  in  like  manner  as  ye  have 
seen  him  go  into  heaven.  Acts 
x.  42.  And  he  commanded  us  to 
preach  unto  the  people,  and  to 
testify  that  it  is  he  which  was 
dained  of  God  to  be  the  Judg 
quick   and  dead.  40, 

erefore  the  tares  are  gather- 
ed and  burned  in  the  fire ;  so  shall 
it  be  in  the  end  of  this  world. 
Ver.  -11.  The  son  of  man  shall  send 
forth  his  angels,  and  they  shall  ga- 
ther out  of  his  kingdom  all  th 
that  offend,  and  them  which  do 
iniquity:  Yer.  42.  And  shall 
them  into  a  furnace  of  fire:  there 
shall  be  wailing  and  gnashing  of 

i.  Jude,  ver.  6.  And  the  an- 
gels which  kept  not  their  first 
estate,  but  left  their  own  habita- 
tion, he  hath  reserved  in  everlast- 
ing chains  under  darkness,  unto 
the  judgment  of  the  great  day. 
2  Pet.  ii.  4.  For  if  God  spared  not 
the  angels  that  sinned,  but  cast 
them  down  to  hell>  and  delivered 


68 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


Chap.  VIII. 


V.  The  Lord  Jesus,  by  his  perfect  obedience  and  sacri- 
fice of  himself,  which  he  through  the  eternal  Spirit  once 
offered  up  unto  God,  hath  fully  satisfied  the  justice  of  his 
Father;1  and  purchased  not  only  reconciliation,  but  an 
everlasting  inheritance  in  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  for  all 
those  whom  the  Father  hath  given  unto  him.m 


them  into  chains  of  darkness,  to  be 
reserved  unto  judgment. 

V.  l  Rom.  v.  19.  For  as  by  one 
man's  disobedience  many  were 
made  sinners:  so  by  the  obedience 
of  one  shall  many  be  made  righ- 
teous. Heb.  ix.  14.  How  much 
more  shall  the  blood  of  Christ,  who 
through  the  eternal  Spirit  offered 
himself  without  spot  to  God,  purge 
your  conscience  from  dead  works 
to  serve  the  living  God  1  Ver.  16. 
For  where  a  testament  is,  there 
must  also  of  necessity  be  the  death 
of  the  testator.  Heb.  x.  14.  For 
by  one  offering  he  hath  perfected 
for  ever  them  that  are  sanctified. 
Eph.  v.  2.  And  walk  in  love,  as 
Christ  also  hath  loved  us,  and  hath 
given  himself  for  us,  an  offering 
and  a  sacrifice  to  God  for  a  sweet- 
smelling  savour.  Rom.  iii.  25. 
Whom  God  hath  set  forth  to  be  a 
propitiation  through  faith  in  his 
blood,  to  declare  his  righteousness 
for  the  remission  of  sins  that  are 
past,  through  the  forbearance  of 
God :  Ver.  26.  To  declare,  1  say, 
at  this  time  his  righteousness:  that 
lie  might  be  just,  and  the  justifier 
of  him  which  believcth  in  Jesus. 

m  Dan.  ix.  24.  Seventy  weeks 
are  determined  upon  thy  people, 
and  upon  thy  holy  city,  to  finish 
the  transgression,  and  to  make  an 
end  of  sins,  and  to  make  reconci- 
liation for  iniquity,  and  to  bring 
in  everlasting  righteousness,  and 
to  seal  up  the  vision  and  prophe- 
cy, and  to  anoint  the  most  holy. 
Ver.  26.  And  after  threescore  and 


two  weeks  shall  Messiah  be  cut 
off,  but  not  for  himself:  and  the 
people  of  the  prince  that  shall 
come  shall  destroy  the  city,  and 
the  sanctuary,  and  the  end  there- 
of shall  be  with  a  flood,  and  unto 
the  end  of  the  war  desolations  are 
determined.  Col.  i.  19.  For  it 
pleased  the  Father  that  in  him 
should  all  fulness  dwell;  Ver.  20. 
And  (having  made  peace  through 
the  blood  of  his  cross)  by  him  to 
reconcile  all  things  unto  himself; 
by  him,  I  say,  whether  they  be 
things  in  earth  or  things  in  hea- 
ven. Eph.  i.  11.  In  whom  also 
we  have  obtained  an  inheritance, 
being  predestinated  according  to 
the  purpose  of  him  who  worketh 
all  things  after  the  counsel  of  his 
own  will.  Ver.  14.  Which  is  the 
earnest  of  our  inheritance,  until 
the  redemption  of  the  purchased 
possession,  unto  the  praise  of  his 
glory.  John  xvii.  2.  As  thou  hast 
given  him  power  over  all  flesh, 
that  he  should  give  eternal  life  to 
as  many  as  thou  hast  given  him. 
Heb.  ix".  12.  Neither  by  the  blood 
of  goats  and  calves,  but  by  his  own 
blood,  he  entered  in  once  into  the 
holy  place,  having  obtained  eter- 
nal redemption  for  us.  Ver.  15. 
And  for  this  cause  he  is  the  Medi- 
ator of  the  new  testament,  that  by 
means  of  death,  for  the  redemp- 
tion of  the  transgressions  that 
were  under  the  first  testament, 
they  which  are  called  might  re 
ceive  the  promise  of  eternal  inhe- 
ritance. 


Chap.  VIII. 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


69 


VI.  Although  the  work  of  redemption  was  not  actually 
wrought  by  Christ  till  after  his  incarnation,  yet  the  virtue, 
efficacy,  and  benefits  thereof,  were  communicated  unto  the 
elect  in  all  ages  successively  from  the  beginning  of  the 
world,  in  and  by  those  promises,  types,  and  sacrifices, 
wherein  he  was  revealed  and  signified  to  be  the  Seed  of 
the  woman,  which  should  bruise  the  serpent's  head,  and 
the  Lamb  slain  from  the  beginning  of  the  world,  being  the 
same  yesterday,  and  to-day,  and  for  ever.n 

VII.  Christ,  in  the  work  of  mediation,  acteth  according 
to  both  natures ;  by  each  nature  doing  that  which  is  pro- 
per to  itself:0  yet,  by  reason  of  the  unity  of  the  person, 
that  which  is  proper  to  one  nature  is  sometimes  in  scrip- 
ture attributed  to  the  person  denominated  by  the  other- 
nature.* 

VIII.  To  all  those  for  whom  Christ  hath  purchased 
redemption,  he  doth  certainly  and  effectually  apply 
and    communicate    the    same;q    making    intercession    for 


VI.  n  Gal.  iv.  4.  But  when  the 
fulness  of  the  time  was  come,  God 
sent  forth  his  Son,  made  of  a  wo- 
man, made  under  the  law :  Ver.  5. 
To  redeem  them  that  were  under 
the  law,  that  we  might  receive  the 
adoption  of  sons.  Gen.  iii.  15.  And 
I  will  put  enmity  -between  thee 
and  the  woman,  and  between  thy 
seed  and  her  seed  :  it  shall  bruise 
thy  head,  and  thou  shalt  bruise  his 
heel.  Rev.  xiii.  9.  And  all  that 
dwell  upon  the  earth  shall  worship 
him,  whose  names  are  not  written 
in  the  book  of  life  of  the  Lamb 
slain  from  the  foundation  of  the 
world.  Heb.  xiii.  8.  Jesus  Christ 
the  same  yesterday,  and  to-day, 
and  for  ever. 

VII.  °  Heb.  ix.  14.  [See  let- 
ter1, scripture  the  second.]  1  Pet. 
iii.  19.  For  Christ  also  hath  once 
suffered  for  sins,  the  just  for  the 
unjust,  that  he  might  bring-  us 
to  God:    being   put  to  death   in 


the  flesh,  but  quickened  by  the 
Spirit. 

p  Acts  xx.  29.  Take  heed  there- 
fore unto  yourselves,  and  to  all  the 
flock,  over  the  which  the  Holy 
Ghost  hath  made  you  overseers,  to 
feed  the  church  of  God,  which  he 
hath  purchased  with  his  own  blood. 
John  iii.  13.  And  no  man  hath  as- 
cended up  to  heaven,  but  he  that 
came  down  from  heaven,  even  the 
Son  of  man  which  is  in  heaven. 
1  John  iii.  16.  Hereby  perceive  we 
the  love  of  God,  because  he  laid 
down  his  life  for  us;  and  we  ought 
to  lay  down  our  lives  for  the  bre- 
thren. 

VIII.  i  John  vi.  37.  All  that  the 
Father  giveth  me  shall  come  to 
me  ;  and  him  that  cometh  to  me  I 
will  in  no  wise  cast  out.  Ver.  39. 
And  this  is  the  Father's  will 
which  hath  sent  me,  that  of  all 
which  he  hath  given  me  I  should 
lose   nothing,  but  should   raise  it 


70 


The  Confession  of  Faith, 


Chap.  VIII. 


them;r  and  revealing  unto  them,  in  and  by  the  word,  the 
mysteries  of  salvation;5  effectually  persuading  them  by 
his  Spirit  to  believe  and  obey ;  and  governing  their  hearts 
by  his  word  and  Spirit  ;*  overcoming  all  their  enemies  by 
his  almighty  power  and  wisdom,  in  such  manner  and  ways 


up  again  at  the  last  day.  John  x. 
15.  As  the  Father  knoweth  me, 
even  so  know  I  the  Father;  and  I 
lay  down  my  life  for  the  sheep. 
Ver.  16.  And  other  sheep  I  have, 
which  are  not  of  this  fold;  them 
also  I  must  bring,  and  they  shall 
hear  my  voice :  and  there  shall  be 
one  fold,  and  one  shepherd. 

r  1  John  ii.  1.  My  little  children, 
these  things  write  I  unto  you,  that 
ye  sin  not.  And  if  any  man  sin, 
we  have  an  Advocate  with  the 
Father,  Jesus  Christ  the  righteous: 
Ver.  2.  And  he  is  the  propitiation 
for  our  sins;  and  not  for  ours  only, 
but  also  for  the  sins  of  the  whole 
world.  Rom.  viii.  34.  Who  is  he 
that  condemneth?  It  is  Christ  that 
died,  yea,  rather,  that  is  risen 
again,  who  is  even  at  the  right 
hand  of  God,  who  also  maketh  in- 
tercession for  us. 

s  John  xv.  13.  Greater  love  hath 
no  man  than  this,  that  a  man  lay 
down  his  life  for  his  friends.  Ver. 
15.  Henceforth  I  call  you  not  ser- 
vants; for  the  servant  knoweth 
not  what  his  lord  doeth:  but  I 
have  called  you  friends;  for  all 
things  that  I  have  heard  of  my 
Father  I  have  made  known  unto 
you.  Eph.  i.  7.  In  whom  we  have 
redemption  through  his  blood,  the 
forgiveness  of  sins,  according  to 
the  riches  of  his  grace :  Ver.  8. 
Wherein  he  hath  abounded  toward 
us  in  all  wisdom  and  prudence. 
Ver.  9.  Having  made  known  unto 
us  the  mystery  of  his  will,  accord- 
ing to  his  good  pleasure,  which  he 
hath  purposed   in  himself,    John 


xv  ii.  G.  I  have  manifested  thy 
name  unto  the  men  which  thou 
gavest  me  out  of  the  world :  thine 
they  were,  and  thou  gavest  them 
me;  and  they  have  kept  thy 
word. 

1  John  xiv.  10.  And  I  will  pray 
the  Father,  and  he  shall  give  you 
another  Comforter,  that  he  may 
abide  with  you  for  ever.  Heb. 
xii.  2.  Looking  unto  Jesus,  the 
author  and  finisher  of  our  faith ; 
who,  for  the  joy  that  was  set  be- 
fore him,  endured  the  cross,  de- 
spising the  shame,  and  is  set  down 
at  the  right  hand  of  the  throne  of 
God.  2  Cor.  iv.  13.  We  having 
the  same  spirit  of  faith,  accord- 
ing as  it  is  written,  I  believed, 
and  therefore  have  I  spoken;  we 
also  believe,  and  therefore  speak. 
Rom.  viii.  9.  But  ye  are  not  in 
the  flesh,  but  in  the  Spirit,  if  so 
be  that  the  Spirit  of  God  dwell 
in  you.  Now,  if  any  man  have 
noftho  Spirit  of  Christ,  he  is  none 
of  his.  Ver.  14.  For  as  many  as 
are  led  by  the  Spirit  of  God,  they 
are  the  sons  of  God.  Rom.  xv. 
18.  For  I  will  not  dare  to  speak 
of  any  of  those  things  which 
Christ  hath  not  wrought  by  me, 
to  make  the  Gentiles  obedient,  by 
word  and  deed.  Ver.  19.  Through 
mighty  signs  and  wonders,  by  the 
power  of  the  Spirit  of  God:  so 
that  from  Jerusalem,  and  round 
about  unto  Illyricum,  I  have 
fully  preached  the  gospel  of 
Christ.  John  xvii.  17.  Sanctify 
them  through  thy  truth :  thy  word 
is  truth, 


Chap.  IX. 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


71 


as  are  most  consonant  to  his  wonderful  and  unsearchable 
dispensation.11 


CHAPTER  IX.     Of  Free  Will. 

God  hath  endued  the  will  of  man  with  that  natural  liber- 
ty, that  it  is  neither  forced,  nor  by  any  absolute  necessity  of 
nature  determined,  to  good  or  evil.a 

II.  Man,  in  his  state  of  innocency,  had  freedom  and  power 
to  will  and  to  do  that  which  is  good  and  well  pleasing  to 
God;b  but  yet  mutably,  so  that  he  might  fall  from  it.c 

III.  Man,  by  his  fall  into  a  state  of  sin,  hath  wholly  lost 
all  ability  of  will  to  any  spiritual  good  accompanying  sal- 


uPsal.  ex.  1.  The  Lord  said 
unto  my  Lord,  Sit  thou  at  my  right 
hand,  until  I  make  thine,  enemies 
thy  footstool.  1  Cor.  xv.  25.  For 
he  must  reign,  till  he  hatli  put  all 
enemies  under  his  feet.  Ver.  26. 
The  last  enemy  that  shall  be  de- 
stroyed is  death.  Mai.  iv.  2.  But 
unto  you  that  fear  my  name  shall 
the  Sun  of  righteousness  arise  with 
healing  in  his  wings;  and  ye  shall 
go  forth,  and  grow  up  as  calves  of 
the  stall.  Ver.  3.  And  ye  shall 
tread  down  the  wicked;  for  they 
shall  be  ashes  under  the  soles  of 
your  feet,  in  the  day  that  I  shall 
do  this,  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts. 
Col.  ii.  15.  And  having  spoiled 
principalities  and  powers,  he  made 
a  show  of  them  openly,  triumph- 
ing over  them  in  it. 

I.  a  Mat.  xvii.  12.  But  I  say 
unto  you,  that  Elias  is  come  al- 
ready; and  they  knew  him  not, 
but  have  done  unto  him  whatso- 
ever they  listed :  likewise  shall 
also  the  Son  of  man  suffer  of  them. 
James  i.  14.  But  every  man  is 
tempted,  when  he  is  drawn  away 
of  his  own  lust,  and  enticed. 
Deut.  xxx.  19.  1  call  heaven  and 
earth  to  record  this  day  against 


you,  that  I  have  set  before  you  life 
and  death,  blessing  and  cursing; 
therefore  choose  life,  that  both  thou 
and  thy  seed  may  live. 

II.  b  Eccl.  vii.  29.  Lo,  this  only 
have  I  found,  that  God  hath  made 
man  upright;  but  they  have  sought 
out  many  inventions.  Gen.  i.  26. 
And  God  said,  Let  us  make  man 
in  our  image,  after  our  likeness: 
and  let  them  have  dominion  over 
the  fish  of  the  sea,  and  over  the 
fowl  of  the  air,  and  over  the  cattle, 
and  over  all  the  earth,  and  over 
every  creeping  thing  that  creepeth 
upon  the  earth. 

c  Gen.  ii.  16.  And  the  Lord  God 
commanded  the  man,  saying,  Of 
every  tree  of  the  garden  thou 
mayest  freely  eat :  Ver.  17.  But  of 
the  tree  of  the  knowledge  of  good 
and  evil  thou  shalt  not  eat  of  it: 
for  in  the  day  that  thou  eatest 
thereof  thou  shalt  surely  die. 
Gen.  iii.  6.  And  when  the  woman 
saw  that  the  tree  was  good  for 
food,  and  that  it  was  pleasant  to 
the  eyes,  and  a  tree  to  be  desired 
to  make  one  wise;  she  took  of 
the  fruit  thereof,  and  did  eat,  and 
gave  also  unto  her  husband  with 
her,  and  he  did  eat. 


72 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


Chap.  IX. 


vation  ;d  so  as  a  natural  man,  being  altogether  averse  from 
that  good,6  and  dead  in  sin/  is  not  able,  by  his  own 
strength,  to  convert  himself,  or  to  prepare  himself  there- 
unto.6 

IV.  When  God  converts  a  sinner,  and  translates  him  into 
the  state  of  grace,  he  freeth  him  from  his  natural  bondage 
under  sin,h  and  by  his  grace  alone  enables  him  freely  to 


III.  d  Rom.  v.  6.  For, when  we 
were  yet  without  strength,  in  due 
time  Christ  died  for  the  ungodly. 
Rom.  viii.  7.  Because  the  carnal 
mind  is  enmity  against  God  ;  for 
it  is  not  subject  to  the  law  of  God, 
neither  indeed  can  be.  John  xv.  5. 
I  am  the  vine,  ye  are  the  branches : 
he  that  abideth  in  me,  and  I  in  him, 
the  same  bringeth  forth  much 
fruit;  for  without  me  ye  can  do 
nothing. 

e  Rom.  iii.  10.  As  it  is  written, 
There  is  none  righteous,  no,  not 
one.  Ver.  12.  They  are  all  gone 
out  of  the  way,  they  are  together 
become  unprofitable,  there  is  none 
that  doeth  good,  no,  not  one. 

fEph.  ii.  1.  And  you  hath  he 
quickened,  who  were  dead  in  tres- 
passes and  sins.  Ver.  5.  Even 
when  we  were  dead  in  sins,  hath 
quickened  us  together  with  Christ, 
(by  grace  ye  are  saved.)  Col.  ii. 
13.  And  you,  being  dead  in  your 
sins,  and  the  uncircumcision  of 
your  flesh,  hath  he  quickened  toge- 
ther with  him,  having  forgiven  you 
all  trespasses. 

*  John  vi.  44.  No  man  can  come 
to  me,  except  the  Father  which 
hath  sent  me  draw  him:  and  I  will 
raise  him  up  at  the  last  day.  Ver. 
65.  And  he  said,  Therefore  said  I 
unto  you,  That  no  man  can  come 
unto  me,  except  it  were  given  unto 
him  of  my  Father.  Eph.  ii.  2. 
Wherein  in  time  past  ye  walked 
according  to  the  course  of  this 
world,  according  to  the  prince  of 


the  power  of  the  air,  the  spirit  that 
now  worketh  in  the  children  of  dis- 
obedience. Ver.  3.  Among  whom 
also  we  all  had  our  conversation  in 
times  past,  in  the  lusts  of  our  flesh, 
fulfilling  the  desires  of  the  flesh  and 
of  the  mind ;  and  were  by  nature 
the  children  of  wrath,  even  as 
others.  Ver.  4.  But  God,  who  is 
rich  in  mercy,  for  his  great  love 
wherewith  he  loved  us,  Ver.  5. 
Even  when  we  were  dead  in  sins, 
hath  quickened  us  together  with 
Christ,  (by  grace  ye  are  saved.) 
1  Cor.  ii.  14.  But  the  natural  man 
receiveth  not  the  things  of  the  Spi- 
rit of  God  ;  for  they  are  foolishness 
unto  him  ;  neither  can  he  know 
them,  because  they  are  spiritually 
discerned.  Tit.  iii.  3.  For  we  our- 
selves also  were  sometimes  foolish, 
disobedient,  deceived,  serving  di- 
vers lusts  and  pleasures,  living  in 
malice  and  en  vy,hateful,and  hating 
one  another.  Ver.  4.  But  after  that 
the  kindness  and  love  of  God  our 
Saviour  toward  man  appeared, 
Ver.  5.  Not  by  works  of  righteous- 
ness which  we  have  done,  but  ac- 
cording to  his  mercy  he  saved  us, 
by  the  washing  of  regeneration, 
and  renewing  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 
IV.  h  Col.  i.  13.  Who  hath  dell 
vered  us  from  the  power  of  dark- 
ness, and  hath  translated  us  into 
the  kingdom  of  his  dear  Son.  Joh] 
viii.  34.  Jesus  answered  them,  V< 
rily,  verily,  I  say  unto  you,  Whos< 
ever  committeth  sin,  is  the  servant 
of  sin.  Ver.  36.  If  the  Son  therefor* 


Chap.  X. 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


75 


wiH  and  to  do  that  which  is  spiritually  good ;-  yet  so  as 
that,  by  reason  of  his  remaining  corruption,  he  doth  not 
perfectly  nor  only  will  that  which  is  good,  but  doth  also 
will  that  which  is  evil.* 

V.  The  will  of  man  is   made  perfectly  and  immutably 
free  to  do  good  alone  in  the  state  of  glory  only.1 


CHAPTER  X.      Of  Effectual  Calling. 

All  those  whom  God  hath  predestinated  unto  life, 
and  those  only,  he  is  pleased,  in  his  appointed  and  ac- 
cepted   time,    effectually  to  call,a  by  his  word   and   Spi- 


shall  make  you  free,  ye  shall  be 
free  indeed. 

1  Phil.  ii.  13.  For  it  is  God  which 
worketh  in  you,  both  to  will  and  to 
do  of  his  good  pleasure.  Rom.  vi. 
18.  Being  then  made  free  from  sin, 
ye  became  the  servants  of  righte- 
ousness. Ver.  22.  But  now,  being 
made  free  from  sin,  and  become 
servants  to  God,  ye  have  your  fruit 
unto  holiness,  and  the  end  ever- 
lasting life. 

k  Gal.  v.  17.  For  the  flesh  lusteth 
against  the  Spirit,  and  the  Spirit 
against  the  flesh:  and  these  are  con- 
trary the  one  to  the  other ;  so  that 
ye  cannot  do  the  things  that  ye 
would.  Rom.  vii.  15.  For  that 
which  I  do,  I  allow  not:  for  what  I 
would,  that  do  I  not;  but  what  I 
hate,  that  do  I.  Ver.  IS.  For  I 
know,  that  in  me  (that  is,  in  my 
flesh)  dwelleth  no  good  thing:  for 
to  will  is  present  with  me,  but  how 
to  perform  that  which  is  good  I 
find  not.  Ver.  19.  For  the  good 
that  I  would,  I  do  not;  but  the  evil 
which  I  would  not,  that  I  do.  Ver. 
21.  I  find  then  a  law,  that  when  I 
would  do  good,  evil  is  present  with 
me.  Ver.  23.  But  I  see  another  law 
in  my  members  warring  against 
the  law  of  mv  mind,  and  bringing 
7 


me  into  captivity  to  the  law  of  sin, 
which  is  in  my  members. 

V.  »Eph.  iv.  13.  Till  we  all  come 
in  the  unity  of  the  faith,  and  of  the 
knowledge  of  the  Son  of  God,  unto 
a  perfect  man,  unto  the  measure  of 
the  stature  of  the  fulness  of  Christ. 
Heb.  xii.  23.  To  tiie  general  as- 
sembly and  church  of  the  first-born, 
which  are  written  in  heaven,  and 
to  God  the  Judge  of  all,  and  to  the 
spirits  of  just  men  made  perfect. 
1  John  iii.  2.  Beloved,  now  are  we 
the  sons  of  God;  and  it  doth  not 
yet  appear  what  we  shall  be:  but 
we  know  that  when  he  shall  appear, 
we  shall  be  like  him;  for  we  shall 
see  him  as  he  is.  Jude,  ver.  24. 
Now  unto  him  that  is  able  to  keep 
you  from  falling,  and  to  present 
you  faultless  before  the  presence 
of  his  glory  with  exceeding  joy. 

I.  a  Rom.  viii.  30.  Moreover, 
whom  he  did  predestinate,  them  he 
also  called ;  and  whom  he  called, 
them  he  also  justified ;  and  whom 
he  justified,  them  he  also  glorified. 
Rom.  xi.  7.  What  then  1  Israel  hath 
not  obtained  that  which  he  seeketh 
for;  but  the  election  hath  obtained 
it,  and  the  rest  were  blinded.  Eph. 
i.  10.  That  in  the  dispensation  of  the 
fulness  of  times  he  might  gather  to- 


74 


The  Confession  of  Faith, 


Chap.  X. 


rit,b  out  of  that  state  of  sin  and  death  in  which  they  are  by- 
nature,  to  grace  and  salvation  by  Jesus  Christ;0  enlighten- 
ing their  minds  spiritually  and  savingly  to  understand  the 
things  of  God;d  taking  away  their  heart  of  stone,  and  giving 


gether  in  one  all  things  in  Christ, 
both  which  are  in  heaven,  and 
which  are  on  earth,  even  in  him. 
Ver.  11.  In  whom  also  we  have  ob- 
tained an  inheritance,  being  pre- 
destinated according  to  the  purpose 
of  him  who  worketh  all  things  af- 
ter the  counsel  of  his  own  will. 

b  2  Thess.  ii.  13.  But  we  are 
bound  to  give  thanks  alvvay  to  God 
for  you,  brethren,  beloved  of  the 
Lord;  because  God  hath  from  the 
beginning  chosen  you  to  salvation, 
through  sanctification  of  the  Spirit, 
and  belief  of  the  truth :  Ver.  14. 
Whereunto  he  called  you  by  our 
gospel,  to  the  obtaining  of  the  glo- 
ry of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  2 
Cor.  iii.  3.  Forasmuch  as  ye  are 
manifestly  declared  to  be  the 
epistle  of  Christ  ministered  by  us, 
written  not  with  ink,  but  with  the 
Spirit  of  the  living  God;  not  in 
tables  of  stone,  but  in  fleshly  tables 
of  the  heart.  Ver.  6.  Who  also 
made  us  able  ministers  of  the  new 
testament;  not  of  the  letter,  but  of 
the  Spirit;  for  the  letter  killeth, 
but  the  Spirit  giveth  life. 

c  Rom.  viii.  2.  For  the  law  of 
the  Spirit  of  life  in  Christ  Jesus 
hath  made  me  free  from  the  law 
of  sin  and  death.  Eph.  ii.  1.  And 
you  hath  he  quickened,  who  were 
dead  in  trespasses  and  sins.  Ver.  2. 
Wherein  in  time  past  ye  walked 
according  to  the  course  of  this 
world,  according  to  the  prince  of 
the  power  of  the  air,  the  spirit  that 
now  worketh  in  the  children  of  dis- 
obedience. Ver.  3.  Among  whom 
also  we  all  had  our  conversation 
in  times  past,  in  the  lusts  of  our 


flesh,  fulfilling  the  desires  of  the 
flesh  and  of  the  mind;  and  were 
by  nature  the  children  of  wrath, 
even  as  others.  Ver.  4.  But  God, 
who  is  rich  in  mercy,  for  his  great 
love  wherewith  he  loved  us,  Ver. 
5.  Even  when  we  were  dead  in 
sins,  hath  quickened  us  together 
with  Christ,  (by  grace  ye  are 
saved.)  2  Tim.  i.  9.  Who  hath 
saved  us,  and  called  us  with  a  holy 
calling,  not  according  to  our  works, 
but  according  to  his  own  purpose 
and  grace,  which  was  given  us  in 
Christ  Jesus,  before  the  world  be 
gan ;  Ver.  10.  But  is  now  made 
manifest  by  the  appearing  of  oui 
Saviour  Jesus  Christ,  who  hatl 
abolished  death,  and  hath  broughl 
life  and  immortality  to  light  througl 
the  gospel. 

A  Acts  xxvi.  18.  To  open  their 
eyes,  and  to  turn  them  from  dark- 
ness to  light,  and  from  the  powei 
of  Satan  unto  God,  that  they  ma; 
receive  forgiveness  of  sins,  and  in- 
heritance among  them  which  arc 
sanctified  by  faith  that  is  in  me- 
1  Cor.  ii.  10.  But  God  hath  n 
vealed  them  unto  us  by  his  Spirit: 
for  the  Spirit  searcheth  all  things 
yea,  the  deep  things  of  God.  Ver. 
12.  Now  we  have  received,  not  th( 
spirit  of  the  world,  but  the  Spirit 
which  is  of  God ;  that  we  might 
know  the  things  that  are  freelj 
given  to  us  of  God.  Eph.  i.  17. 
That  the  God  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  the  Father  of  glory,  ma] 
give  unto  you  the  Spirit  of  wis- 
dom and  revelation  in  the  know- 
ledge of  him :  Ver.  18.  The  eyes  oi 
your  understanding  being  enlight 


Chap.  X. 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


,  J 


unto  them  a  heart  of  flesh  ;e  renewing  their  wills,  and 
by  his  almighty  power  determining  them  to  that  which  is 
good;f  and  effectually  drawing  them  to  Jesus  Christ;?  yet 
so  as  they  come  most  freely,  being  made  willing  by  his 
grace.h 

II.  This  effectual  call  is  of  God's  free  and  special  grace 
alone,  not  from  any  thing  at  all  foreseen  in  man';1  who  is 


med ;  that  ye  may  know  what  is 
he  hope  of  his  calling,  and  what 
he  riches  of  the  glory  of  his  inhe- 
ritance in  the  saints. 

e  Ezek.  xxxvi.  26.  A  new  heart 
llso  will  I  give  you,  and  a  new 
•pirit  will  I  put  within  you ;  and 
1  will  take  away  the  stony  heart 
>ut  of  your  flesh,  and  1  will  give 
rou  a  heart  of  flesh. 

1  Ezek.  xi.  19.  And  I  will  give 
hem  one  heart,  and  I  will  put  a 
lew  spirit  within  you;  and  I  will 
ake  the  stony  heart  out  of  their 
lesh,  and  will  give  them  a  heart 
>f  flesh.  Phil.  ii.  13.  For  it  is  God 
tfhich  worketh  in  you,  both  to 
vill  and  to  do  of  his  good  plea- 
sure. Deut.  xxx.  6.  And  the  Lord 
.hy  God  will  circumcise  thine 
leart,  and  the  heart  of  thy  seed, 
o  love  the  Lord  thy  God  with 
ill  thine  heart,  and  with  all  thy 
soul,  that  thou  mayest  live.  Ezek. 
exxvi.  27.  And  I  will  put  my  Spi- 
it  within  you,  and  cause  you 
o  walk  in  my  statutes,  and  ye 
ihall  keep  my  judgments,  and  do 
liem. 

6  Eph.  i.  19.  And  what  is  the 
jxceeding  greatness  of  his  power 
o  us-ward  who  believe,  accord- 
ng  to  the  working  of  his  mighty 
>ower.  John  vi.  44-  Xo  man  can 
:ome  to  me,  except  the  Father 
vhich  hath  sent  me  draw  him; 
tnd  I  will  raise  him  up  at  the  last 
lay.  Ver.  45.  It  is  written  in  the 
irophets,  And  they  shall  be  all 
aught  of  God.     Everv  man  there- 


fore that  hath  heard,  and  hath 
learned  of  the  Father,  cometli 
unto  me. 

at  i.  4.  Draw  me,  we  will 
run  after  thee.  Psal.  ex.  3.  ] 
people  shall  be  willing  in  the 
of  thy  power,  in  the  beauties  of 
holiness  from  the  womb  of  the 
morning;  thou  hast  the  dew  of 
thy  youth.  John  vi.  37.  All  that 
the  Father  giveth  me  shall  come 
to  me;  and  him  that  cometh  to 
me  I  will  in  no  wise  cast  out. 
Rom.  vi.  16.  Know  ye  not,  that 
to  whom  ye  yield  yourselves  ser- 
vants to  obey,  his  servants  ye  are 
to  whom  ye  obey ;  whether  of  sin 
unto  death,  or  of  obedience  unto 
righteousness  1  Ver.  17.  But  God 
be  thanked  that  ye  were  the  ser- 
vants of  sin ;  but  ye  have  obeyed 
from  the  heart  that  form  of  doc- 
trine which  was  delivered  you. 
Ver.  IS.  Being  then  made  free  from 
sin,  ye  became  the  servants  of 
righteousn : 

II.  *  2  Tim.  i.  9.  Who  hath 
saved  us,  and  called  us  with  a 
holy  calling,  not  according  to  our 
works,  but  according  to  his  own 
purpose  and  grace,  which  was 
given  us  in  Christ  Jesus  before 
the  world  began.  Tit.  iii.  4.  But 
after  that  the  kindness  and  love 
of  God  our  Saviour  toward  man 
appeared,  Ver.  5.  Not  by  works  of 
righteousness  which  we  have  done, 
but  according  to  his  mercy  he  save  J 
us,  by  the  washing  of  regenera- 
tion,  and   renewing  of  the  Holy 


76 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


Chap.  X. 


altogether  passive  therein,  until,  being  quickened  and  re- 
newed by  the  Holy  Spirit,k  he  is  thereby  enabled  to  answer 
this  call,  and  to  embrace  the  grace  offered  and  conveyed  in 
it.1 

III.  Elect  infants,  dying  in  infancy,  are  regenerated  and 
saved  by  Christ  through  the  Spirit,"1  who  worketh  when, 
and  where,  and  how  he  plcaseth."     So  also  are  all  other 


Ghost.  Eph.  ii.  4.  But  God,  who 
is  rich  in  mercy,  for  his  great  love 
wherewith  he  loved  us,  Ver.  5. 
Even  when  we  were  dead  in  sins, 
hath  quickened  us  together  with 
Christ,  (by  grace  ye  are  saved.) 
Ver.  8.  For  by  grace  ye  are  saved, 
through  faith;  and  that  not  of 
yourselves;  it  is  the  gift  of  God: 
Ver.  9.  Not  of  works,  lest  any  man 
should  boast.  Rom.  ix.  11.  For  the 
children  being  not  yet  born,  neither 
having  done  any  good  or  evil,  that 
the  purpose  of  God  according  to 
election  might  stand,  not  of  works, 
but  of  him  that  calleth. 

k  1  Cor.  ii.  14.  But  the  natural 
man  receiveth  not  the  things  of 
the  Spirit  of  God ;  for  they  are 
foolishness  unto  him :  neither  can 
he  know  them,  because  they  are 
spiritually  discerned.  Rom-  viii.  7. 
Because  the  carnal  mind  is  enmity 
against  God:  for  it  is  not  subject, 
to  the  law  of  God,  neither  indeed 
can  be.  Eph.  ii.  5.  Even  when  we 
were  dead  in  sins,  hath  quickened 
us  together  with  Christ,  (by  grace 
ye  are  saved.) 

1  John  vi.  37.  All  that  the  Father 
giveth  me  shall  come  to  me;  and 
him  that  cometh  to  me  I  will  in 
no  wise  cast  out.  Ezek.  xxxvi.  27. 
And  I  will  put  my  Spirit  within 
you,  and  cause  you  to  walk  in  my 
statutes,  and  ye  shall  keep  my 
judgments,  and  do  them.  John  v. 
25.  Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  you, 
The  hour  is  coming,  and  now  is, 
when  the  dead  shall  hear  the  voice 


of  the  Son  of  God:  and  they  that 
hear  shall  live. 

III.  «  Luke  xviii.  15.  And  they 
brought  unto  him  also  infants,  that 
he  would  touch  them:    but  when 
his  disciples  saw  it,  they  rebuked 
them.     Ver.  16.  But  Jesus  called 
them  unto   him,  and   said,  Suffer 
little  children  to  come  unto  me,  and 
forbid  them  not:  for  of  such  is  the 
kingdom  of  Gqjl.     And  Acts  ii.  36. 
Then  Peter  said  unto  them,  Re- 
pent, and  be  baptized  every  one  of 
you  in  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ  for 
the  remission  of  sins,  and  ye  shall 
receive  the  gift  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 
Ver.  39.  For  the  promise  is  unto 
you,  and  to  your  children,  and  to 
all  that  arc  afar  off,  even  as  many 
as   the  Lord  our  God  shall   call. 
And  John   iii.  3.  Jesus  answere 
and  said  unto  him,  Verily,  verily, 
I  say  unto  thee,  Except  a  man  be 
born  ao-ain,  jie  cannot  see  the  king- 
dom of  God.     Ver.  5.  Jesus  an- 
swered, Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto 
thee,  Except  a  man  be  born  of  wa 
ter  and  of  the  Spirit,  he  cannot  en 
ter  into  the  kingdom  of  God.    And 
1  John  v.  12.  He  that  hath  the  So 
hath  life;  and  he  that  hath  not  th 
Son  of  God  hath  not  life.      An 
Rom.  viii.  9.  But  ye  are  not  in  th 
flesh,  but  in  the  Spirit,  if  so  be  tha 
the  Spirit  of  God  dwell   in  you 
Now,  if  any  man  have  not  the  Spi 
rit  of  Christ,  he   is  none  of  his. 
[Compared  together.] 

a  John  iii.  8.  The  wind  blovvet 
where  it  listeth,  and  thou  heares 


Chap.  X. 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


elect  persons,  who  are  incapable  of  being  outwardly  called 
by  the  ministry  of  the  word.0 

IV.  Others  not  elected,  although  they  may  be  called  by 
the  ministry  of  the  word,p  and  may  have  some  common 
operations  of  the  Spirit,q  yet  they  never  truly  come  unto 
Christ,  and  therefore  cannot  be  saved  ;r  much  less  can 
men  not  professing  the  Christian  religion  be  saved  in 
any  other  way  whatsoever,  be  they  ever  so  diligent  t«  > 
frame  their  lives  according  to  the  light  of  nature,  and  the 
law  of  that  religion  they  do  profess  ;s  and  to  assert  ana 


the  sound  thereof,  but  canst  not  tell 
whence  it  cometh,  and  whither  it 
goeth  :  so  is  every  one  that  is  born 
of  the  Spirit. 

0  1  John  v.  12.  He  that  hath  the 
Son  hath  life  ;  and  he  that  hath  not 
the  Son  of  God  hath  not  life.  Acts 
iv.  12.  Neither  is  there  salvation 
in  any  other :  for  there  is  none 
other  name  under  heaven  given 
among  men  whereby  we  must  be 
saved. 

IV.  p  Mat.  xxii.  14.  For  many 
are  called,  but  few  are  chosen. 

qMat.  vii.  22,  Many  will  say 
to  me  in  that  day,  Lord,  Lord, 
have  we  not  prophesied  in  thy 
name  1  and  in  thy  name  have  cast 
out  devils]  and  in  thy  name  done 
many  wonderful  works  \  Mat.  xiii. 
20.  But  he  that  receiveth  the  seed 
into  stony  places,  the  same  is  he 
that  heareth  the  word,  and  anon 
with  joy  receiveth  it:  Ver.  21.  Yet 
hath  he  not  root  in  himself,  but 
dureth  for  awhile:  for  when  tri- 
bulation or  persecution  ariseth  be- 
cause of  the  word,  by  and  by  he  is 
offended.  Heb,  vi.  4  For  it  is  im- 
possible for  those  who  were  once 
enlightened,  and  have  tasted  of  the 
heayenly  gift,  and  wore  made  par- 
takers of  the  Holy  Ghost,  Ver.  5. 
And  have  tasted  the  good  word  of 
God,  and  the  powers  of  the  world 
to  come. 


r  John  vi.  64.  But  there  are  some 
of  you  that  believe  not.  For  Jesus 
knew  from  tiie  beginning  who  they 
were  that  believed  not,  and  who 
should  betray  him.  Ver.  65.  And 
he  said,  Therefore  said  I  unto  you, 
That  no  man  can  come  unto  me. 
except  it  were  given  unto  him  or 
my  Father.  Ver.  66.  From  that 
time  many  of  his  disciples  went 
back,  and  walked  no  more  with 
him.  John  viii.  24.  I  said  therefore 
unto  you,  That  ye  shall  die  in  your 
sins ;  for  if  ye  believe  not  that  I  am 
he,  ye  shall  die  in  your  sins. 

"Acts  iv.  12.  Neither  is  there 
salvation  in  any  other :  for  there 
is  none  other  name  under  heaven 
given  among  men  whereby  we 
must  be  saved.  John  xiv.  6.  Jesus 
saith  unto  him,  I  am  the  way. 
and  the  truth,  and  the  life:  no 
man  cometh  unto  the  Father  but 
by  me.  Eph.  ii.  12.  That  at  that 
time  ye  were  without  Christ,  be- 
ing aliens  from  the  commonwealth 
of  Israel,  and  strangers  from  the 
covenants  of  promise,  having  no 
hope,  and  without  God  in  the 
world.  *  John  iv.  22.  Ye  worship 
ye  know  not  what:  we  know  what 
we  worship;  for  salvation  is  of  the 
Jews.  John  xvii.  3.  And  this  is 
life  eternal,  that  they  might  know 
thee  the  only  true  God,  and  Jesus 
Christ  whom  thou  hast  sent. 


78 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


Chap.  XL 


maintain  that  they  may,  is  very  pernicious,  and  to  be  de- 
tested/ 


CHAPTER  XL     Of  Justification. 

Those  whom  God  effectually  calleth  he  also  freely 
justifieth  ;a  not  by  infusing  righteousness  into  them,  but  by 
pardoning  their  sins,  and  by  accounting  and  accepting  their 
persons  as  righteous :  not  for  any  thing  wrought  in  them, 
or  done  by  them,  but  for  Christ's  sake  alone:  not  by  im- 
puting faith  itself,  the  act  of  believing,  or  any  other  evan- 
gelical obedience,  to  them  as  their  righteousness  ;  but  by  im- 
puting the  obedience  and  satisfaction  of  Christ  unto  them,b 
they  receiving  and  resting  on  him  and  his  righteousness 


J  John,  ver.  2.  Whosoever 
transgresseth,  and  abidetli  not  in 
the  doctrine  of  Christ:,  hath  not 
God:  he  that  abidcth  in  the  doc- 
trine of  Christ,  he  hath  both  the 
Father  and  the  Son.  Ver.  10.  If 
there  come  any  unto  you,  and  bring 
not  this  doctrine,  receive  him  not 
into  your  house,  neither  bid  him 
God  speed.  Ver.  11.  For  he  that 
biddcth  him  God  speed  is  partaker 
of  his  evil  deeds.  1  Cor.  xvi.  22. 
If  any  man  love  not  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  let  him  be  Anathema  Ma- 
ranatha.  Gal.  i.  (3. 1  marvel  that  ye 
are  so  soon  removed  from  him  that 
called  you  into  the  grace  of  Christ, 
unto  another  gospel :  Ver.  7. 
Which  is  not  another ;  but  there  be 
some  that  trouble  you,  and  would 
pervert  the  gospel  of  Christ.  Ver. 
8.  But  though  we,  or  an  angel  from 
heaven,  preach  any  other  gospel 
unto  you  than  that  which  we  have 
preached  unto  you,  let  him  be  ac- 
cursed. 

I.  a  Rom.  viii.  30.  Moreover, 
v/hom  he  did  predestinate,  them 
he  also  called  :  and  whom  he  called, 
them  he  also  justified;  and  whom 


he  justified,  them  he  also  glorified. 
Rom.  iii.  24.  JJeing  justified  freely 
by  his  grace,  through  the  redemp- 
tion that  is  in  Christ  Jesus. 

b  Rom.  iv.  5.  But  to  him  that 
worketh  not,  but  believeth  on  him 
that  justifieth  the  ungodly,  his  faith 
is  counted  for  righteousness.  Ver. 
6.  Even  as  David  also  describeth 
the  blessedness  of  the  man  unto 
whom  God  imputeth  righteousness 
without  works,  Verse  7.  Saying, 
Blessed  are  they  whose  iniquities 
are  forgiven,  and  whose  sins  are 
covered.  Ver.  8.  Blessed  is  the 
man  to  whom  the  Lord  will  not 
impute  sin.  2  Cor.  v.  19.  To  wit, 
that  God  was  in  Christ,  reconciling 
the  world  unto  himself,  not  im- 
puting their  trespasses  unto  them; 
and  hath  committed  unto  us  the 
word  of  reconciliation,  Ver.  21. 
For  he  hath  made  him  to  be  sin  for 
us,  who  knew  no  sin;  that  we  might 
be  made  the  righteousness  of  Gt 
in  him.  Rom.  iii.  22.  Even  tl 
righteousness  of  God,  which  is 
faith  of  Jesus  Christ  unto  all,  ai 
upon  all  them  that  believe;  fo 
there   is  no  difference.     Ver. 


Chap.  XI. 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


79 


by  faith  :  which  faith  they  have  not  of  themselves  ;  it  is  the 
gift  of  God.c 

II.  Faith,  thus  receiving  and  resting  on  Christ  and  his 
righteousness,  is  the  alone  instrument  of  justification  ;d  yet  is 


Being  justified  freely  by  his  grace, 
through  the  redemption  that  is  in 
Jesus  Christ;  Ver.  25.  Whom  God 
hath  set  forth  to  be  a  propitiation 
through  faith  in  his  blood,  to  de- 
clare his  righteousness  for  the  re- 
mission of  sins  that  are  past, 
through  the  forbearance  of  God. 
Ver.  27.  Where  is  boasting  then] 
It  is  excluded.  By  what  law?  of 
works?  Nay;  but  by  the  law  of 
faith.  Ver.  28.  Therefore  we  con- 
clude that  a  man  is  justified  by 
faith  without  the  deeds  of  the  law. 
Tit.  iii.  5.  Not  by  works  of  right- 
eousness which  we  have  done,  but 
according  to  his  mercy  he  saved 
us,  by  the  washing  of  regeneration, 
and  renewing  of  the  Holy  Ghost: 
Ver.  7.  That  being  justified  by  his 
grace,  we  should  be  made  heirs  ac- 
cording to  the  hope  of  eternal  life. 
Eph.  i.  7.  In  whom  we  have  re- 
demption through  his  blood,  the 
forgiveness  of  sins,  according  to 
the  riches  of  his  grace.  Jer.  xxiii. 
6.  In  his  days  Judah  shall  be  saved, 
and  Israel  shall  dwell  safely:  and 
this  is  his  name  whereby  he  shall 
be  called,  THE  LORD  OUR 
RIGHTEOUSNESS.  1  Cor.  i.  30. 
But  of  him  are  ye  in  Christ  Jesus, 
who  of  God  is  made  unto  us  wis- 
dom and  righteousness,  and  sanc- 
tification,  and  redemption:  Ver. 
31.  That  according  as  it  is  writ- 
ten, He  that  glorieth,  let  him 
glory  in  the  Lord.  Rom.  v.  17. 
For  if  by  one  man's  offence  death 
reigned  by  one,  much  more  they 
which  receive  abundance  of  grace, 
and  of  the  gift  of  righteousness, 
shall  reign  in  life  bv  one,  Jesus 
Christ.     Ver.  18.  Therefore  as  by 


the  offence  of  one  judgment  came 
upon  all  men  to  condemnation ; 
even  so  by  the  righteousness  of 
one,  the  free  gift  came  upon  all 
men  unto  justification  of  life.  Ver. 
19.  For  as  by  one  man's  disobe- 
dience many  were  made  sinners; 
so  by  the  obedience  of  one  shall 
many  be  made  righteous. 

c  Acts  x.  44.  While  Peter  yet 
spake  these  words,  the  Holy  Ghost 
fell  on  all  them  which  heard  the 
word.  Gal.  ii.  16.  Knowing  that 
a  man  is  not  justified  by  the  works 
of  the  law,  but  by  the  faith  of 
Jesus  Christ,  even  we  have  be- 
lieved in  Jesus  Christ,  that  we 
might  be  justified  by  the  faith  of 
Christ,  and  not  by  the  works  of  the 
law :  for  by  the  works  of  the  law 
shall  no  flesh  be  justified.  Phil.  iii. 
9.  And  be  found  in  him,  not  having 
mine  own  righteousness,  which 
is  of  the  law,  but  that  which  is 
through  the  faith  of  Christ,  the 
righteousness  which  is  of  God  by 
faith.  Acts  xiii.  38.  Be  it  known 
unto  you  therefore,  men  and  bre- 
thren, that  through  this  man  is 
preached  unto  you  the  forgiveness 
of  sins:  Ver.  39.  And  by  him  all 
that  believe  are  justified  from  all 
things,  from  which  ye  could  not 
be  justified  by  the  law  of  Moses. 
Eph.  ii.  7.  That  in  the  ages  to 
come  he  might  show  the  exceed- 
ing riches  of  his  grace,,  in  his 
kindness  toward  us,  through 
Christ  Jesus.  Ver.  8.  For  by  grace 
are  ye  saved,  through  faith;  and 
that  not  of  yourselves:  it  is  the 
gift  of  God. 

II.  d  John  i,  12.  But  as  many  as 
received   him,   to  them   gave   he 


80 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


Chap.  XL 


it  not  alone  in  the  person  justified,  but  is  ever  accompanied 
with  all  other  saving  graces,  and  is  no  dead  faith,  but 
worketh  by  love.6 

III.  Christ,  by  his  obedience  and  death,  did  fully  discharge 
the  debt  of  all  those  that  are  thus  justified,  and  did  make  a 
proper,  real,  and  full  satisfaction  to  his  Father's  justice  in 
their  behalf.f     Yet,  in  as  much  as  he  was  given  by  the  Fa- 


power  to  become  the  sons  of  God, 
even  to  them  that  believe  on  his 
name.  Rom.  iii.  28.  Therefore  we 
conclude  that  a  man  is  justified 
by  faith  without  the  deeds  of  the 
law:  Rom.  v.  1.  Therefore  being 
justified  by  faith,  we  have  peace 
with  God,  through  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ. 

e  James  ii.  17.  Even  so  faith,  if 
it  hath  not  works,  is  dead,  being 
alone.  Ver.  22.  Seest  thou  how  faith 
wrought  with  his  works,  and  by 
works  was  faith  made  perfect) 
Ver.  26.  For  as  the  body  without 
the  spirit  is  dead,  so  faith  without 
works  is  dead  also.  Gal.  v.  6.  For 
in  Jesus  Christ  neither  circumci- 
sion availeth  any  thing,  nor  un- 
circumcision,  but  faith  which  work- 
eth bv  love. 

Ill*  f  Rom.  v.  8.  But  God  com- 
mendeth  his  love  towards  us,  in 
that  while  we  were  yet  sinners 
Christ  died  for  us.  Ver.  9.  Much 
more  then,  being  now  justified  by 
his  blood,  we  shall  be  saved  from 
wrath  through  him.  Ver.  10.  For 
if,  when  we  were  enemies,  we 
were  reconciled  to  God  by  the 
death  of  his  Son,  much  more,,  be- 
ing reconciled,  we  shall  be  saved 
by  his  life.  Ver.  19.  For  as  by  one 
man's  disobedience  many  were 
made  sinners;  so  by  the  obedience 
of  one  shall  many  be  made  righ- 
teous. 1  Tim.  ii.  5.  For  there  is 
one  God,  and  one  Mediator  be- 
tween   God    and   men,   the    man 


Christ  Jesus:  Ver.  6.  Who  gave 
himself  a  ransom  for  all,  to  be  tes- 
tified in  due  time.  Heb.  x.  10.  By 
the  which  will  we  are  sanctified, 
through  the  offering  of  the  body 
of  Jesus  Christ  once  for  all.  Ver. 
14.  For  by  one  offering  he  hath 
perfected  for  ever  them  that  are 
sanctified.  Dan.  ix.  24.  Seventy 
weeks  are  determined  upon  thy 
people,  and  upon  thy  holy  city,  to 
finishr  the  transgression,  and  to 
make  an  end  of  sins,  and  to  make 
reconciliation  for  iniquity,  and  to 
bring  in  everlasting  righteousness, 
and  to  seal  up  the  vision  and  pro- 
phecy, and  to  anoint  the  most  holy. 
Ver.  26.  And  after  threescore  and 
two  weeks  shall  Messiah  be  cut 
off,  but  not  for  himself:  and  the 
people  of  the  prince  that  shall 
come  shall  destroy  the  city,  and 
the  sanctuary ;  and  the  end  there-, 
of  shall  be  with  a  flood ;  and  unto 
the  end  of  the  war  desolations  are 
determined.  Isa.  liii.  4.  Surely 
he  hath  borne  our  griefs,  and  car- 
ried our  sorrows:  yet  we  did 
esteem  him  stricken,  smitten  of 
God,  and  afflicted.  Ver.  5.  But  he 
was  wounded  for  our  trangres* 
sions,  he  was  bruised  for  our  ini- 
quities; the  chastisement  of  our 
peace  was  upon  him,  and  with  his 
stripes  we  are  healed.  Ver.  6.  All 
wo  like  sheep  have  gone  astray ;. 
we  have  turned  e\ery  one  to  his 
own  way,,  and  the  Lord  hath  laid 
on  him  the  iniquity  of  us  all.  Ver.  It 


Chap.  XL 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


81 


ther  for  them,5  and  his  obedience  and  satisfaction  accepted 
in  their  stead,h  and  both  freely,  not  for  any  thing  in  them, 
their  justification  is  only  of  free  grace;1  that  both  the  exact 
justice  and  rich  grace  of  God  might  be  glorified  in  the  jus- 
tification of  sinners. k 

IV.  God  did,  from  all  eternity,  decree  to  justify  all  the 
elect;1  and  Christ  did,  in  the  fulness  of  time,  die  for  their 


Yet  it  pleased  the  Lord  to  bruise 
him;  he  hath  put  him  to  grief: 
when  thou  shalt  make  his  soul  an 
offering  for  sin,  he  shall  see  his 
seed,  he  shall  prolong  his  days, 
and  the  pleasure  of  the  Lord  shall 
prosper  in  his  hand.  Ver.  11.  He 
shall  see  of  the  travail  of  his  soul, 
and  shall  be  satisfied:  by  his  know-"" 
ledge  shall  my  righteous  servant 
justify  many;  for  he  shall  bear 
their  iniquities.  Ver.  12.  There- 
fore will  I  divide  him  a  por- 
tion with  the  great,  and  he  shall 
divide  the  spoil  with  the  strong; 
because  he  hath  poured  out  his 
soul  unto  death:  and  he  was 
numbered  with  the  transgressors; 
and  he  bare  the  sin  of  many,  and 
made  intercession  for  the  "trans- 
gressors. 

*  Rom.  viii.  32.  He  that  spared 
not  his  own  Son,  but  delivered 
him  up  for  us  all,  how  shall  he  not 
with  him  also  freely  give  us  all 
things] 

h2  Cor.  v.  21.  For  he  hath 
made  him  to  be  sin  for  us,  who 
knew  no  sin;  that  we  might  be 
made  the  righteousness  of  God  in 
him.  Matth.  iii.  17.  And  lo,  a 
voice  from  heaven,  saying,  This 
is  my  beloved  Son,  in  whom  I  am 
well  pleased.  Eph.  v.  2-  And 
walk  in  love,  as  Christ  also  hath 
loved  us,  and  hath  given  himself 
for  us,  an  offering  and  a  sacrifice 
to  God,  for  a  sweet-smelling  sa- 
vour. 


1  Rom-  iii-  24.  Being  justified 
freely  by  his  grace,  through  the 
redemption  that  is  in  Christ  Jesus- 
Eph.  i-  7-  In  whom  we  have  re- 
demption through  his  blood,  the 
forgiveness  of  sins,  according  to 
the  riches  of  his  grace. 

k  Rom-  iii-  26-  To  declare,  I  say, 
at  this  time  his  righteousness: 
that  he  might  be  just,  and  the  jus- 
tifier  of  him  which  believeth  in 
Jesus.  Eph-  ii-  7.  That  in  the 
ages  to  come  he  might  show  the 
exceeding  riches  of  his  grace,  in 
his  kindness  toward  us  through 
Christ  Jesus. 

IV.  l  Gal.  iii.  8-  And  the  scrip- 
ture, foreseeing  that  God  would 
justify  the  heathen  through  faith, 
preached  before  the  gospel  unto 
Abraham,  saying,  In  thee  shall  all 
nations  be  blessed.  1  Pet-  i.  2 
Elect  according  to  the  foreknow- 
ledge of  God  the  Father,  through 
sanctification  of  the  Spirit  unto 
obedience,  and  sprinkling  of  the 
blood  of  Jesus  Christ.  Ver.  19-  But 
with  the  precious  blood  of  Christ, 
as  of  a  lamb  without  blemish  and 
without  spot:  Ver.  20.  Who  veri- 
ly was  foreordained  before  the 
foundation  of  the  world,  but  was 
manifest  in  these  last  times  for 
you-  Rom-  viii.  30-  Moreover, 
whom  he  did  predestinate,  them 
he  also  called ;  and  whom  he 
called,  them  he  also  justified  ;  and 
whom  he  justified,  them  he  also 
glorified- 


S2 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


Chap.  XL 


sins,  and  rise  again  for  their  justification  :m  nevertheless 
they  are  not  justified,  until  the  Holy  Spirit  doth  in  due 
time  actually  apply  Christ  unto  them." 

V.  God  doth  continue  to  forgive  the  sins  of  those  that 
are  justified :°  and  although  they  can  never  fall  from  the 
state  of  justification,*  yet  they  may  by  their  sins  fall  under 
God's  fatherly  displeasure,  and  not  have  the  light  of  his 
countenance  restored  unto  them,  until  they  humble  them- 
selves, confess  their  sins,  beg  pardon,  and  renew  their  faith 
and  repentance^ 


m  Gal,  iv.  4  But  when  the  ful- 
ness of  the  time  was  come,  God 
sent  forth  his  Son,  made  of  a  wo- 
man, made  under  the  law.  1  Tim. 
ii,  6.  Who  gave  himself  a  ransom 
for  all,  to  he  testified  in  due  time. 
Rom-  iv.  25.  Who  was  delivered 
for  our  offences,  and  was  raised 
again  for  our  justification. 

n  Col.  i-  21-  And  you  that  were 
some  time  alienated,  and  enemies 
in  your  mind  by  wicked  works,  yet 
now  hath  he  reconciled,  Ver.  22. 
In  the  body  of  his  flesh  through 
death,  to  present  you  holy,  and  un- 
blameable,  and  unreproveable  in 
his  sight.  Gal.  ii.  16.  [See  letter0 
immediately  foregoing.]  Tit.  iii.  4. 
But  after  that  the  kindness  and  love 
of  God  our  Saviour  toward  man 
appeared,  Ver.  5.  Not  by  works  of 
righteousness  which  we  have  done, 
but  according  to  his  mercy  he 
saved  us,  by  the  washing  of  rege- 
neration, and  renewing  of  the  Holy 
Ghost;  Ver.  6.  Which  he  shed  on 
usabundantly,  through  Jesus  Christ 
our  Saviour;  Ver.  7-  That  being 
justified  by  his  grace,  we  should 
be  made  heirs  according  to  the 
hope  of  eternal  life. 

V.  °  Mat  vi.  12.  And  forgive 
us  our  debts,  as  we  forgive  our 
debtors.  1  John  i.  7.  But  if  we 
walk  in  the  light,  as  he  is  in  the 
light,  we  have  fellowship  one  with 


another;  and  the  blood  of  Jesus 
Christ  his  Son  cleanset.h  us  from  all 
sin.  Ver.  9-  If  we  confess  our  sins, 
he  is  faithful  and  just  to  forgive  us 
our  sins,  and  to  cleanse  us  from  all 
unrighteousness.  1  John  ii.  1.  My 
little  children,  these  things  write  I 
unto  you,  that  ye  sin  not.  And  if 
any  man  sin,  we  have  an  advocate 
with  the  Father,  Jesus  Christ  the 
righteous.  Ver-  2.  And  he  is  the 
propitiation  for  our  sins:  and  not 
for  ours  only,  but  also  for  the  sins 
of  the  whole  world- 

v  Luke  xxii.  32.  But  I  have 
prayed  for  thee,  that  thy  faith  fail 
not;  and  when  thou  art  converted, 
strengthen  thy  brethren.  John  x 
28.  And  I  give  unto  them  eternal 
life,  and  they  shall  never  perish, 
neither  shall  any  pluck  them  out 
of  my  hand,  Heb.  x-  14.  For  by 
one  offering  he  hath  perfected  for 
ever  them  that  are  sanctified. 

*  Psal.  lxxxix-  31-  If  they  break 
my  statutes,  and  keep  not  my 
commandments;  Ver-  32.  Then 
will  I  visit  their  transgression  with 
the  rod,  and  their  iniquity  with 
stripes.  Ver.  33-  Nevertheless,  my 
loving-kindness  will  I  not  utterly 
take  from  him,  nor  suffer  my 
faithfulness  to  fail.  Psal.  Ii.  7. 
Purge  me  with  hyssop,  and  I 
shall  be  clean;  wash  me,  and  I 
shall  be  whiter  than  snow-   Ver-  8. 


Chap.  XII. 


The  Confession  of  Faith, 


83 


VI.  The  justification  of  believers  under  the  Old  Testa- 
ment was,  in  all  these  respects,  one  and  the  same  with  the 
justification  of  believers  under  the  New  Testament/ 


CHAPTER  XII.    Of  Adoption. 

All  those  that  are  justified,  God  vouchsafeth,  in  and  for 
his  only  Son  Jesus  Christ,  to  make  partakers  of  the  grace 
of  adoption  :a  by  which  they  are  taken  into  the  number,  and 
enjoy  the  liberties  and  privileges  of  the  children  of  God;b 


Make  me  to   hear  joy  and   glad- 
ness, that  the    bones  which   thou 
hast  broken  may  rejoice.     Ver.  9. 
Hide  thy  face  from  my  sins,  and 
blot  out  all  mine  iniquities.  Ver.  10. 
Create  in  me  a  clean  heart,  O  God; 
and  renew  a  right  spirit  within  me. 
Ver.  11.  Cast  me  not  away  from 
thy   presence,   and   take   not  thy 
Holy  Spirit  from  me.    Ver.  12.  Re- 
store unto  me  the  joy  of  thy  salva- 
tion ;  and  uphold  me  with  thy  free 
Spirit.     Psal.  xxxii.  5.  I  acknow- 
ledged my  sin  unto  thee,  and  mine 
iniquity  have  I  not  hid:  I  said,  1 
will  confess  my  transgressions  un- 
to the  Lord :   and  thou   forgavest 
the  iniquity  of  my  sin.     Mat.  xxvi. 
75.  And   Peter   remembered    the 
words  of  Jesus,  which  said  unto 
him,  Before  the  cock  crow,  thou 
shalt  deny  me  thrice.   And  he  went 
out,  and  wept  bitterly.     1  Cor.  xi. 
30.  For  this  cause  many  are  weak 
and  sickly  among  you,  and  many 
sleep.     Ver.  32.  But  when  we  are 
judged  we  are  chastened   of  the 
Lord,  that  we  should  not  be  con- 
demned with  the  world.     Luke  i. 
20.     And,  behold,  thou  shalt  be 
dumb,  and  not  able  to  speak,  until 
the  day  that  these  things  shall  be 
performed,  because  thou  believest 
not  my  words,  which  shall  be  ful- 
filled in  their  season. 


VI.  r  Gal.  iii.  9.  So  then  they 
which  be  of  faith  are  blessed  with 
faithful  Abraham.  Ver.  13.  Christ 
hath  redeemed  us  from  the  curse 
of  the  law,  being  made  a  curse  for 
us:  for  it  is  written,  Cursed  is 
every  one  that  hangeth  on  a  tree : 
Ver.  14.  That  the  blessing  of  Abra- 
ham might  come  on  the  Gentiles 
through  Jesus  Christ;  that  we 
might  receive  the  promise  of  the 
Spirit  through  faith.  Rom.  iv.  22. 
And  therefore  it  was  imputed  to 
him  for  righteousness.  Ver.  23. 
Now,  it  was  not  written  for  his 
sake  alone,  that  it  was  imputed  to 
him;  Ver.  24-  But  for  us,  also,  to 
whom  it  shall  be  imputed,  if  we 
believe  on  him  that  raised  up  Je- 
sus our  Lord  from  the  dead.  Heb. 
xiii.  8.  Jesus  Christ,  the  same  yes- 
terday, and  to-day,  and  for  ever. 

I. a  Eph.  i.  5.  Having  predesti- 
nated us  unto  the  adoption  of  chil- 
dren by  Jesus  Christ  to  himself, 
according  to  the  good  pleasure  of 
his  will.  Gal.  iv.  4.  But  when  the 
fulness  of  the  time  was  come,  God 
sent  forth  his  Son,  made  of  a  wo- 
man, made  under  the  law,  Ver.  5. 
To  redeem  them  that  were  under 
the  law,  that  we  might  receive  the 
adoption  of  sons. 

b  Rom.  viii.  17.  And  if  chil- 
dren, then   heirs;   heirs  of  God, 


84 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


Chap.  XII. 


have  his  name  put  upon  them,c  receive  the  Spirit  of  adop- 
tion ;d  have  access  to  the  throne  of  grace  with  boldness;6 
are  enabled  to  cry,  Abba,  Father ;f  are  pitied,5  protected,11 
provided  for,1  and  chastened  by  him  as  by  a  father  ;k  yet 
never  cast  off,1  but  sealed  to  the  day  of  redemption,"1  and 
inherit  the  promises,11  as  heirs  of  everlasting  salvation.0 


and  joint  heirs  with  Christ:  if  so 
be  that  we  suffer  with  him,  that 
we  may  be  also  glorified  together. 
John  i.  12.  But  as  many  as  received 
him,  to  them  gave  he  power  to  be- 
come the  sons  of  God,  even  to  them 
that  believe  on  his  name. 

c  Jer.  xiv.  9.  Yet  thou,  O  Lord, 
art  in  the  midst  of  us,  and  we  are 
called  by  thy  name,  leave  us  not. 
2  €or.  vi.  18.  And  will  be  a  Fa- 
ther unto  you,  and  ye  6hall  be  my 
sons  and  daughters,  saith  the  Lord 
Almighty.  Rev.  iii.  12.  Him  that 
overcometh  will  I  make  a  pillar 
in  the  temple  of  my  God,  and  he 
shalr  go  no  more  out:  and  I  will 
write  upon  him  the  name  of  my 
God,  and  the  name  of  the  city 
of  my  God,  which  is  new  Jeru- 
salem, which  cometh  down  out 
of  heaven  from  my  God:  and  I 
will  write  upon  him  my  new 
name. 

a  Rom.  viii.  15.  For  ye  have  not 
received  the  spirit  of  bondage  again 
to  fear ;  but  ye  have  received  the 
Spirit  of  adoption,  whereby  we 
cry,  Abba,  Father. 

e  Eph.  iii.  12.  In  whom  we  have 
boldness  and  access  with  confi- 
dence by  the  faith  of'him.  Rom. 
v.  2.  By  whom  also  we  have  access 
by  faith  into  this  grace  wherein 
we  stand,  and  rejoice  in  hope  of 
the  glory  of  God. 

f  Gal.  iv.  6.  And  because  ye  are 
sons,  God  hath  sent  forth  the  Spirit 
of  his  Son  into  your  hearts,  crying, 
Abba,  Father. 


&  Psal.  ciii.  13.  Like  as  a  father 
pitieth  his  children :  so  the  Lord 
pitieth  them  that  fear  him. 

h  Prov.  xiv.  26.  In  the  fear  of 
the  Lord  is  strong  confidence; 
and  his  children  shall  have  a  place 
of  refuge. 

1  Matth.  vi.  30.  Wherefore,  if 
God  so  clothe  the  grass  of  the 
field,  which  to-day  is,  and  to- 
morrow is  cast  into  the  oven, 
shall  he  not  much  more  clothe 
you,  O  ye  of  little  faith  ?  Ver.  32. 
For  your  heavenly  Father  know- 
eth  that  ye  have  need  of  all  these 
things.  1  Pet.  v.  7.  Casting  all 
your  care  upon  him,  for  he  careth 
for  you. 

k  Heb.  xii.  6.  For  whom  the 
Lord  loveth  he  chasteneth,  and 
scourgeth  every  son  whom  he  re- 
ceiveth. 

1  Lam.  iii.  31.  For  the  Lord  will 
not  cast  off  for  ever. 

m  Eph.  iv.  30.  And  grieve  not 
the  Holy  Spirit  of  God,  whereby 
ye  are  sealed  unto  the  day  of  re- 
demption. 

n  Heb.  vi.  12.  That  ye  be  not 
slothful,  but  followers  of  them, 
who  through  faith  and  patience 
inherit  the  promises; 

0 1  Pet.  i.  3.  Blessed  be  the  God 
and  Father  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  which,  according  to  his 
abundant  mercy,  hath  begotten 
us  again  unto  a  lively  hope,  by 
the  resurrection  of  Jesus  Christ 
from  the  dead,  Ver.  4-  To  an  in- 
heritance  incorruptible,  and    un- 


Chap.  xnr. 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


85 


CHAPTER  XIII.     Of  Sanctificatlon. 

They  who  are  effectually  called  and  regenerated,  haying 
a  new  heart  and  a  new  spirit  created  in  them,  are  far- 
ther sanctified  really  and  personally,  through  the  virtue  of 
Christ's  death  and  resurrection,a  by  his  word  and  Spirit 
dwelling  in  them;b  the  dominion  of  the  whole  body  of  sin 
is  destroyed,0  and  the  several  lusts  thereof  are  more  and 
more  weakened  and  mortified,4  and  they  more  and  more 
quickened  and  strengthened  in  all  saving  graces,6  to  the 


defiled,  and  that  fadeth  not  away, 
reserved  in  heaven  for  you.  Heb- 
i.  14.  Are  they  not  oil  ministering 
spirits,  sent  forth  to  minister  for 
them  who  shall  be  heirs  of  salva- 
tion"? 

I.  a  1  Cor.  vi.  11.  And  such 
were  some  of  you:  but  ye  are 
washed,  but  ye  are  sanctified,  but 
ye  are  justified,  in  the  name  of  the 
Lord  Jesus,  and  by  the  Spirit  of 
our  God.  Acts  xx.  32.  And  now, 
brethren,  I  commend  you  to  God, 
and  to  the  word  of  his  grace,  which 
is  able  to  build  you  up,  and  to  give 
you  an  inheritance  among  all  them 
which  are  sanctified.  Phil.iii.  19. 
That  I  may  know  him,  and  the 
power  of  his  resurrection,  and  the 
fellowship  of  his  sufferings,  being 
made  conformable  unto  his  death. 
Rom.  vi.  5.  For  if  we  have  been 
planted  together  in  the  likeness  of 
his  death,  we  shall  be  also  in  the 
likeness  of  his  resurrection :  Ver-  6. 
Knowing  this,  that  our  old  man 
is  crucified  with  him,  that  the 
body  of  sin  might  be  destroyed, 
that  henceforth  we  should  not 
serve  sin- 

b  John  xvii.  17.  Sanctify  them 
through  thy  truth:  thy  word  is 
truth.  Eph.  v.  26.  That  he  might 
sanctify  and  cleanse  it  with  the 
washing  of  water  by  the  word. 
2  Thess.  ii,  13.  But  we  are  bound 
8 


to  give  thanks  a! way  to  God  for 
you,  brethren,  beloved  of  the  Lord, 
because  God  hath  from  the  begin- 
ning chosen  you  to  salvation, 
through,  sanetification  of  the  Spirit, 
and  belief  of  the  truth. 

c  Rom.  vi.  6.  Knowing  this,  that 
our  old  man  is  crucified  with  him, 
that  the  body  of  sin  might  be  de- 
stroyed, that  henceforth  we  should 
not  serve  sin.  Ver.  14.  For  sin 
shall  not  have  dominion  over  you: 
for  ye  are  not  under  the  law,  but 
under  grace. 

d  Gal.  v.  24.  And  they  that  are 
Christ's  have  crucified  the  flesh, 
with  the  affections  and  lusts.  Rom. 
viii.  13.  For  if  ye  live  after  the 
flesh,  ye  shall  die :  but  if  ye  through 
the  Spirit  do  mortify  the  deeds^of 
the  body,  ye  shall  live. 

c  Col.  i.  11.  Strengthened  with 
all  might  according  to  his  glori- 
ous power,  unto  all  patience  and 
long-suffering  with  joyfulness. 
Eph.  iii.  16.  That  he  would  grant 
you,  according  to  the  riches  of  his 
glory,  to  be  strengthened  with 
might  by  his  Spirit  in  the  inner 
man.  Ver.  17.  That  Christ  may 
dwell  in  your  hearts  by  faith;  that 
ye,  being  rooted  and  grounded  in 
love,  Ver.  19.  May  be  able  to  com- 
prehend with  all  saints,  what  is  the 
breadth,  and  length,  and  depth,  and 
height;  Ver.  19.  And  to  know  the 


86 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


Chap.  XIII. 


practice  of  true  holiness,  without  which  no  man  shall  see 
the  Lord/ 

II.  This  sanctiflcation  is  throughout  in  the  whole  man,g 
yet  imperfect  in  this  life;  there  abideth  still  some  remnants 
of  corruption  in  every  part  :h  whence  ariseth  a  continual 
and  irreconcilable  war;  the  flesh  lusting  against  the  Spirit, 
and  the  Spirit  against  the  flesh.1 

III.  In  which  war,  although  the  remaining  corruption 
for  a  time  may  much  prevail,1*  yet,  through  the  con- 
tinual supply  of  strength  from  the  sanctifying  Spirit  of 
Christ,  the  regenerate  part    doth  overcome:1   and  so  the 


love  of  Christ,  which  passeth 
knowledge,  that  ye  might  be  filled 
with  all  the  fulness  of  God. 

f2  Cor.  vii.  1.  Having  there- 
fore these  promises,  dearly  be- 
loved, let  us  cleanse  ourselves 
from  all  fiithiness  of  the  flesh  and 
spirit,  perfecting  holiness  in  the 
fear  of  God.  Heb.  xii.  14.  Follow 
peace  with  all  men,  and  holiness, 
without  which  no  man  shall  see 
the  Lord. 

II.  e  1  Thess.  v.  23.  And  the 
very  God  of  peace  sanctify  you 
wholly:  and  I  pray  God  your 
whole  spirit  and  soul  and  body 
be  preserved  blameless  unto  the 
coming  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

h  1  John  i.  10.  If  we  say  that  we 
have  not  sinned,  we  make  him  a 
liar,  and  his  word  is  not  in  us. 
Rom.  vii.  18.  For  I  know  that  in 
me  (that  is,  in  my  flesh)  dwell- 
eth  no  good  thing:  for  to  will  is 
present  with  me,  but  how  to  per- 
form that  which  is  good  I  find 
not.  Ver.  23.  But  I  see  another 
law  in  my  members  warring 
against  the  law  of  my  mind,  and 
bringing  me  into  captivity  to  the 
law  of  sin,  which  is  in  my  mem- 
bers. Phil.  iii.  12,  Not  as  though 
I  had  already  attained,  either  were 
already  perfect;  but  I  follow  after, 


if  that  I  may  apprehend  that  for 
which  also  I  am  apprehended  of 
Christ  Jesus. 

;-  Gal.  v.  17.  For  the  flesh  lust- 
eth  against  the  Spirit,  and  the 
Spirit  against  the  flesh  :  and  these 
are  contrary  the  one  to  the  other; 
so  that  ye  cannot  do  the  things 
that  ye  would.  1  Pet.  ii.  11. 
Dearly  beloved,  I  beseecii  you, 
as  strangers  and  pilgrims,  abstain 
from  fleshly  lusts,  which  war 
against  the  soul. 

III.  k  Rom.  vii.  23.  But  I  see 
another  law  in  my  members,  war- 
ring against  the  law  of  my  mind, 
and  bringing  me  into  captivity  to 
the  law  of  sin,  which  is  in  my 
members. 

1  Rom.  vi.  14.  For  sin  shall  not 
have  dominion  over  you :  for  ye  are 
not  under  the  law,  but  under  grace. 
1  John  v.  4.  For  whatsoever  is  born 
of  God  overcometh  the  world:  and 
this  is  the  victory  that  overcometh 
the  world,  even  our  faith.  Eph. 
iv.  15.  But  speaking  the  truth  in 
love,  may  grow  up  into  him  in  all 
things,  which  is  the  head,  even 
Christ:  Ver.  16.  From  whom  the 
whole  body  fitly  joined  together, 
and  compacted  by  that  which  every 
joint  supplieth,  according  to  the 
effectual  working  in  the  measure 


Chap.  XIV. 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


87 


saints  grow  in  grace,m  perfecting   holiness  in  the  fear  of 
God.n 


CHAPTER  XIV.   Of  Saving  Faith. 

The  grace  of  faith,  whereby  the  elect  are  enabled  to  be- 
lieve to  the  saving  of  their  souls/  is  the  work  of  the  Spirit 
of  Christ  in  their  hearts,*  and  is  ordinarily  wrought  by  the 
ministry  of  the  word  :c  by  which  also,  and  by  the  adminis- 
tration of  the  sacraments,  and  prayer,  it  is  increased  and 
strengthened/ 

II.  By  this  faith,  a  Christian  believeth  to  be  true  whatso- 
ever is  revealed  in  the  word,  for  the  authority  of  God  him- 


of  every  part,  maketh  increase  of 
the  body,  unto  the  edifying  of  it- 
self in  love. 

m2  Pet.  iii.  IS.  But  grow  in 
grace,  and  in  the  knowledge  of 
our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus 
Christ:  to  him  be  glory  both 
now  and  for  ever.  Amen.  2  Cor. 
iii.  13.  But  we  all  with  open 
face,  beholding  as  in  a  glass  the 
glory  of  the  Lord,  are  changed 
into  the  same  image,  from  glory 
to  glory,  even  as  by  the  Spirit  of 
the  Lord. 

n  2  Cor.  vii.  1.  Having  there- 
fore these  promises,  dearly  be- 
'.  let  us  cleanse  ourselves 
from  all  filthiness  of  the  flesh  and 
spirit,  perfecting  holiness  in  the 
fear  of  God. 

I.  a  Heb.  x.  39.  But  we  are  not 
of  them  who  draw  back  unto  per- 
dition ;  but  of  them  that  believe,  to 
the  saving  of  the  soul. 

b2Cor.  iv.  13.  We  having  the 
same  spirit  of  faith,  according  as 
written,  I  believed,  and  there- 
have  I  spoken:  we  also  be- 
lieve, and  therefore  speak.  Eph. 
i.  17.  That  the  God  of  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  the  Father  of  glory, 


may  give  unto  you  the  Spirit  of 
wisdom  and  revelation  in  the 
knowledge  of  him :  Ver.  18.  The 
eyes  of  your  understanding  being 
enlightened;  that  ye  may  know 
what  is  the  hope  of  his  calling, 
and  what  the  riches  of  the  glory 
of  his  inheritance  in  the  saints, 
Ver.  19.  And  what  is  the  exceed- 
ing greatness  of  his  power  to  us- 
ward  who  believe,  according  to 
the  working  of  his  mighty  power. 
Eph.  ii.  8.  For  by  grace  are  ye 
saved,  through  faith;  and  that  not 
of  yourselves:  it  is  the  gift  of  God. 

■  Rom.  x.  14.  How  then  shall 
they  call  on  him  in  whom  they 
have  not  believed  1  and  how  shall 
they  believe  in  him  of  whom  they 
have  not  heard]  and  how  shall 
they  hear  without  a  preacher? 
Ver.  17.  So  then,  faith  cometh  by 
hearing,  and  hearing  bv  the  word 
of  God. 

d  1  Pet.  ii.  2-  As  new-born  babes, 
desire  the  sincere  milk  of  the  word, 
that  ye  may  grow  thereby.  Acta 
xx.  32.  And  now,  brethren,  I  com- 
mend you  to  God,  and  to  the 
word  of  his  grace,  which  is  able 
to  build  you  up,  and  to  give  you 


88 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


Chap.  XIV. 


self  speaking  therein  ;e  and  acteth  differently  upon  that  which 
each  particular  passage  thereof  containeth ;  yielding  obedi- 
ence to  the  commands/  trembling  at  the  threatenings,8  and 
embracing  the  promises  of  God  for  this  life  and  that  which 
is  to  come.h  But  the  principal  acts  of  saving  faith  are,  ac- 
cepting, receiving,  and  resting  upon  Christ  alone  for  justifi- 
cation, sanctification,  and  eternal  life,  by  virtue  of  the  cove- 
nant of  grace.1 


an  inheritance  among-  all  them 
which  are  sanctified.  Rom.  iv.  11. 
And  he  received  the  sign  of  circum- 
cision, a  seal  of  the  righteousness 
of  the  faith  which  he  had  yet  being 
uncircumcised:  that  he  might  be 
the  father  of  all  them  that  believe, 
though  they  be  not  circumcised; 
that  righteousness  might  be  im- 
puted unto  them  also.  Luke  xvii. 
5.  And  the  apostles  said  unto  the 
Lord,  Increase  our  faith.  Rom.  i. 
16.  For  I  am  not  ashamed  of  the 
gospel  of  Christ:  for  it  is  the  power 
of  God  unto  salvation  to  every  one 
that  believeth,  to  the  Jew  first,  and 
also  to  the  Greek.  Ver.  17.  For 
therein  is  the  righteousness  of  God 
revealed  from  fekh  fee  faith :  53  it 
is  written,  The  just  shall  live  by 
faith. 

II.  e  John  iv.  42.  And  said  unto 
the  woman,  Now  we  believe,  not 
because  of  thy  saying ;  for  we  have 
heard  him  ourselves,  and  know  that 
this  is  indeed  the  Christ,  the  Sa- 
viour of  the  world.  1  Thess.  ii.  13. 
For  this  cause  also  thank  we  God 
without  ceasing,  because  when  ye 
feceived  the  word  of  God  which  ye 
heard  of  us,  ye  received  it  not  as 
the  word  of  men,  but  (as  it  is  in 
truth)  the  word  of  God,  which 
effectually  worketh  also  in  you  that 
believe.  1  John  v.  10.  He  that  be- 
lieveth on  the  Son  of  God  hath  the 
witness  in  himself:  he  that  believ- 
eth not  God,  hath  made  him  a  liar, 


because  he  believeth  not  the  record 
that  God  gave  of  his  Son.  Acts 
xxiv.  14.  But  this  I  confess  unto 
thee,  that  after  the  way  which  they 
call  heresy,  so  worship  I  the  God 
of  my  fathers,  believing  all  things 
which  are  written  in  the  law  and 
the  prophets. 

f  Rom.  xvi.  26.  But  now  is  made 
manifest,  and  by  the  scriptures  of 
the  prophets,  according  to  the  com- 
mandment of  the  everlasting  God, 
made  known  to  all  nations  for  the 
obedience  of  faith. 

s  Isaiah  Ixvi.  2._  For  all  those 
things  hath  mine  hand  made,  and 
all  those  things  have  been,  saith 
the  Lord :  but  to  this  man  will 
I  look,  even  to  him  that  is  poor  and 
of  a  contrite  spirit,  and  trembleth 
at  my  word. 

h  Hob.  xi.  13.  These  all  died  in 
faith,  not  having  received  the  pro- 
mises, but  having  seen  them  afar 
off,  and  were  persuaded  of  them, 
and  embraced,  them,  and  confessed 
that  they  were  strangers  and  pil- 
grims on  the  earth.  1  Tim.  iv.  8. 
For  bodily  exercise  profiteth  little: 
but  godliness  is  profitable  unto  all 
things,  having  promise  of  the  life 
that  now  is,  and  of  that  which  is  to 
come. 

1  John  i.  12.  But  as  many  as 
received  him,  to  them  gave  he 
power  to  become  the  sons  of  God, 
even  to  them  that  believe  on  his 
name.  Acts  xvi.  31.  And  they  said, 


Chap.  XIV, 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


89 


III.  This  faith  is  different  in  degrees,  weak  or  strong  ;k 
may  be  often  and  many  ways  assailed  and  weakened,  but 
gets  the  victory  ;l  growing  up  in  many  to  the  attainment 
of  a  full  assurance  through  Christ,m  who  is  both  the  author 
and  finisher  of  our  faith. n 


Believe  on  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
and  thou  shalt  be  saved,  and  thy 
house.  Gal.  ii.  20.  I  am  crucified 
with  Christ:  nevertheless  I  live; 
yet  not  I,  but  Christ  liveth  in  me: 
and  the  life  which  I  now  live  in 
the  flesh,  I  live  by  the  faith  of  the 
Son  of  God,  who  loved  me,  and 
gave  himself  for  me.  Acts  xv.  11. 
But  we  believe,  that  through  the 
grace  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  we 
shall  be  saved,  even  as  they. 

III.  *  Heb.  v.  13.  For  every  one 
that  useth  milk  is  unskilful  in  the 
word  of  righteousness:  for  he  is  a 
babe.  Ver.  14.  But  strong  meat 
belongeth  to  them  that  are  of  full 
age,  even  those  who  by  reason  of 
use  have  their  senses  exercised  to 
discern  both  good  and  evil.  Rom. 
iv.  19.  And  being  not  weak  in 
faith,  he  considered  not  his  own 
body  now  dead,  when  he  was 
about  a  hundred  years  old,  nei- 
ther yet  the  deadness  of  Sara's 
womb.  Ver.  20.  He  staggered  not 
at  the  promise  of  God  through 
unbelief;  but  was  strong  in  faith, 
giving  olory  to  God.  Mat.  vi.  30. 
Wherefore,  if  God  so  clothe  the 
grass  of  the  field,  which  to-day 
is,  and  to-morrow  is  cast  into 
the  oven,  shall  he  not  much  more 
clothe  you,  O  ye  of  little  faith? 
Mat.  viii.  10.  When  Jesus  heard 
it,  he  marvelled,  and  said  to  them 
that  ful lowed,  Verily  I  say  unto 
you,  I  have  not  found  so  great 
faith,  no,  not  in  Israel. 

1  Luke  xxii.  31.  And  the  Lord 
said,  Simon,  Simon,  behold,  Satan 
hath  desired  to  have  you,  that  he 
8* 


may  sift  you  as  wheat:  Ver.  32. 
But  I  have  prayed  for  thee,  that 
thy  faith  fiil  not;  and  when  thou 
art  converted,  strengthen  thy  bre- 
thren. Eph.  vi.  16.  Above  all, 
taking  the  shield  of  faith,  where- 
with ye  shall  be  able  to  quench 
all  the  fiery  darts  of  the  wicked. 
1  John  v.  4.  For  whatsoever  is 
born  of  God  overcometli  the 
world  :  and  this  is  the  victory  that 
overcometli  the  world,  even  our 
faith.  Ver.  5.  Who  is  he  that  over- 
cometli the  world,  but  he  that  be- 
lieveth  that  Jesus  is  the  Son  of 
God? 

m  Heb.  vi.  11.  And  we  desire 
that  every  one  of  you  do  show  the 
same  diligence,  to  the  full  assu- 
rance of  hope  unto  the  end  :  Ver. 
12.  That  ye  be  not  slothful,  but  fol- 
lowers of  them  who  through  faith 
and  patience  inherit  the  promises. 
Heb.  x.  22.  Let  us  draw  near  with 
a  true  heart,  in  the  full  assurance  of 
faith,  having  our  hearts  sprinkled 
from  an  evil  conscience,  and  our 
bodies  washed  with  pure  water. 
Col.  ii.  2.  That  their  hearts  might 
be  comforted,  being  knit  together 
in  love,  and  unto  all  riches  of  the 
full  assurance  of  understanding,  to 
the  acknowledgment  of  the  mys- 
tery of  God,  and  of  the  Father, 
and  of  Christ. 

n  Heb.  xii.  2.  Looking  unto  Je- 
sus, the  author  and  finisher  of  our 
faith  ;  who  for  the  joy  that  was  set 
befjre  him,  endured  the  cross, 
despising  the  shame,  and  is  set 
down  at  the  right  hand  of  the 
throne  of  God. 


90 


The  Confession  of  Faith, 


Chap.  XV. 


CHAPTER  XV.     Of  Repentance  unto  Life. 

Repentance  unto  life  is  an  evangelical  grace,a  the  doc- 
trine whereof  is  to  be  preached  by  every  minister  of  the 
gospel,  as  well  as  that  of  faith  in  Christ. b 

II.  By  it  a  sinner,  out  of  the  sight  and  sense,  not  only 
of  the  danger,  but  also  of  the  filthiness  and  odiousness  of 
his  sins,  as  contrary  to  the  holy  nature  and  righteous  lav." 
of  God,  and  upon  the  apprehension  of  his  mercy  in  Christ 
to  such  as  are  penitent,  so  grieves  for  and  hates  his  sins, 
as  to  turn  from  them  all  unto  God,c  purposing  and  endea- 


I.  a  Zech.  xii.  10.  And  I  will 
pour  upon  the  house  of  David, 
and  upon  the  inhabitants  of  Jeru- 
salem, the  spirit  of  grace  and  of 
supplications,  and  they  shall  look 
upon  me  whom  they  have  pierced, 
and  they  shall  mourn  for  him, 
as  one  mourneth  for  his  only  son, 
and  shall  be  in  bitterness  for 
him,  as  one  that  is  in  bitterness 
for  his  first-born.  Acts  xi.  18. 
When  they  heard  these  things, 
they  held  their  peace,  and  glorified 
God,  saying-,  Then  hath  God  also 
to  the  Gentiles  granted  repentance 
unto  life. 

b  Luke  xxiv.  47.  And  that  re- 
pentance and  remission  of  sins 
should  be  preached  in  his  name 
among  ail  nations,  beginning  at 
Jerusalem.  Mark  i.  15.  And  say- 
ing, the  time  is  fulfilled,  and  the 
kingdom  of  God  is  at  hand :  re- 
pent ye,  and  believe  the  gospel. 
Acts  xx.  21.  Testifying  both  to 
the  Jews,  and  also  to  the  Greeks, 
repentance  toward  God,  and 
faith  toward  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ. 

II.  c  Ezek.  xviii.  30.  Therefore 
I  will  judge  you,  O  house  of  Is- 
rael, every  one  according  to  his 
ways,  saith  the  Lord  God :  repent, 
and  turn  yourselves  from  all  your 


transgressions;  so  iniquity  shall 
not  be  your  ruin.  Ver.  31.  Cast 
away  from  you  all  your  transgres- 
sion*, whereby  ye  have  transgress- 
ed, and  make  you  a  new  heart  and 
a  new  spirit;  for  why  will  ye 
die,  O  house  of  Israel?  Ezek. 
xxxvi.  31.  Then  shall  ye  remem- 
ber your  own  evil  ways,  and  your 
doings  that  were  not  good,  and 
shall  loathe  j'ourselves  in  your  own 
sight,  for  your  iniquities,  and  for 
your  abominations.  Isa.  xxx.  22. 
Ye  shall  defile  also  the  covering  of 
thy  graven  images  of  oil  ver,  and  the 
rnent  of  thy  molten  images  of 
gold:  thou  shalt  cast  them  away 
as  a  menstruous  cloth;  thou  shalt 
say  unto  it,  Get  thee  hence.  Psal. 
li.  4.  Against  thee,  thee  only,  have 
I  sinned,  and  done  this  evil  in  thy 
sight :  that  thou  mightest  be  justi- 
fied when  thou  speakest,  and  be 
clear  when  thou  judgest.  Jer. 
xxxi.  18.  I  have  surely  heard 
Ephraim  bemoaning  himself  thus, 
Thou  hast  chastised  me,  and  I  was 
chastised,  as  a  bullock  unaccus- 
tomed to  the  yoke:  turn  thou  me, 
and  I  shall  be  turned;  for  thou 
art  the  Lord  my  God.  Ver.  19. 
Surely  after  that  I  was  turned  I 
repented  ;  and  after  that  I  was  in- 
structed I  smote  upon  my  thigh :  I 


Chap.  XV. 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


91 


vouring  to  walk  with  him  in  all  the  ways  of  his  command- 
men' 

III.  Although  repentance  be  not  to  be  rested  in,  as  any 
satisfaction  for  sin,  or  any  cause  of  the  pardon  thereof!' 
which  is  the  act  of  God's  free  grace  in  Christ;1'  vet  is  it  of 


was  ashamed,  yea,  even  confound- 
ed, because  I  did  bear  the  reproach 
of  my  youth.     Joel  i;.  12.    There- 
fore also    now,   saith    the    Lord, 
Turn  ye  even  to  me  with  all  your 
heart,  and  with  fasting,  and  with 
weeping,     and     with     mourning. 
Vcr.  13.    And  rend  your  heart, 
not  your  garments,  and  turn  unto 
the  Lord  your  God  :  for  he  is 
g  and  merciful,  slow  to  an 
and   of   great    kindness,  and   re- 
penteth  him  of  the  evil.     An. 
15.    Hate  the  evil,   and   love  the 
good,   and   establish  judgment    in 
the  gate ;  it  may  be  that  the  Lord 
God  of  hosts  will  be  gracious  unto 
the    remnant    of    Joseph.      Psal. 
cxix.  128.   Therefore  I  esteem  all 
thy  precepts  concerning  all  t' 
to  be  right,  and  I  hate  every  . 
way.     2  Cor.  vii.  11.   Fur,  bel 
this  self-same   thing  thai 
re  wed    alter   a   godly    sort,    what 
carefulness  it  wrong  ;  yea, 

what  clearing  of  y<  yea, 

what  indignation;  yea,  what  rear; 
yea,  what  vehement  desire ;   yea, 
what   zeal;    yea,    what  reven 
in   all    things   ye    have   approved 
yourselves  1o    be    clear    in 
matter. 

d  PsaL  cxix.  6.  Then  shall  I  not 
be  ashamed,  when  I  have  respect 
unto  all  thy  commandments.  Ver. 
59.     I  thought  on  .  and 

turned  my  feet  unto  thy  testimo- 
nies. Ver.  106.  I  have  sworn, 
and  I  will  perform  it,  that  I  will 
keep  thy  righteous  judgments. 
Luke  i.  6.  And  they  were  both 
righteous  before  God,  walking  in 


all  the  commandments  and  ordi- 
nances cf  the  Lord  blame 
2  Kings  xxiii.  25.  And  like  unto 
him  was  there  no  king  before  him, 
that  turned  to  the  Lord  with  all 
his  heart,  and  with  all  his  soul, 
and  with  all  his  might,  according 
to  all  the  law  of  Mioses;  neither 
after  him  arr.se  there  anv  like  him. 
III.  e  Ezck.  xxxvi.  31.  Then 
shall  ye  remember  your  own  evil 
ways,  and  your  doings  that  were 
not  good,  and  shall  loathe  your- 
your  own  sight,  for  your 
iniquities,  and  for  your  abomina- 
for  your  sakes 
do  I  :  the  Lord  God,  be 

it  known  unto  you  :  be  ashamed 
and  confounded  for  your  own 
,  O  house  of  Israel.  Ezek. 
xvi.  61.  Then  thou  shalt  remem- 
ber .  and  be  ashamed, 
when  It  receive  thy  sisters, 
thine  elder  and  thy  younger;  and 
I  will  give  them  unto  thee  for 
daughters,  but  not  by  thy  cove- 
nant Ver.  62-  And  I  will  esta- 
blish my  covenant  with  thee,  and 
then  shalt  know  that  I  am  the 
Lord  :  Ver.  63.  That  thou  mayest 
.mber  and  be  confounded, 
and  never  open  thy  mouth  any 
more  because  ime,  when 
I  am  pacified  toward  thee  for  all 
that  thou  hast  done,  saith  the 
Lord  God. 


f  Hos. 


Take  with  you 


and  turn  to  the  Lord;  say 
unto  him,  Take  away  all  ini- 
quity, and  receive  us  graciously: 
so  will  we  render  the  calves  of  our 
lips.   Ver.  -I.  I  will  heal  their  back- 


92 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


Chap.  XV. 


such  necessity  to  all  sinners,  that  none  may  expect  pardon 
without  it.s 

IV.  As  there  is  no  sin  so  small  but  it  deserves  damna- 
tion;11 so  there  is  no  sin  so  great,  that  it  can  bring  damna- 
tion upon  those  who  truly  repent.1 

V.  Men  ought  not  to  content  themselves  with  a  general 
repentance,  but  it  is  every  man's  duty  to  endeavour  to  re- 
pent of  his  particular  sins  particularly.11 


sliding",  I  will  love  them  freely : 
for  mine  anger  is  turned  away 
from  him.  Rom.  iii.  24.  Being  jus- 
tified freely  by  his  grace,  through 
the  redemption  that  is  in  Christ 
Jesus.  Eph.  i.  7.  In  whom  we  have 
redemption  through  his  blood,  the 
forgiveness  of  sins,  according  to 
the  riches  of  his  grace. 

s  Luke  xiii.  3.  I  tell  you,  Nay: 
but,  except  ye  repent,  ye  shall  all 
likewise  perish.  Ver.  5.  I  tell  you, 
Nay :  but  except  ye  repent,  ye 
shall  all  likewise  perish.  Acts  xvii. 
30.  And  the  times  of  this  ignorance 
God  winked  at;  but  now  com- 
mandeth  all  men  every  where  to 
repent:  Ver.  31.  Because  he  hath 
appointed  a  day,  in  the  which  he 
will  judge  the  world  in  righteous- 
ness by  that  man  whom  he  hath 
ordained;  whereof  he  hath  given 
assurance  unto  all  men,  in  that  he 
hath  raised  him  from  the  dead. 

IV.  h  Rom.  vi.  23.  For  the 
wages  of  sin  is  death  :  but  the  gift 
of  God  is  eternal  life,  through 
Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.  Rom.  v. 
12.  Wherefore,  as  by  one  man  sin 
entered  into  the  world,  and  death 
by  sin ;  and  so  death  passed  upon 
all  men,  for  that  all  have  sinned. 
Mat.  xii.  36.  But  I  say  unto  you, 
That  every  idle  word  that  men 
shall  speak,  they  shall  give  account 
thereof  in  the  day  of  judgment. 

'l  Isa.  lv.  7.  Let  the  wicked  for- 
sake his  way,  and  the  unrighteous 


man  his  thoughts:  and  let  him 
return  unto  the  Lord,  and  he  will 
have  mercy  upon  him,  and  to  our 
God,  for  he  will  abundantly  par- 
don. Rom.  viii.  1.  There  is  there- 
fore now  no  condemnation  to 
them  which  are  in  Christ  Jesus, 
who  walk  not  after  the  flesh,  but 
after  the  Spirit.  Isa.  i.  16.  Wash 
you,  make  you  clean,  put  away 
the  evil  of  your  doings  from  before 
mine  eyes;  cease  to  do  evil.  Ver. 
18.  Come  now,  and  let  us  reason 
together,  saith  the  Lord:  though 
your  sins  be  as  scarlet,  they  shall 
be  as  white  as  snow:  though  they 
be  red  like  crimson,  they  shall  be 
as  wool. 

V.  k  Psal.  xix.  13.  Keep  back  thy 
servant  also  from  presumptuous 
sins,  let  them  not  have  dominion 
overrne:  then  shall  I  be  upright, 
and  I  shall  be  innocent  from  the 
great  transgression.  Luke  xix.  8. 
And  Zaccheus  stood,  and  said  unto 
the  Lord,  Behold,  Lord,  the  half  of 
my  goods  I  give  to  the  poor :  and 
if  I  have  taken  any  thing  from  any 
man  by  false  accusation,  I  restore 
him  fourfold.  1  Tim.  i.  13.  Who 
was  before  a  blasphemer  and  a 
persecutor,  and  injurious.  But  I 
obtained  mercy,  because  I  did  it 
ignorantly,  in  unbelief.  Ver.  15. 
This  is  a  faithful  saying,  and  wor- 
thy of  all  acceptation,  that  Christ 
Jesus  came  into  the  world  to  save 
sinners;  of  whom  I  am  chief. 


Chap.  XVI, 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


VI.  As  every  man  is  bound  to  make  private  confession 
of  his  sins  to  God,  praying  for  the  pardon  thereof;1  upon 
which,  and  the  forsaking  of  them,  he  shall  find  mercy ;m 
so  he  that  scandalizeth  his  brother,  or  the  church  of  Christ, 
ought  to  be  willing,  by  a  private,  or  public  confession  and 
sorrow  for  his  sin,  to  declare  his  repentance  to  those  that 
are  offended  ;n  who  are  thereupon  to  be  reconciled  to  him, 
and  in  love  to  receive  him.0 


CHAPTER  XVI.  Of  Good  Works. 

Good  works  are  only  such  as  God  hath  commanded  in 
his  lioly  word,a   and  not   such    as,  without   the  warrant 


VI.  !  Psal.  li.  4.  Against  thee, 
thee  only,  have  I  sinned,  and  done 
this  evil  in  thy  eight:  that  thou 
mightest  be  justified  when  thou 
speakest,  and  be  clear  when  thou 
judgest.  Ver.  5.  Behold,  I  was 
shapen  in  iniquity:  and  in  sin  did 
my  mother  conceive  me.  Ver.  7. 
Purge  me  with  hyssop,  and  I  shall 
be  clean:  wash  me,  and  I  shall  be 
whiter  than  snow.  Ver.  9.  Hide 
thy  face  from  my  sins;  and  blot 
out  all  mine  iniquities.  Ver.  14. 
Deliver  me  from  blood-guiltiness, 

0  God,  thou  God  of  my  salvation : 
and  my  tongue  shall  sing  aloud  of 
thy  righteousness.     Psal.  xxxii.  5. 

1  acknowledged  my  sin  unto  thee, 
and  mine  iniquity  have  I  not  hid: 
I  said,  I  will  confess  my  trans- 
gressions unto  the  Lord  :  and  thou 
forgavest  the  iniquity  of  my  sin. 
Selah.  Ver.  6.  For  this  shall  every 
one  that  is  godly  pray  unto  thee 
in  a  time  when  thou  mayest  be 
found  ;  surely  in  the  floods  of  great 
waters  they  shall  not  come  nigh 
unto  him. 

mProv.  xxviii.  13.  He  that  co- 
vereth  his  sins  shall  not  prosper: 
but  whoso  confesseth  and  forsakcth 


them  shall  Have  mercy.  1  John  i. 
9.  If  we  confess  our  sins,  he  is 
faithful  and  just  to  forgive  us  our 
sins,  and  to  cleanse  us  from  all 
unrighteousness. 

n  James  v.  16.  Confess  your 
faults  one  to  another,  and  pray 
one  for  another,  that  ye  may  be 
healed:  The  effectual  fervent 
prayer  of  a  righteous  man  avail- 
eth  much.  Luke  xvii.  3.  Take 
heed  to  yourselves:  If  thy  broiheif 
trespass  against  thee,  rebuke  him; 
and  if  he  repent,  forgive  him : 
Ver.  4.  And  if  he  trespass  against 
*thee  seven  times  in  a  day,  and 
seven  times  in  a  day  turn  again  to 
thee,  saying,  I  repent;  thou  shalt 
forgive  him.  Josh.  vii.  19.  And 
Joshua  said  unto  Achan,  My  son, 
give,  I  pray  thee,  glory  to  the  Lord 
God  of  Israel,  and  make  confession 
unto  him;  and  tell  me  now  what 
thou  hast  done,  hide  it  not  from  me. 
[Psal.  li.  throughout.'] 

0  2  Cor.  ii.  8.  Wherefore  I  be- 
seech you,  that  ye  would  confirm 
your  love  towards  him. 

I. a  Micah  vi.  8.  He  hath  showed 
thee,  O  man,  what  is  good ;  and 
what  doth  the   Lord    require    of 


94 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


Chap.  XVI. 


thereof,  are  devised  by  men,  out  of  blind  zeal,  or  upon  any 
pretence  of  good  intention.6 

II.  These  good  works,  done  in  obedience  to  God's 
commandments,  are  the  fruits  and  evidences  of  a  true 
and  lively  faith  :c  and  by  them  believers  manifest  their 
thankfulness  ;d  strengthen  their  assurance,6  edify  their  bre- 


thee,  but  to  do  justly,  and  to  love 
mercy,  and  to  walk  humbly  with 
thy  God.  Rom.  xii.  2.  And  be 
not  conformed  to  this  world: 
but  be  ye  transformed  by  the  re- 
newing of  your  mind,  that  ye 
may  prove  what  is  that  good, 
and  acceptable,  and  perfect  will 
of  God.  Heb.  xiii.  21.  Make 
you  perfect  in  every  good  work, 
to  do  his  will,  working  in  you 
that  which  is  well  pleasing  in  his 
sight  through  Jesus  Christ;  to 
whom  be  giory  for  ever  and  ever. 
Amen. 

b  Mat.  xv.  9.  But  in  vain  they 
do  worship  me,  teaching  for  doc- 
trines the  commandments  of  men. 
Isa.  xxix.  13.  Wherefore  the  Lord 
said,  Forasmuch  as  this  people 
draw  near  me  with  their  mouth, 
and  with  their  lips  do  honour  me, 
but  have  removed  their  heart  far 
from  me,  and  their  fear  towards 
me  is  taught  by  the  precept  of 
men.  1  Pet-  i.  18.  Forasmuch  as 
ye  know  that  ye  were  not  re- 
deemed with  corruptible  tilings, 
as  silver  and  gold,  from  your  vain 
conversation  received  by  tradi- 
tion from  your  fathers.  Rom.  x 
2.  For  I  bear  them  record,  that 
they  have  a  zeal  of  God,  but 
not  according  to  knowledge. 
John  xvi.  2.  They  shall  put  you 
out  of  the  synagogues:  yea,  the 
time  cometh,  that  whosoever  kill- 
eth  you  will  think  that  he  doeth 
God  service.  1  Sam.  xv.  21.  But 
the  people  took  of  the  spoil, 
sheep  and  oxen,  the  chief  of  the 


things  which  should  have  been  ut- 
terly destroyed,  to  sacrifice  unto 
the  Lord  thy  God  in  Gilgal.  Ver. 
22.  And  Samuel  said,  Hath  the 
Lord  as  great  delight  in  burnt-of- 
ferings and  sacrifices  as  in  obeying 
the  voice  of  the  Lord'?  Behold,  to 
obey  is  better  than  sacrifice;  and 
to  hearken  than  the  fat  of  rams. 
Ver.  23.  For  rebellion  is  as  the  sin 
of  witchcraft,  and  stubbornness  is 
as  iniquity  and  idolatry:  because 
thou  hast  rejected  the  word  of  the 
Lord,  he  hath  also  rejected  thee 
from  being  king. 

II.  c  James  ii.  18.  Yea,  a  man 
may  say,  Thou  hast  faith,  and  I 
have  works:  show  me  thy  faith 
without  thy  works,  and  I  will 
show  thee  my  faith  by  my  works. 
Ver.  22.  Seest  thou  how  faith 
wrought  with  his  works,  and  by 
works  was  faith  made  perfect  1 

d  Psal.  cxvi.  12.  What  shall  I 
render  unto  the  Lord  for  all  his 
benefits  towards  me]  Ver.  13.  I 
will  take  the  cup  of  salvation,  and 
call  upon  the  name  of  the  Lord. 
1  Pet.  ii.  9.  But  ye  are  a  chosen 
generation,  a  royal  priesthood,  a 
holy  nation,  a  peculiar  people; 
that  ye  should  show  forth  the 
praises  of  him  who  hath  called 
you  out  of  darkness  into  his  mar- 
vellous light. 

e  1  John  ii.  3.  And  hereby  we 
do  know  that  we  know  him,  if  we 
keep  his  commandments.  Ver.  5. 
But  whoso  keepeth  his  word,  in 
him  verily  is  the  love  of  God  per- 
fected :  Hereby  know  we  that  we 


Chap.  XVI.  The  Confession  of  Faith.  95 

thren/  adorn  the  profession  of  the  gospel,5  stop  the  mouths 
of  the  adversaries,11  and  glorify  God/  whose  workmanship 
they  are,  created  in  Christ  Jesus  thereunto  ;k  that,  having 
their  fruit  unto  holiness,  they  may  have  the  end  eternal 
life.1 


are  in  him.  2  Pet.  i.  5.  And  be- 
sides this,  giving-  all  diligence, 
add  to  your  faith,  virtue;  and  to 
virtue,  knowledge;  Vcr.  6.  And  to 
knowledge,  temperance ;  and  to 
temperance,  patience;  and  to  pa- 
tience, godliness;  Ver.  7.  And  to 
godliness,  brotherly-kindness;  and 
to  brotherly-kindness,  charity. — 
Ver.  8.  For  if  these  things  be  in 
you,  and  abound,  they  make  you 
that  ye  shall  neither  be  barren 
nor  unfruitful  in  the  knowledge 
of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  Ver.  9. 
But  he  that  lacketh  these  things 
is  blind,  and  cannot  see  far  off, 
and  hath  forgotten  that  he  was 
purged  from  his  old  sins.  Ver.  10. 
Wherefore  the  rather,  brethren, 
give  diligence  to  make  your  call- 
ing and  election  sure  :  for  if  ye  do 
these  things,  ye  shall  never  fall. 

f  2  Cor.  ix.  2.  For  I  know  the 
forwardness  of  your  mind,  for 
which  I  boast  of  you  to  them  of 
Macedonia,  that  Achaia  was  ready 
a  year  ago;  and  your  zeal  hath 
provoked  very  many.  Mat.  v.  16. 
Let  your  light  so  shine  before  men, 
that  they  may  see  your  good 
works,  and  glorify  your  Father 
which  is  in  heaven. 

e  Tit.  ii.  5.  To  be  discreet, 
chaste,  keepers  at  home,  good, 
obedient  to  their  own  husbands, 
that  the  word  of  God  be  not  blas- 
phemed. Ver-  9.  Exhort  servants 
to  be  obedient  unto  their  own 
masters,  and  to  please  them  well 
in  all  things ;  not  answering  again  ; 
Ver.  10.  Not  purloining,  but  show- 
ing all  good    fidelity ;    that    they 


may  adorn  the  doctrine  of  God 
our  Saviour  in  all  things.  Ver.  11. 
For  the  grace  of  God  that  bring- 
eth  salvation  hath  appeared  to  all 
men  ;  Ver.  12.  Teaching  us,  that, 
denying  ungodliness  and  worldly 
lusts,  we  should  live  soberly,  righ- 
teously, and  godly,  in  this  present 
world.  1  Tim.  vi.  1.  Let  as  many 
servants  as  arc  under  the  yoke 
count  their  own  masters  worthy 
of  all  honour ;  that  the  name  of 
God  and  his  doctrine  be  not  blas- 
phemed. 

h  1  Pet.  ii.  15.  For  so  is  the  will 
of  God,  that  with  well-doing  ye 
may  put  to  silence  the  ignorance 
of  foolish  men. 

1 1  Pet.  ii.  12.  Having  your 
conversation  honest  among  the 
Gentiles  :  that  whereas  tiiey  speak 
against  you  as  evil-doers,  they 
may,  by  your  good  works  which 
they  shall  behuld,  glorify  God  in 
the  day  of  visitation,  Phil.  i.  11. 
Being  filled  with  the  fruits  of 
righteousness,  which  are  by  Jesus 
Christ  unto  the  glory  and  praise 
of  God.  John  xv.  8.  Herein  is 
my  Father  glorified,  that  ye  bear 
much  fruit,  so  shall  ye  be  my  dis- 
ciples. 

k  Eph.  ii.  10.  For  we  are  his 
workmanship,  created  in  Christ 
Jesus  unto  good  works,  which 
God  hath  before  ordained  that 
we  should  walk  in  them. 

1  Rom.  vi.  22.  But  now  being 
made  free  from  sin,  and  become 
servants  to  God,  ye  have  your 
fruit  unto  holiness,  and  the  end 
everlasting  life. 


96 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


Chap.  XVI. 


III.  Their  ability  to  do  good  works  is  not  at  all  of  them- 
selves, but  wholly  from  the  Spirit  of  Christ."1  And,  that 
they  may  be  enabled  thereunto,  besides  the  graces  they 
have  already  received,  there  is  required  an  actual  influence 
of  the  same  Holy  Spirit  to  work  in  them  to  will  and  to  do 
of  his  good  pleasure  :n  yet  are  they  not  hereupon  to  grow 
negligent,  as  if  they  were  not  bound  to  perform  any  duty, 
unless  upon  a  special  motion  of  the  Spirit ;  but  they  ought 
to  be  diligent  in  stirring  up  the  grace  of  God  that  is  in 
them.0 


III.  m  John  xv.  4.  Abide  in  me, 
and  I  in  you.  As  the  branch  can- 
not bear  fruit  of  itself,  except  it 
abide  in  the  vine ;  no  more  can  ye, 
except  ye  abide  in  me.  Ver.  5.  I 
am  the  vine,  ye  are  the  branches: 
he  that  abideth  in  me,  and  I  in  him, 
the  same  bringeth  forth  much  fruit ; 
for  without  me  ye  can  do  nothing-. 
Ver.  6.  If  a  man  abide  not  in  me, 
he  is  cast  forth  as  a  branch,  and  is 
withered;  and  men  gather  them, 
and  cast  them  into  the  fire,  and 
they  are  burned.  Ezek.  xxxvi.  26. 
A  new  heart  also  will  I  give  you, 
and  a  new  spirit  will  I  put  within 
you;  and  I  will  take  away  the 
stony  heart  out  of  your  flesh,  and 
I  will  give  you  a  heart  of  flesh. 
Ver.  27.  And  I  will  put  my  Spirit 
within  you,  and  cause  you  to  walk 
in  my  statutes,  and  ye  shall  keep 
my  judgments,  and  do  them. 

""  Phil.  ii.  13.  For  it  is  God  which 
worketh  in  you,  both  to  will  and 
to  do  of  his  good  pleasure.  Phil, 
iv.  13.  I  can  do  all  things  through 
Christ,  which  strengtheneth  me.  2 
Cor.  iii.  5.  Not  that  we  are  suffi- 
cient of  ourselves  to  think  any 
thing  as  of  ourselves  :  but  our  suf- 
ficiency is  of  God. 

°Phil.  ii.  12.  Wherefore,  my 
beloved,  as  ye  have  always  obey- 
ed, not  as  in  my  presence  only,  but 
now  much  more  in  my  absence ; 


work  out  your  own  salvation  with 
fear  and  trembling.  Heb-  vi.  11. 
And  we  desire  that  every  one  of 
you  do  show  the  same  diligence, 
to  the  full  assurance  of  hope  unto 
the  end :  Ver.  12.  That  ye  be  not 
slothful,  but  followers  of  them 
who,  through  faith  and  patience, 
inherit  the  promises.  2  Pet.  i.  3. 
According  as  his  divine  power 
hath  given  unto  us  all  things  that 
pertain  unto  life  and  godliness, 
through  the  knowledge  of  him 
that  hath  called  us  to  glory  and 
virtue.  Ver.  5.  And  besides  this, 
giving  all  diligence,  add  to  your 
faith,  virtue;  and  to  virtue,  know- 
ledge. Ver.  10.  Wherefore  the  ra- 
ther, brethren,  give  diligence  to 
make  your  calling  and  election 
sure;  for  if  you  do  these  things,  ye 
shall  never  fall:  Ver.  11.  For  so  an 
entrance  shall  be  ministered  unto 
you  abundantly  into  the  everlast- 
ing kingdom  of  our  Lord  and  Sa- 
viour Jesus  Christ.  Isa.  Ixiv.  7. 
And  there  is  none  that  calleth  upon 
thy  name,  that  stirreth  up  himself 
to  take  hold  of  thee  :  for  thou  hast 
hid  thy  face  from  us,  and  hast 
consumed  us,  because  of  our  ini- 
quities. 2  Tim.  i.  6.  Wherefore 
I  put  thee  in  remembrance,  that 
thou  stir  up  the  gift  of  God  which 
is  in  thee,  by  the  putting  on  of 
my  hands.    Acts  xxvi.  6.  And  now 


Chap.  XVI. 


The  Confession  of  Faith . 


97 


IV.  They  who  in  their  obedience  attain  to  the  grea 
height  which  is  possible  in  this  life,  are  so  far  from  being- 
able  to  supererogate,  and  to  do  more  than  God  require 
that  they  fall  short  of  much  which  in  duty  they  are  bound 
to  do.p 

V.  We  cannot,  by  our  best  works,  merit  pardon  of  sin. 
or  eternal  life,  at  the  hand  of  God,  by  reason  of  the  great 
disproportion  that  is  between  them  and  the  glory  to  come, 
and  the  infinite  distance  that  is  between  us  and  God,  whom 
by  them  we  can  neither  profit  nor  satisfy  for  the  debt  of  our 
former  sins  ;q  but  when  we  have  done  all  we  can,  we  have 


I  stand  and  ara  judged  for  the  hope 
of  the  promise  made  of  God  unto 
our  fathers:  Ver.  7.  Unto  which 
promise  our  twelve  tribes,  instant- 
ly serving-  God  day  and  night,  hope 
to  come ;  for  which  hope's  sake, 
king  Agrippa,  I  am  accused  of  the 
Jews.  Jude,  ver.  20.  But  ye,  be- 
loved, building  up  yourselves  on 
your  most  holy  faith,  praying  in 
the  Holy  Ghost,  Ver.  21.  Keep 
yourselves  in  the  love  of  God,  look- 
ing for  the  mercy  of  our  Lord  Je- 
sus Christ  unto  eternal  life. 

IV.  p  Luke  xvii.  10.  So  likewise 
ye,  when  ye  shall  have  done  all 
those  things  which  are  command- 
ed you,  say,  We  are  unprofitable 
servants:  we  have  done  that  which 
was  our  duty  to  do.  Neh.  xiii.  22. 
And  I  commanded  the  Levites, 
that  they  should  cleanse  them- 
selves, and  that  they  should  come 
and  keep  the  gates,  to  sanctify  the 
sabbath-day.  Remember  me,  O 
my  God,  concerning  this  also,  and 
spare  me  according  to  the  great- 
ness of  thy  mercy.  Job  ix.  2.  I 
know  it  is  so  of  a  truth :  but  how 
should  man  be  just  with  God? 
Ver.  3.  If  he  will  contend  with 
him,  he  cannot  answer  him  one  of 
a  thousand.  Gal.  v.  17.  For  the 
flesh  lusteth  against  the  Spirit,  and 
9 


the  Spirit  against  the  flesh :  and 
these  are  contrary  the  one  to  the 
other ;  so  that  ye  cannot  do  the 
things  that  ye  would. 

V.  i  Rom.  iii.  20.  Therefore  by 
the  deeds  of  the  law  there  shall  no 
flesh  be  justified  in  his  sight:  for 
by  the  law  is  the  knowledge  of 
sin.  Rom.  iv.  2.  For  if  Abraham 
were  justified  by  works,  he  hath 
whereof  to  glory,  but  not  before 
God.  Ver.  4.  Now,  to  him  that 
worketh  is  the  reward  not  reck- 
oned of  grace,  but  of  debt.  Ver.  6. 
Even  as  David  also  describeth  the 
blessedness  of  the  man  unto  whom 
God  imputeth  righteousness  with- 
out works.  Eph.  ii.  8.  For  by 
grace  are  ye  saved,  through  faith; 
and  that  not  of  yourselves;  it  is 
the  gift  of  God.  "  Ver.  9.  Not  of 
works,  lest  any  man  should  boast. 
Tit.  iii.  5.  Not  by  works  of  righ- 
teousness which  we  have  done, 
but  according  to  his  mercy  he  saved 
us,  by  the  washing  of  regenera- 
tion, and  renewing  of  the  Holy 
Ghost:  Ver.  6.  Which  he  shed  on  u= 
abundantly,  through  Jesus  Christ 
our  Saviour:  Ver.  7.  That,  being 
justified  by  his  grace,  we  should  be 
made  heirs  according  to  the  hope 
of  eternal  life.  Rom.  viii.  18.  For 
I  reckon  that  the  sufferings  of  this 


98 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


Chap.  XVI. 


done  but  our  duty,  and  are  unprofitable  servants  ;r  and  be- 
cause, as  they  are  good,  they  proceed  from  his  Spirit  ;s  and 
as  they  are  wrought  by  us,  they  are  defiled  and  mixed  with 
so  much  weakness  and  imperfection,  that  they  cannot  en- 
dure the  severity  of  God's  judgment.1 

VI.  Yet  notwithstanding,  the  persons  of  believers  being 
accepted  through  Christ,  their  good  works  also  are  accept- 
ed in  him  ;u  not  as  though  they  were  in  this  life  wholly  un- 


present  time  are  not  worthy  to  be 
compared  with  the  glory  which 
shall  be  revealed  in  us.  Psal.  xvi. 
2.  O  my  soul,  thou  hast  said  unto 
the  Lord,  Thou  art  my  Lord :  my 
goodness  extendeth  not  to  thee. 
Job  xxii.  2.  Can  a  man  be  profit- 
able unto  God,  as  he  that  is  wise 
may  be  profitable  unto  himself? 
Ver.  3.  Is  it  any  pleasure  to  the 
Almighty  that  thou  art  righteous'? 
or  is  it  gain  to  him  that  thou 
makestthy  ways  perfect?  Jobxxxv. 
7.  If  thou  be  righteous,  what  givest 
thou  him'?  or  what  receiveth  he 
of  thine  hand  ?  Ver.  8.  Thy  wick- 
edness may  hurt  a  man  as  thou 
art,  and  thy  righteousness  may 
profit  the  son  of  man. 

r  Luke  xvii.  10.  (See  letter?  in 
this  Chapter.) 

8  Gal.  v.  22.  But  the  fruit  of 
the  Spirit  is  love,  joy,  peace,  long- 
suffering,  gentleness,  goodness, 
faith,  Ver.  23.  Meekness,  temper- 
ance: against  such  there  is  no 
law. 

4  Isa.  Ixiv.  6.  But  we  are  all  as 
an  unclean  thing,  and  all  our  righ- 
teousness are  as  filthy  rags,  and 
we  all  do  fade  as  a  leaf,  and  our 
iniquities,  like  the  wind,  have 
taken  us  away.  Gal.  v.  17.  For  the 
flesh  lusteth  against  the  Spirit,  and 
the  Spirit  against  the  flesh:  and 
these  are  contrary  the  one  to  the 
other;  so  that  ye  cannot  do  the 
things  that  ye  would.  Rom.  vii.  15. 


For  that  which  I  do,  I  allow  not; 
for  what  I  would,  that  do  I  not: 
but  what  I  hate,  that  do  I.  Ver.  18. 
I  know  that  in  me  (that  is,  in  my 
flesh)  dwelleth  no  good  thing; 
for  to  will  is  present  with  me,  but 
how  to  perform  that  which  is 
good  I  find  not.  Psal.  cxliii.  2. 
And  enter  not  into  judgment  with 
thy  servant:  for  in  thy  sight  shall 
no  man  living  be  justified.  Psal. 
cxxx.  3.  If  thou,  Lord,  shouldest 
mark  iniquities,  O  Lord,  who  shall 
stand? 

VI.  u  Eph.  i.  6.  To  the  praise 
of  the  glory  of  his  grace,  wherein 
he  hath  made  us  accepted  in  the 
Beloved.  1  Pet.  ii.  5.  Ye  also,  as 
lively  stones,  are  built  up  a  spiri- 
tual house,  a  holy  priesthood,  to 
offer  up  spiritual  sacrifices,  ac- 
ceptable to  God  by  Jesus  Christ. 
Exod.  xxviii.  38.  And  it  shall  be 
upon  Aaron's  forehead,  that  Aaron 
may  hear  the  iniquity  of  the  holy 
things,  whieh  the  children  of  Is- 
rael shall  hallow  in  all  their  holy 
gifts:  and  it  shall  be  always  upon 
his  forehead,  that  they  may  be 
accepted  before  the  Lord.  Gen. 
iv.  4.  And  Abel,  he  also  brought 
of  the  firstlings  of  his  flock,  and  of 
the  fat  thereof:  and  the  Lord  had 
respect  unto  Abel,  and  to  his  of- 
fering. With  Heb.  xi.  4.  By  faith 
Abel  offered  unto  God  a  more 
excellent  sacrifice  than  Cain,  by 
which  he  obtaineth  witness  that 


Chap.  XVL 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


99 


blameable  and  unreproveable  in  God's  sight:'  but  that  he, 
looking  upon  them  in  his  Son,  is  pleased  to  accept  and  re- 
ward that  which  is  sincere,  although  accompanied  with 
many  weaknesses  and  imperfections/ 

Vil.  Works  done  by  unregenerate  men,  although,  for  the 
matter  of  them,  they  may  be  things  which  God  commands, 
and  of  good  use  both  to  themselves  and  others  :7  yet.  be- 


he  was  righteous,  God  test;: 

of  his  gifts:    and  by  it  he,  being 

dead,  vet  speaketh. 

•  Job  ix.  20.  If  I  justify  myself, 
mine  own  mouth  shall  condemn 
me:  if  I  say  I  am  perfect,  it  shall 
also  prove  me  perverse.  Psal. 
cxliii.  2.  And  enter  not  into  judg- 
ment with  thy  servant;  for  i: 
sight  shall  no  man  living  be  justi- 
fied. 

*  Heb.  xiii.  20.  Now,  the  God 
of  peace,  that  brought  again  from 
the  dead  our  Lord  Jesus,  that 
great  Shepherd  of  the  sheep, 
through  the  blood  of  the  everlast- 
ing covenant,  Ver.  21.  Make 
perfect  in  every  good  work  to  do 
his  will,  working  in  you  that  which 

.through 
Jesus  Christ:    to  whom  be  glory 

ver  arid  ever.  Amen.  2  Cor. 
viii.  12.  For  if  there  be  first  a  will- 
ing mind,  it  is  accepted  according 
to  that  a  man  hath,  and  no* 
cording  to  that  he  hath  not.  Heb. 
vi.  10.  Fur  God  is  not  unrighteous, 
to  forget  your  work  and  labour  of 
love,  which  ye  have  showed  to- 
ward his  name,  in  that  ye  have 
ministered  to  the  saints,  and  do 
minister.  Mat.  xxv.  31.  His  lord 
said  unto  him,  Well  done,  thou 
good  and  faith&il  servant:  thou 
hast  been  faithful  over  a  few  th 

I  make  thee  ruler  over  many 
things  :  enter  thou  into  the  joy  of 
thy  lor.].  His  lord  "said 

unto  him,  Well  done,    good   and 


:ul   servant;  thou  hast  been 
faithful  over  a  few  things,  I    will 
make  thee  ruler  over  many  th. 
enter  thou  into  the  joy  of  thy  lord. 
VII.  f  2  Kin-?  Lad  the 

Lord  said  unto  Jehu,  Because  thou 
hast  done  well  in  executing  that 
which  is  right  in  mine  eyes,  and 
hast  done  unto  the  house  of  Ahab 
according  to  ail  that  was  in  mine 
heart,  thy  children  of  the  fourth 
generation  shall  sit  on  the  throne 
rael.  Ver.  31.  But  Jehu  took 
no  heed  to  walk  in  the  law  of  the 
Lord  God  of  Israel  with  all  his 
heart:  for  he  departed  not  from 
the  sins  of  Jeroboam,  which  made 
Israel  to  sin.  1  Kings  xx L 
And  it  came  to  pass,  when  Ahab 
heard  those  words,  that  he  rent 
his  clothes,  and  put  sackloth  upon 
his  flesh,  and  fasted,  and  lay  in 
sackloth,  and  went  softly.  Ver. 
29.  Seest  thou  how  Ahab  humbleth 
himself  before  me;  because  he 
humbleth  himself  before  me,  I  will 
not  bring  the  evil  in  his  d 
but  in  :  I  bring 

the  evil  upon  his  house.  Phil.  i. 
15.  Some  indeed  preach  Christ 
even  of  envy  and  strife  ;  and  some 
also  of  good  will.  Ver-  16.  The  one 
preach  Christ  of  contention,  not 
sincerely,  supposing  to  add  n:: 
tion  to  my  bonds.  V:-:  18.  What 
then!  notwithstanding  every  v, 
whether  in  pretence  or  in  truth, 
Christ  is  preached  ;  and  I  therein 
do  rejoice,  yea,  and  will  rejoice. 


100 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


Chap.  XVI. 


cause  they  proceed  not  from  a  heart  purified  by  faith  ;z  nor 
are  done  in  a  right  manner,  according  to  the  word  ;a  nor  to 
a  right  end,  the  glory  of  God  ;b  they  are  therefore  sinful,  and 
cannot  please  God,  or  make  a  man  meet  to  receive  grace 
from  God.c  And  yet  their  neglect  of  them  is  more  sinful, 
and  displeasing  unto  God.d 


z  Gen.  iv.  5.  But  unto  Cain,  and 
to  his  offering,  he  had  not  respect. 
And  Cain  was  very  wroth,  and 
his  countenance  fell.  With  Heb. 
xi.  4.  By  faith  Abel  offered  unto 
God  a  more  excellent  sacrifice 
than  Cain,  by  which  he  obtained 
witness  that  he  was  righteous, 
God  testifying  of  his  gifts;  and 
by  it  he,  being  dead,  yet  speaketb. 
Ver.  6.  But  without  faith  it  is  im- 
possible to  please  him ;  for  he  that 
cometh  to  God  must  believe  that 
he  is,  and  that  he  is  a  rewaruer  of 
them  that  diligently  seek  him. 

1  1  Cor.  xiii.  3.  And  though  I 
bestow  all  my  goods  to  feed  the 
poor,  and  though  I  give  my  body 
to  be  burned,  and  have  not  cha- 
rity, it  profiteth  me  nothing.  Isa. 
i.  12.  When  ye  come  to  appear 
before  me,  who  hath  required 
this  at  your  hand  to  tread  my 
courts'? 

b  Mat.  vi.  2.  Therefore,  when 
thou  doest  thine  alms,  do  not  sound 
a  trumpet  before  thee,  as  the  hy- 
pocrites do  in  the  synagogues,  and 
in  the  streets,  that  they  may  have 
glory  of  men.  Verily  I  say  unto 
you,  They  have  their  reward. 
Ver.  5.  And  when  thou  prayest, 
thou  shalt  not  be  as  the  hypocrites 
are;  for  they  love  to  pray  stand- 
ing in  the  synagogues,  and  in  the 
corners  of  the  streets,  that  they 
may  be  seen  of  men.  Verily  I  say 
unto  you,  They  have  their  reward. 
Ver.  16.  Moreover,  when  ye  fast, 
be  not  as  the  hypocrites,  of  a  sad 
countenance:    for    they  disfigure 


their  faces,  that  they  may  appear 
unto  men  to  fast.  Verily  I  say 
unto  you,  They  have  their  reward. 

c  Hag.  ii.  14.  Then  answered 
Haggai,  and  said,  So  is  this  people, 
and  so  is  this  nation  before  me, 
saith  the  Lord ;  and  so  is  every 
work  of  their  hands,  and  that 
which  they  offer  there  is  unclean. 
Tit.  i.  15.  Unto  the  pure  all  things 
are  pure:  but  unto  them  that  are 
defiled  and  unbelieving  is  nothing 
pure;  but  even  their  mind  and 
conscience  is  defiled.  Amos  v.  21. 
I  hate,  I  despise  your  feast-days, 
and  I  will  not  smell  in  your  so- 
lemn assemblies.  Ver.  22.  Though 
ye  offer  me  burnt  offerings,  and 
your  meat-offerings,  I  will  not  ac- 
cept them  ;  neither  will  I  regard 
the  peace-offerings  of  your  fat 
beasts.  Hosea  i.  4.  And  the  Lord 
said  unto  him,  Call  his  name  Jez- 
reel;  for  yet  a  little  while,  and  I 
will  avenge  the  blood  of  Jezreel 
upon  the  house  of  Jehu,  and  will 
cause  to  cease  the  kingdom  of  the 
house  of  Israel.  Rom.  ix.  16.  So 
then,  it  is  not  of  him  that  willeth, 
nor  of  him  that  runneth,  but  of 
God  that  showeth  mercy.  Tit.  iii. 
5.  Not  by  works  of  righteousness 
which  we  have  done,  but  accord- 
ing to  his  mercy  he  saved  us,  by 
the  washing  of  regeneration,  and 
renewing  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 

d  Psal .  xiv.  4.  Have  all  the  work- 
ers of  iniquity  no  knowledge? 
who  eat  up  my  people  as  they  eat 
bread,  and  call  not  upon  the  Lord. 
Psal.  xxxvi.  3.  The  words  of  his 


Chap.  XVII. 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


101 


CHAP.  XVII.   Of  the  Perseverance  of  the  Saints. 

They  whom  God  hath  accepted  in  his  Beloved,  effec- 
tually called  and  sanctified  by  his  Spirit,  can  neither  to- 
tally nor  finally  fall  away  from  the  state  of  grace;  but 
shall  certainly  persevere  therein  to  the  end,  and  be  eternally 
saved.a 

II.  This  perseverance  of  the  saints  depends  not  upon  their 
own  free  will,  but  upon  the  immutability  of  the  decree  of 
election,  flowing  from  the  free  and  unchangeable  love  of  God 
the  Father  ;b  upon  the  efficacy  of  the  merit  and  intercession 


mouth  are  iniquity  and  deceit:  he 
hath  left  off  to  be  wise,  and  to  do 
good.  Job  xx i.  14.  Therefore  they 
say  unto  God,  Depart  from  us;  for 
we  desire  not  the  knowledge  of  thy 
ways-  Ver.  15.  What  is  the  Al- 
mighty, that  we  should  serve  him ! 
and  what  profit  should  we  have  if 
we  pray  unto  him  ]  Mat.  xxv.  41. 
Then  shall  he  say  also  unto  them 
on  the  left  hand,  Depart  from  me, 
ye  cursed,  into  everlasting1  fire, 
prepared  for  the  devil  and  his 
angels.  Ver.  42.  For  I  was  an 
hungered,  and  ye  gave  me  no  meat ; 
I  was  thirsty,  and  ye  gave  me  no 
drink;  Ver.  4:3-  I  was  a  stranger, 
and  ye  took  me  not  in;  miked,  and 
ye  clothed  me  not;  sick,  and  in 
prison,  arid  ye  visited  me  not.  Ver. 
45.  Then  shall  he  answer  them, 
Verily  I  say  unto  you,  In 
asmucha&yedid  it  not  tooneof  the 
least  of  these,  ye  did  it  not  to  me. 
Mat.  xxiii.  23.  Wo  unto  ynu, 
6cribes  and  Pharisees,  hypocrites! 
for  ye  pay  tithe  of  mint,  and  anise, 
and  curnmin,  and  have  omitted  the 
weightier  matters. of  the  law,  judg- 
ment, mercy,  and  faith :  these  ought 
ye  to  have  done,  and  not  to  leave 
the  other  undone. 

I.  *  Phil.  i.  6.  Being  confident  of 
this  very  thing,  that  he  which  hath 
9* 


begun  a  good  work  in  you,,  will 
perform  it  until  the  day  of  Jesus 
Christ.  2  Pet.  i.  10.  Wherefore  the 
rather,  brethren,  give  diligence  to 
make  your  calling  and  election 
sure:  for  if  ye  do  these  things,  ye 
shall  never  fall.  John  x.  28.  And 
I  give  unto  them  cternsl  life,  and 
they  shall  never  perish,  neither 
shall  any  pluck  them  out  of  my 
hand.  Ver.  29.  My  Father,  which 
gave  them  me,  is  greater  than  all: 
and  none  is  able  to  pluck  them  out 
of  my  Father's  hand.  1  John  iii. 
9.  Whosoever  is  born  of  God  doth 
not  commit  sin;  for  his  seed  re- 
maineth  in  him  :  and  he  cannot  sin, 
because  he  is  born  of  God.  1  Pet. 
i.  5.  Who  are  kept  by  the  power  of 
God  through  faith  unto  salvation, 
ready  to  be  revealed  in  the  last 
time.  Ver.  9.  Receiving  the  end 
of  your  faith,  even  the  salvation  of 
your  souls. 

1 1.  b  2  Tim.  ii.  IS.  Who  concern- 
the  truth  have  erred,  saying 
that  the  resurrection  is  past  al- 
ready; and  overthrow  the  faith  of 
some.  Ver.  19.  Nevertheless,  the 
foundation  of  God  standeth  sure, 
bavin-:  this  seal,  The  Lord  know- 
eth  them  that  are  his.  And,  Let 
every  one  that  nameth  the  name 
of    Christ    depart    from   iniquity, 


102 


The  Confession  of  Faith, 


Ghap.  XVII. 


of  Jesus  Christ;0  the  abiding  of  the  Spirit,  and  of  the  seed 
of  God  within  them;d   and  the   nature  of  the   covenant 


Jer.  xxxi.  3.  The  Lord  hath  ap- 
peared of  old  unto  me,  saying,  Yea, 
I  have  loved  thee  with  an  everlast- 
ing love:  therefore  with  loving- 
kindness  have  I  drawn  thee. 

c  Heb.  x.  10.  By  the  which  will 
we  are  sanctified,  through  the  of- 
fering of  the  body  of  Jesus  Christ 
once  for  all.  Ver.  14.  For  by  one 
offering  he  hath  perfected  for  ever 
them  that  are  sanctified.  Heb.  xiii. 
20.  Now  the  God  of  Peace,  that 
brought  again  from  the  dead  our 
Lord  Jesus,  that  Great  Shepherd 
of  the  sheep,  through  the  blood  of 
the  everlasting  covenant,  Ver.  21. 
Make  you  perfect  in  every  good 
work,  to  do  his  will,  working 
in  you  that  which  is  well-pleas- 
ing in  his  sight,  through  Jesus 
Christ;  to  whom  be  glory  for  ever 
and  ever.  Amen.  Heb.  ix.  12. 
Neither  by  the  blood  of  goats  and 
calves,  but  by  his  own  blood,  he 
entered  in  once  into  the  holy  place, 
having  obtained  eternal  redemp- 
tion for  us.  Ver.  13.  For  if  the 
blood  of  bulls  and  of  goats,  and  the 
ashes  of  a  heifer  sprinkling  the 
unclean,  sanctifieth  to  the  purify- 
ing of  the  flesh ;  Ver.  14  How 
much  more  shall  the  blood  of 
Christ,  who  through  the  eternal 
Spirit  offered  himself  without  spot 
to  God,  purge  your  conscience 
from  dead  works  to  serve  the 
living  God  !  Ver.  15.  And  for  this 
cause  he  is  "the  Mediator  of  the 
new  testament,  that  by  means  of 
death,  for  the  redemption  of  the 
transgressions  that  were  under 
the  first  testament,  they  which  are 
called  might  receive  the  promise  of 
eternal  inheritance.  Rom.  viii.  33. 
Who  shall  lay  any  thing  to  the 
■barge  of  God's  elect  I    It  is  God 


that  justifieth:  Ver.  34.  Who  is  he 
that  condemned?  It  is  Christ  that 
died,  yea  rather,  that  is  risen  again, 
who  is  even  at  the  right  hand  of 
God,  who  also  maketh  intercession 
for  us.  Ver.  35.  Who  shall  sepa- 
rate us  from  the  love  of  Christ? 
shall  tribulation,  or  distress,  or  per- 
secution, or  famine,  or  nakedness, 
or  peril,  or  sword?  Ver.  36.  (As  it 
is  written,  For  thy  sake  we  are 
killed  all  the  day  long ;  we  are  ac- 
counted as  sheep  for  the  slaughter.) 
Ver.  37.  Nay,  in  all  these  things 
we  are  more  than  conquerors, 
through  him  that  loved  us.  Ver.  38. 
For  1  am  persuaded,  that  neither 
death,  nor  life,  nor  angels,. nor  prin- 
cipalities, nor  powers,  nor  things 
present,  nor  things  to  come,  Ver. 
39.  Nor  height,  nor  depth,  nor  any- 
other  creature,  shall  be  able  to  se- 
parate us  from  the  love  of  God, 
which  is  in  Christ  Jesus  our  Lord. 
John  xvii.  11.  And  now  I  am  no 
more  in  the  world  ;  but  these  are 
in  the  world,  and  [  come  to  thee. 
Holy  Father,  keep  through  thine 
own  name  those  whom  thou  hast 
given  me,  that  they  may  be  one,  as 
we  are.  Ver.  24.  Father,  I  will 
that  they  also,  whom  thou  hast 
given  me,  be  with  me  where  I  am ; 
that  they  may  behold  my  glory, 
which  thou  hast  given  me:  for  thou 
lovedst  me  before  the  foundation 
of  the  world.  Luke  xxii.  32.  But  I 
have  prayed  for  thee,  that  thy  faith 
fail  not;  and  when  thou  are  con- 
verted, strengthen  thy  brethren. 
Heb-  vii.  25.  Wherefore  he  is  able 
also  to  save  them  to  the  uttermost 
that  come  unto  God  by  him,  seeing 
he  ever  liveth  to  make  intercession 
for  them- 

d  John  xiv.  16.  And  1  will  pray 


Chap.  XVII. 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


103 


of  grace  :9  from  all  which  ariseth  also  the  certainty  and  in- 
fallibility thereof/ 

III.  Nevertheless  they  may,  through  the  temptations  of 
Satan  and  of  the  world,  the  pre  valency  of  corruption  re- 
maining in  them,  and  the  neglect  of  the  means  of  their  pre- 
servation, fall  into  grievous  sins  ;s  and  for  a  time  continue 
therein  :h  whereby  they  incur  God's  displeasure,1  and  grieve 

III.  eMatth.  xxvi.  70.  But  he 
denied  before  them  all,  saying-,  I 
know  not  what  thou  sayest.  Ver. 
72.  And  again  lie  denied  with  an 
oath,  I  do  not  know  the  man. 
Ver.  74.  Then  began  he  to  curse 
and  to  swear,  saying,  I  know  not 
the  man.  And  immediately  the 
cock  crew. 

h  Psal.  li.  [the  title]  To  the  chief 
musician,  A  psalm  of  David,  when 
Nathan  the  prophet  came  unto  him, 
after  he  had  gone  in  to  Bath- 
sheba.  Ver.  14.  Deliver  me  from 
blood  guiltiness,  O  God,  thou  God 
of  my  salvation:  and  my  tongue 
shall  sing  aloud  of  thy  righteous- 
ness> 

1  Isa.  Ixiv.  5.  Thou  meetest  him 
that  rejoiceth  and  worketh  righ- 
teousness, those  that  remember 
thee  in  thy  ways:  behold,  thou 
art  wroth,  for  we  have  sinned  :  in 
those  is  continuance,  and  we  shall 
be  saved.  Ver.  7.  And  there  is 
none  that  calleth  upon  thy  name, 
that  stirreth  up  himself  to  take  hold 
of  thee :  for  thou  hast  hid  thy 
face  from  us,  and  hast  consumed 
us,  because  of  our  iniquities.  Ver. 
9,  Be  not  wroth  very  sore,  O  Lord, 
neither  remember  iniquity  for 
ever:  behold,  see,  we  beseech 
thee,  we  are  all  thy  people.  2  Sam. 
xi.  27.  And  when  the  mourning 
was  past,  David  sent  and  fetched 
her  to  his  house,  and  she  became 
his  wife,  and  bare  him  a  son:  but 
the  thing  that  David  had  done  dis- 
pleased the  Lord. 


the  Father,  and  he  shall  give  you 
another  Comforter,  that  he  may 
abide  with  you  for  ever ;  Ver.  17. 
Even  the  Spirit  of  truth,  whom  the 
world  cannot  receive,  because  it 
seeth  him  not,  neither  knoweth 
him:  but  ye  know  him,  for  he 
dwelleth  with  you,  and  shall  be  in 
you.  1  John  ii.  27.  But  the  anoint- 
ing which  ye  have  received  of  him 
abideth  in  you;  and  ye  need  not 
that  any  man  teach  you  :  but,  as 
the  same  anointing  teacheth  you 
of  all  things,  and  is  truth,  and  is  no 
lie ;  and  even  as  it  hath  taught  you, 
ye  shall  abide  in  him.  1  John  iii. 
9.  Whosoever  is  born  of  God  doth 
not  commit  sin;  for  his  seed  re- 
maineth  in  him  :  and  he  cannot  sin, 
because  he  is  born  of  God. 

e  Jer.  xxxii.  40.  And  I  will  make 
an  everlasting  covenant  with  them, 
that  I  will  not  turn  away  from 
them  to  do  them  good  ;  but  I  will 
put  my  fear  in  their  hearts,  that 
they  shall  not  depart  from  me. 

f  John  x.  28.  And  I  give  unto 
them  eternal  life,  and  they  shall 
never  perish,  neither  shall  any 
pluck  them  out  of  my  hand. 
2  Thess.  iii.  &  But  the  Lord  is 
faithful,  who  shall  stablish  you, 
and  keep  you  from  evil.  1  John 
ii.  19.  They  went  out  from  us, 
but  they  were  not  of  us:  for  if 
they  had  been  of  us,  they  would 
no  doubt  have  continued  with 
us:  but  they  went  out,  that  they 
might  be  made  manifest  that  they 
were  not  all  of  us. 


104 


The  Confession  of  Faith.  Chap.  XVIII. 


his  Holy  Spirit  ;k  come  to  be  deprived  of  some  measure  of 
their  graces  and  comforts ;'  have  their  hearts  hardened,01 
and  their  consciences  wounded ;"  hurt  and  scandalize  others,0 
and  bring  temporal  judgments  upon  themselves.? 


CHAPTER  XVIII.   Of  Assurance  of  Grace  and  Salvation. 

Although  hypocrites,  and  other  unregenerate  men, 
may  vainly  deceive  themselves  with  false  hopes  and 
carnal  presumptions   of  being  in  the  favour  of  God  and 

k  Eph.  iv.  30-  And  grieve  not 
the  Holy  Spirit  of  God,  whereby 
ye  are  sealed  unto  the  day  of  re- 
demption. 

1  Psal.  li.  8.  Make  me  to  hear 
joy  and  gladness :  that,  the  bones 
which  thou  hast  broken  may  re- 
joice. Ver.  10.  Create  in  mea  clean 
heart,  O  God;  and  renew  a  right 
spirit  within  me.  Ver,  12.  Restore 
unto  me  the  joy  of  thy.  salvation: 
and  uphold  me  with  thy  free  Spi- 
rit. Rev.  ii.  4.  Nevertheless,  I 
have  somewhat  against  thee,  be- 
cause thou  hast  left  thy  first  love. 
Cant.  v.  2.  I  sleep,  but  my  heart 
waketh  :  it  is  the  voice  of  my  be- 
loved that  knocketh,  saying,  Open 
to  me,  my  sister,  my  love,  my  dove, 
my  undefi.lcd  :  for  my  head  is  filled 
with  dew,  and  my  locks  with  the 
drops  of  the  night.  Ver.  3.  I 
have  put. off  my  coat;  how  shall  I 
put  it  on  1  1  have  washed  my  feet; 
how  shall  I  defile  them  I  Ver.  4. 
My  beloved  put  in  his  hand  by 
the  hole  of  the  door,  and  my 
bowels  were  moved  for  him.  Ver. 
6.  I  opened  to  my  beloved;  but  my 
beloved  had  withdrawn  himself, 
and  was  gone:  my  soul  failed 
when  he  spake:  I  sought  him, 
but  I  could  not  find  him;  I  called 
him,  but  he  gave  me  no  answer. 

m  Isa.  Ixiii.  17.  O  Lord,  why 
hast  thou  made  us  to  err  from  thy 


ways,  and  hardened-  our  heart 
from  thy  fear?  Return  for  thy  ser- 
vants' sake,  the  tribes  of  thine  in- 
heritance. Mark  vi.  52.  For  they 
considered  not  the  miracle  of  the 
loaves,  for  their  heart  was  har- 
dened. Mark  xvi.  14.  Afterward 
he  appeared  unto  the  eleven,  as 
they  sat  at  meat,  and  upbraided 
them  with  their  unbelief  and  hard- 
ness of  heart,  because  they  be- 
lieved not  them  which  had  seen 
him  after  he  was  risen. 

n  Psal.  xxxii.  3.  When  I  kept 
silence  my  bones  waxed  old, 
through  my  roaring  all  the  day 
long:  Ver.  4.  For  day  and  night 
thy  hand  was  heavy  upon  me: 
my  moisture  is  turned  into  the 
drought  of  summer.  Psal.  li.  8. 
Make  me  to  hear  joy  and  glad- 
ness: that  the  bones  which  thou 
hast  broken  may  rejoice. 

°  2  Sam.  xii.  14.  Howbeit,  be- 
cause by  this  deed  thou  hast-  given 
great  occasion  to  the  enemies  of 
the  Lord  to  blaspheme,  the  child 
also  that  is  born  unto  thee  shall 
surely  die. 

p  Psal.  lxxxix.  31.  If  they  break 
my  statutes,  and  keep  not  my  com- 
mandments: Ver.  32.  Then  will  I 
visit  their  transgression  with  the 
rod,  and  their  iniquity  with  stripes. 
1  Cor.  xi.  32.  But  when  we  are 
judged   we  are  chastened  of  the 


Chap.  XVIII. 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


105 


estate  of  salvation;1  which  hope  of  theirs  shall  perish  ;b  yet 
such  as  truly  believe  in  the  Lord  Jesus,  and  love  him  in  sin- 
cerity, endeavouring  to  walk  in  all  good  conscience  before 
him,  may  in  this  life  be  certainly  assured  that  they  are  in 
the  state  of  grace,0  and  may  rejoice  in  the  hope  of  the  glory 
of  God;  which  hope  shall  never  make  them  ashamed. d 

II.  This  certainty  is  not  a  bare  conjectural  and  probable 
persuasion,  grounded  upon  a  fallible  hope  ;e  but  an  infallible 


Lord,  that  we  should  not  be  con- 
demned with  the  world. 

I.  a  Job  viii.  13.  So  are  the  paths 
of  all  that  forget  God ;  and  the 
hypocrite's  hope  shall  perish  :  Ver. 
14.  Whose  hope  shall  be  cut  off, 
and  whose  trust  shall  be  a  spider's 
web.  Micah  iii.  11.  The  heads 
thereof  judge  for  reward,  and  the 
priests  thereof  teach  for  hire,  and 
the  prophets  thereof  divine  for 
money:  yet  will  they  lean  upon 
the  Lord,  and  say,  Is  not  the 
Lord  among  us?  none  evil  can 
come  upon  us.  Deut.  xxix.  19. 
And  it  come  to  pass,  when  he 
heareth  the  words  of  this  curse, 
that  he  b!ess  himself  in  his  heart, 
saying,  I  shall  have  peace,  though 
I  walk  in  the  imagination  of  mine 
heart,  to  add  drunkenness  to  thirst. 
John  viii.  41.  Ye  do  the  deeds  of 
your  father.  Then  said  they  to 
him,  We  be  not  born  of  fornica- 
tion; we  have  one  Father,  even 
God. 

b  Mat.  vii.  22.  Many  shall  say  to 
me  in  that  day,  Lord,  Lord,  have 
we  not  prophesied  in  thy  name  ! 
and  in  thy  name  have  cast  out 
devils?  and  in  thy  name  done  many 
wonderful  works?  Ver.  23.  And 
then  will  I  profess  unto  them,  I 
never  knew  you:  depart  from  me, 
ye  that  work  iniquity. 

c  1  John  ii.  3.  And  hereby  we 
do  know  that  we  know  him,  if  we 
keep  his  commandments.     1  John 


iii.  14.  We  know  that  we  have 
passed  from  death  unto  life,  be- 
cause we  love  the  brethren :  he 
that  loveth  not  his  brother,  abideth 
in  death.  Ver.  IS.  My  little  chil- 
dren, let  us  not  love  in  word,  nei- 
ther in  tongue,  but  in  deed,  and  in 
truth.  Ver.  19.  And  hereby  we 
know  that  we  are  of  the  truth,  and 
shall  assure  our  hearts  before  him. 
Ver.  21.  Beloved,  if  our  heart  con- 
demn us  not,  then  have  we  con- 
fidence toward  God.  Ver.  24. 
And  lie  that  keepeth  his  com- 
mandments dwelleth  in  him,  and 
he  in  him:  and  hereby  we  know 
that  he  abideth  in  us,  by  the  Spi- 
rit that  he  hath  given  as.  1  John 
v.  13.  These  things  have  I  written 
unto  you  that  believe  on  the  name 
of  the  Son  of  God;  that  ye  may 
know  that  ye  have  eternal  life, 
and  that  ye  may  believe  on  the 
name  of  the  Son  of  God. 

d  Rom.  v.  2.  By  whom  also  we 
have  access  by  faith  into  this  grace 
wherein  we  stand,  and  rejoice  in 
hope  of  the  glory  of  God.  Ver.  5. 
And  hope  maketh  not  ashamed, 
because  the  love  of  God  is  shed 
abroad  in  our  hearts  by  the  Holy 
Ghost,  which  is  given  unto  us. 

IT.  e  Heb.  vi.  11.  And  we  de- 
sire that  every  one  of  you  do 
show  the  same  diligence,  to  the 
full  assurance  of  hope  unto  the 
end.  Ver.  19.  Which  hope  we 
have  as   an    anchor   of  the  soul, 


106 


The  Confession  of  Faith, 


Chap.  XVIII. 


assurance  of  faith,  founded  upon  the  divine  truth  of  the  pro- 
mises of  salvation/  the  inward  evidence  of  those  graces 
unto  which  these  promises  are  made,s  the  testimony  of  the 
Spirit  of  adoption  witnessing  with  our  spirits  that' we  are 
the  children  of  God:h  which  Spirit  is  the  earnest  of  our 
inheritance,  whereby  we  are  sealed  to  the  day  of  redemp- 
tion.1 

III.  This  infallible  assurance  doth  not  so  belong  to  the  es- 
sence of  faith,  but  that  a  true  believer  may  wait  long,  and 
conflict  with  many  difficulties,  before  he  be  partaker  of  it  :k 


both  sure  and  steadfast,  and  which 
entercth  into  that  within  the  vail. 

f  Heb.  vi.  17.  Wherein  God,  will- 
ing more  abundantly  to  show  unto 
the  heirs  of  promise  the  immuta- 
bility of  his  counsel,  confirmed  it 
by  an  oath :  Ver.  18.  That  by  two 
immutable  things,  in  which  it  was 
impossible  for  God  to  lie,  we  might 
have  a  strong  consolation,  who 
have  fled  for  refuge  to  lay  hold 
upon  the  hope  set  before  us. 

g  2  Pet.  i.  4.  Whereby  are  given 
unto  us  exceeding  great  and  pre- 
cious promises;  that  by  these  ye 
might  be  partakers  of  the  divine 
nature,  having  escaped  the  cor- 
ruption that  is  in  the  world  through 
lust.  Ver.  5.  And  besides  this, 
giving  diligence,  add  to  your  faith, 
virtue;  and  to  virtue,  knowledge. 
Ver.  10.  Wherefore  the  rather,  bre- 
thren, give  diligence  to  make  your 
calling  and  election  sure:  for  if  ye 
do  these  things,  ye  shall  never  fall : 
Ver.  11.  For  so  an  entrance  shall 
be  ministered  unto  you  abundant- 
ly into  the  everlasting  kingdom  of 
our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ. 
1  John  ii.  3.  And  hereby  we  do 
know  that  we  know  him,  if  we 
keep  his  commandments.  1  John 
iii.  14.  We  know  that  we  have 
passed  from  death  unto  life,  be- 
cause we  love  the  brethren  :  he 
that  loveth  not  his  brother,  abideth 


in  death.  2  Cor.  i.  12.  For  our 
rejoicing  is  this,  the  testimony  of 
our  conscience,  that  in  simplicity 
and  godly  sincerity,  not  with  flesh- 
ly wisdom,  but  by  the  grace  of 
God,  we  have  had  our  conversa- 
tion in  the  world,  and  more  abun- 
dantly to  you-ward. 

h  Rom.  viii.  15.  For  ye  have  not 
received  the  spirit  of  bondage  again 
to  fear:  but  ye  have  received  the 
spirit  of  adoption,  whereby  we 
cry,  Abba,  Father.  Ver.  16.  The 
Spirit  itself  beareth  witness  with 
our  spirit,  that  we  are  the  children 
of  God. 

1  Eph.  i.  13.  In  whom  ye  also 
trusted,  after  that  ye  heard  the 
word  of  truth,  the  gospel  of  your 
salvation  ;  in  whom  also,  after  that 
ye  believed,  ye  were  sealed  with 
that  Holy  Spirit  of  promise,  Ver. 
14.  Which  is  the  earnest  of  our  in- 
heritance, until  the  redemption  of 
the  purchased  possession,  unto  the 
praise  of  his  glory.  Eph.  iv.  30. 
And  grieve  not  the  Holy  Spirit  of 
God,  whereby  ye  are  sealed  unto 
the  day  of  redemption.  2  Cor.  i.  21. 
Now  he  which  stablisheth  us  with 
you  in  Christ,  and  hath  anointed 
us,  is  God  ;  Ver.  22.  Who  hath  also 
sealed  us,  and  given  the  earnest  of 
the  Spirit  in  onr  heart?. 

III.  kUohnv.  13.  These  things 
have  I  written  unto  you  that  be- 


Chap.  XVIII.  The  Confession  of  Faith. 


107 


yet,  being  enabled  by  the  Spirit  to  know  the  things  which 
are  freely  given  him  of  God,  he  may,  without  extraordinary 
revelation,  in  the  right  use  of  ordinary  means,  attain  there- 
unto.1 And  therefore  it  is  the  duty  of  every  one  to  give 
all  diligence  to  make  his  calling  and  election  sure;m  that 
thereby  his  heart  may  be  enlarged  in  peace  and  joy  in  the 
Holy  Ghost,  in  love  and  thankfulness  to  God,  and  in  strength 
and*  cheerfulness  in  the  duties  of  obedience,11  the  proper 


lieve  on  the  name  of  the  Son  of 
God,  that  ye  may  know  that  ye 
have  eternal  life,  and  that  ye 
may  believe  on  the  name  of  the 
Son  of  God-  Isa.  1.  10.  Who  is 
among  you  that  feareth  the  Lord, 
that  obryeth  the  voice  of  his  ser- 
vant, that  walketh  in  darkness, 
and  hath  no  light  ]  let  him  trust 
in  the  name  of  the  Lord,  and 
stay  upon  his  God.  Mark  ix.  24. 
And  straightway  the  fither  of 
the  child  cried  out,  and  said  with 
tears,  Lord,  I  believe:  help  thou 
mine  unbelief.  [See  Psal.  lxxxviii. 
throughout.  Psal.  Lxxvii.  to  the 
12th  Verse.] 

1  1  Cor.  ii.  12.  Now  we  have  re- 
ceived not  the  Spirit  of  the  world, 
but  the  Spirit  which  is  of  God; 
that  we  might  know  the  things 
that  are  freely  given  to  us  of  God. 
1  John  iv.  13.  Hereby  know  we 
that  we  dwell  in  him,  and  he  in 
us,  because  he  hath  given  us  of  his 
Spirit.  Heb.  vi.  11.  And  we  do- 
sire  that  every  one  of  you  do  show 
the  same  diligence,  to  the  full  as- 
surance of  hope  unto  the  end  :  Ver. 
12.  That  ye  be  not  slothful,  but 
followers  of  them,  who,  through 
faith  and  patience,  inherit  the 
promises.  Eph.  iii.  17.  That  Christ 
may  dwell  in  your  hearts  by  faith; 
that  ye,  being  rooted  and  grounded 
in  love,  Ver.  18.  May  be  able  to 
comprehend  with  all  saints,  what 
:lie   breadth,  and   length,   and 


depth,  and  height;  Ver.  19.  And  to 
know  the  love  of  Christ,  which 
passeth  knowledge,  that  ye  might 
be  filled  with  all  the  fulness  of 
God. 

m  2  Pet.  i.  10.  Wherefore  the 
rather,  brethren,  give  diligence  to 
make  your  calling  and  election 
sure :  for  if  ye  do  these  things  ye 
shall  never  fall. 

n  Rom.  v.  1.  Therefore  being  jus- 
tified by  faith,  we  have  peace  with 
God  through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ: 
Ver.  2.  By  whom  also  we  have 
access  by  faith  into  this  grace 
wherein  we  stand,  and  rejoice  in 
hope  of  the  glory  of  God.  Ver.  5. 
And  hope  maketh  not  ashamed; 
because  the  love  of  God  is  shed 
abroad  in  our  hearts  by  the  Holy 
Ghost,  which  is  given  unto  us. 
Rom.  xiv.  17.  For  the  kingdom  of 
God  is  not  meat  and  drink;  but 
righteousness,  and  peace,  and  joy 
in  the  Holy  Ghost.  Rom.  xv.  13. 
Now,  the  God  of  hope  fill  you 
with  all  joy  and  peace  in  believ- 
ing, that  ye  may  abound  in  hope, 
through  the  power  of  the  Holy 
Ghost.  Eph.  i.  3.  Blessed  be  the 
God  and  Father  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  who  hath  blessed  us  with 
all  spiritual  blessings  in  heavenly 
places  in  Christ:  Ver.  4.  According 
as  he  hath  chosen  us  in  him  be- 
fore the  foundation  of  the  world, 
that  we  should  be  holy,  and  with- 
out blame   before    him    in    love. 


108 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


Chap.  XVIII. 


fruits  of  this  assurance :  so  far  is  it  from  inclining  men  to 
looseness.0 

IV.  True  believers  may  have  the  assurance  of  their  salva- 
tion divers  ways  shaken,  diminished,  and  intermitted;  as,  by 
negligence  in  preserving  of  it;  by  falling  into  some  special  sin, 
which  woundeth  the  conscience,  and  grieveth  the  Spirit ;  by 
some  sudden  or  vehement  temptation ;  by  God's  withdrawing 
the  light  of  his  countenance,  and  suffering  even  such  as  fear 
him  to  walk  in  darkness,  and  to  have  no  light  :v  yet  are  they 


Psal.  iv»  6-  There  be  many  that 
say,  Who  will  show  us  any  good  1 
Lord,  lift  thou  up  the  light  of  thy 
countenance  upon  us-  Ver.  7.  Thou 
hast  put  gladness  in  my  heart, 
more  than  in  the  time  that  their 
corn  and  their  wine  increased. 
Psal-  cxix.  32.  I  will  run  the  way 
of  thy  commandments,  when  thou 
shalt  enlarge  my  heart. 

0  1  John  ii.  1.  My  little  children, 
these  things  write  I  unto  you,  that 
ye  sin  not.  And  if  any  man  sin, 
we  have  an  advocate  with  the  Fa- 
ther, Jesus  Christ  the  righteous. 
Ver.  2-  And  he  is  the  propitiation 
for  our  sins :  and  not  for  ours  only, 
but  also  for  the  sins  of  the  whole 
world.  Rom.  vi.  1- What  shall  we 
say  then  1  shall  we  continue  in  sin, 
that  grace  may  abound  1  Ver.  2. 
God  forbid :  how  shall  we  that  are 
dead  to  sin  live  any  longer  therein  1 
Tit  ii.  11.  For  the  grace  of  God 
that  bringeth  salvation  hath  ap- 
peared to  all  men;  Ver.  12.  Teach- 
ing us,  that  denying  ungodliness 
and  worldly  lusts,  we  should  live 
soberly,  righteously,  and  godly,  in 
this  present  world.  Ver.  14.  Who 
gave  himself  for  us,  that  he  might 
redeem  us  from  all  iniquity,  and 
purify  unto  himself  a  peculiar 
people,  zealous  of  good  works. 
2  Cor.vii.  1.  Having  therefore  these 
promises,  dearly  beloved,  let  us 
cleanse  ourselves  from  all  filthi- 


ness  of  the  flesh  and  spirit,  perfect- 
ing holiness  in  the  fear  of  God. 
Rom.  viii.  1.  There  is  therefore 
now  no  condemnation  to  them 
which  are  in  Christ  Jesus,  who 
walk  not  after  the  flesh,  but  after 
the  Spirit.  Ver.  12.  Therefore, 
brethren,  we  are  debtors  not  to 
the  flesh,  to  live  after  the  flesh. 
1  John  iii.  2.  Beloved,  now  are  we 
the  sons  of  God,  and  it  doth  not 
yet  appear  what  we  shall  be:  but 
we  know,  that  when  he  shall  ap- 
pear, we  shall  be  like  him ;  for  we 
shall  see  him  as  he  is.  Ver.  3.  And 
every  man  that  hath  this  hope  in 
him  purifieth  himself,  even  as  he  is 
pure.  Psal.  cxxx.  4.  But  there  is 
forgiveness  with  thee,  that  thou 
mayest  be  feared.  1  John  i.  6.  If 
we  say  that  we  have  fellowship 
with  him,  and  walk  in  darkness, 
we  lie,  and  do  not  the  truth :  Ver. 
7.  But  if  we  walk  in  the  light,  as 
he  is  in  the  light,  we  have  fel- 
lowship one  with  another;  and 
the  blood  of  Jesus  Christ  his  Son 
cleanseth  us  from  all  sin. 

IV.  p  Cant.  v.  2.  I  sleep,  but 
my  heart  waketh:  it  is  the  voice 
of  my  beloved  that  knocketh, 
saying,  Open  to  me,  my  sister, 
my  love,  my  dove,  my  undefiled : 
for  my  head  is  filled  with  dew, 
and  my  locks  with  the  drops 
of  the  night.  Ver.  3.  I  have  put 
off  my   coat;    how  shall    I    put 


Chap.  XVIII. 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


101' 


never  utterly  destitute  of  that  seed  of  God,  and  life  of  faith, 
that  love  of  Christ  and  the  brethren,  that  sincerity  of  heart 
and  conscience  of  duty,  out  of  which,  by  the  operation  of 
the  Spirit,  this  assurance  may  in  due  time  be  revived,*1  and 


it  on?  I  have  washed  my  feet; 
how  shall  I  defile  them  1  Ver.  6. 
I  opened  to  my  beloved ;  but 
my  beloved  had  withdrawn  him- 
self, and  was  gone ;  my  soul 
failed  when  he  spake ;  I  sought 
him,  but  I  could  not  find  him ;  I 
called  him,  but  he  gave  me  no 
answer.  Psal.  ii.  8.  Make  me  to 
hear  joy  and  gladness;  that  the 
bones  which  thou  hast  broken 
may  rejoice.  Ver.  12.  Restore 
unto  me  the  joy  of  thy  salvation  : 
and  uphold  me  with  thy  free 
Spirit.  Ver>  14.  Deliver  me  from 
blood-guiltiness,  O  God,  thou 
God  of  my  salvation:  and  my 
tongue  shall  sing  aloud  of  thy 
righteousness.  Eph.  iv.  30.  And 
grieve  not  the  Holy  Spirit  of 
God,  whereby  ye  are  sealed  unto 
the  day  of  redemption.  Ver.  31. 
Let  all  bitterness,  and  wrath,  and 
anger,  and  clamour,  and  evil 
speaking,  be  put  away  from  you, 
with  all  malice.  Psal.  Ixxvii.  1. 
I  cried  unto  God  with  my  voice, 
e,ven  unto  God  with  my  voice ; 
and  he  gave  ear  unto  me.  .  Ver.  2. 
In  the  day  of  my  trouble  I  sought 
the  Lord ;  my  sore  ran  in  the 
night,  and  ceased  not:  my  soul 
refused  to  be  comforted.  Ver.  3. 
I  remembered  God,  and  was 
troubled:  I  complained,  and  my 
spirit  was  overwhelmed.  Selah. 
Ver.  4.  Thou  holdest  mine  eyes 
waking:  I  am  so  troubled  that 
I  cannot'  speak.  Ver.  5.  I  have 
considered  the  days  of  old,  the 
years  of  ancient  times.  Ver.  6.  I 
call  to  remembrance  my  song  in 
the  night:  I  commune  with  mine 
own  heart,  and  my  spirit  made 
10 


diligent  search.  Ver.  7.  Will  the 
Lord  cast  off  for  ever?  and  will 
he  be  favourable  no  more?  Ver.  8. 
Is  his  mercy  clean  gone  for  ever  ? 
doth  his  promise  fail  for  ever- 
more! Ver  9.  Hath  God  forgotten 
to  be  gracious?  hath  he  in  anger 
shut  up  his  tender  mercies?  Se- 
lah. *  Ver.  10.  And  I  said,  This 
is  my  infirmity :  but  I  will  re- 
member the  years  of  the  right 
hand  of  the  most  High.  Mat. 
xxvi.  09.  Now  Peter  sat  without 
in  the  palace;  and  a  damsel  came 
unto  him,  saying.  Thou  also  wast 
with  Jesus  of  Galilee.  Ver.  70.  But 
he  denied  before  them  all,  say- 
ing, I  know  not  what  thou  sayest. 
Ver.  71.  And  when  he  was  gone  out 
into  the  porch,  another  maid  saw 
him,  and  said  unto  them  that 
were  there,  This  fellow  was  also 
with  Jesus  of  Nazareth.  Ver.  72. 
And  again  he  denied  with  an 
oath,  I  do  not  know  the  man. 
Psal.  xxx i.  22-  For  J  said  in  my 
haste,  I  am  cut  off  from  before 
thine  eyes:  nevertheless  thou 
heardest  the  voice  of  my  suppli- 
cations, when  I  cried  unto  thee. 
[Psal.  Ixxxviii.  throughout]  Isa.  1. 
10.  Who  is  among  you  that  fear- 
eth  the  Lord,  that  obeyeth  the 
voice  of  his  servant,  that  walketh 
in  darkness,  and  hath  no  light? 
let  him  trust  in  the  name  of  the 
Lord,  and  stay  upon  his  God. 

q  1  John  iii.  9.  Whosoever  is 
born  of  God  doth  not  commit 
sin:  for  his  seed  remaineth  in 
him:  and  he  cannot  sin,  because 
he  is  born  of  God.  Luke  xxii. 
32.  But  I  have  prayed  for  thee, 
that  thy  faith  fail  not ;  and  when 


110 


Tlie  Confession  o/Failh. 


Chap.  XIX, 


by  the  which,  in  the  mean  time,  they  are  supported  from 
utter  despair.1 


CHAPTER  XIX.    Of  the  Law  of  God. 

God  gave  to  Adam  a  law,  as  a  covenant  of  works,  by 
which  he  bound  him,  and  all  his  posterity,  to  personal,  en- 
tire, exact,  and  perpetual  obedience;  promised  life  upon 
the  fulfilling,  and  threatened  death  upon  the  breach  of  it ; 
and  endued  him  with  power  and  ability  to  keep  it,a 


thou  art  converted,  strengthen  thy 
brethren.  Job  xiii.  15.  Though 
he  slay  me,  yet  will  I  trust  in 
him ;  but  I  will  maintain  mine 
own  ways  before  him.  Psal. 
Ixxiii.  15.  If  I  say,  I  will  speak 
thus:  behold,  I  should  offend 
against  the  generation  of  thy  chil- 
dren. Psal.  li.  8,  12.  [See  letter* 
immediately  before.']  Isa.  1. 10.  [See 
letter*  immediately  foregoing.] 

r  Micah  vii.  7.  Therefore  I  will 
look  unto  the  Lord ;  I  will  wait 
for  the  God  of  my  salvation :  my 
God' will  hear  me.  Ver.  8.  Rejoice 
not  against  rne,  O  mine  enemy : 
when  I  fall,  I  shall  arise;  when 
I  sit  in  darkness,  the  Lord  shall 
be  a  light  unto  me.  Ver.  9.  I  will 
bear  the  indignation  of  the  Lord, 
because  I  have  sinned  against  him, 
until  he  plead  my  cause,  and  exe- 
cute judgment  for  me:  he  will 
bring  me  forth  to  the  light,  and 
I  shall  behold  his  righteousness. 
Jer.  xxxii.  40.  And  I  will  make  an 
everlasting  covenant  with  them, 
that  I  will  not  turn  away  from 
them  to  do  them  good;  but  I 
will  put  my  fear  in  their  hearts, 
that  they  shall  not  depart  from 
me.  Isa.  liv.  7.  For  a  small  mo- 
ment have  I  forsaken  thee ;  but 
with  great  mercies  will  I  gather 
tbee:  Ver.  8.  In  a  little  wrath  I 


hid  my  face  from  thee  for  a  mo' 
ment;  but  with  everlasting  kind- 
ness will  I  have  mercy  on  thee, 
saith  the  Lord,  thy  Redeemer. 
Ver.  9.  For  this  is  as  the  waters 
of  Noah  unto  me:  for  as  I  have 
sworn  that  the  waters  of  Noah 
should  no  more  go  over  the  earth  ; 
so  have  I  sworn  that  I  would  not 
be  wrotli  with  thee,  nor  rebuke 
thee.  Ver.  10.  For  the  mountains 
shall  depart,  and  the  hills  be  re- 
moved ;  but  my  kindness  shall  not 
depart  from  thee,  neither  shall 
the  covenant  of  my  peace  be  re- 
moved, saith  the  Lord,  that  hath 
mercy  on  thee.  Psal.  xxii.  1.  My 
God,  my  God,  why  hast  thou 
forsaken  me!  why  art  thou  so 
far  from  helping  me,  and  from 
the  words  of  my  roaring'?  [Psal. 
Ixxxviii.  throughout.'] 

I.  a  Gen.  i.  26.  And  God  said, 
Let  us  make  man  in  our  image, 
after  our  likeness:  and  let  them 
have  dominion  over  the  fish  of  the 
sea,  and  over  the  fowl  of  the  air, 
and  over  the  cattle,  and  over  all 
the  earth,  and  over  every  creep- 
ing thing  that  creepeth  upon  the 
earth.  Ver.  27.  So  God  created 
man  in  his  own  image,  in  the 
image  of  God  created  he  him: 
male  and  female  created  he  them. 
With  Gen.  ii.  17.    But  of  the  tree 


Chap.  XIX. 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


Ill 


II.  This  law,  after  his  fall,  continued  to  be  a  perfect  rule  of 
righteousness;  and,  as  such,  was  delivered  by  God  upon  mount 
Sinai  in  ten  commandments,  and  written  in  two   tables;'3 


of  the  knowledge  of  good  and  evil, 
thou  shalt  not  eat  of  it:  for  in 
the  day  that  thou  eatest  thereof 
thou  shalt  surely  die.  Rom.  ii.  14. 
For  when  the  Gentiles,  which 
have  not  the  law,  do  by  nature 
the  things  contained  in  the  law, 
these  having  not  the  law,  are 
a  law  unto  themselves:  Ver.  15. 
Which  show  the  work  of  the  law 
written  in  their  hearts,  their  con- 
science also  bearing  witness,  and 
their  thoughts  the  mean  while 
accusing  or  else  excusing  one  ano- 
ther. Rom.  x.  5.  Fur  Moses  de- 
scribed the  righteousness  which  is 
of  the  law,  That  the  man  which 
doeth  those  things  shall  live  by 
them.  Rom.  v.  12.  Wherefore,  as 
by  one  man  sin  entered  into  the 
world,  and  death  by  sin :  and  so 
death  passed  upon  all  men,  for 
that  all  have  sinned.  Yer.  19.  For 
as  by  one  man's  disobedience 
many  were  made  sinners;  so  by 
the  obedience  of  one  shall  many  be 
made  righteous.  Gal.  iii.  10.  For 
as  many  as  are  of  the  works  of  the 
law  are  under  the  curse:  for  it  is 
written,  Cursed  is  every  one  that 
continueth  not  in  all  things  which 
are  written  in  the  book  of  the  law 
to  do  them.  Ver.  12.  And  the  law- 
is  not  6T  faith:  but  the  man  that 
doeth  them  shall  live  in  them. 
Eccl.  vii.  29.  Lo,  this  only  have  I 
found,  that  God  hath  made  man 
upright;  but  they  have  sought 
out  many  inventions.  Job  xxviii. 
26.  And  unto  man  he  said,  Be- 
hold, the  fear  of  the  Lord,  that 
is  wisdom;  and  to  depart  from 
evil  is  understanding. 

II.  b  James   i.   25.    But   whoso 
looketh   into  the   perfect  law  of 


liberty,  and  continueth  therein,  he 
being  not  a  forgetful  hearer,  but 
a  doer  of  the  work,  this  man  shall 
be  blessed  in  his  deed.  James  ii.  8. 
If  ye  fulfil  the  royal  law  accord- 
ing to  the  scripture,  Thou  shalt 
love  thy  neighbour  as  thyself,  ye 
do  well.  Ver.  10.  For  whosoever 
shall  keep  the  whole  law,  and  yet 
offend  in  one  point,  he  is  guilty  of 
all.  Ver.  11.  For  he  that  said,  Do 
not  commit  adultery;  said  also. 
Do  not  kill.  Now,  if  thou  com- 
mit no  adultery,  yet  if  thou  kill, 
thou  art  become  a  transgressor  of 
the  law.  Ver.  12.  So  speak  ye,  and 
so  do,  as  they  that  shall  be  judged 
by  the  law  of  liberty.  Rom. 
xiii.  8.  Owe  no  man  any  thing, 
but  to  love  one  another:  for  he 
that  loveth  another  hath  fulfilled 
the  law.  Ver.  9.  For  this,  Thou 
shalt  not  commit  adultery,  Thou 
shalt  not  kill,  Thou  shalt  not 
steal,  Thou  shalt  not  bear  false 
witness,  Thou  shalt  not  covet ; 
and  if  there  be  any  other  com- 
mandment, it  is  briefly  compre- 
hended in  this  saying,  namely, 
Thou  shalt  love  thy  neighbour 
as  thyself  Deut.  v.  32.  Ye  shall 
observe  to  do  therefore  as  the 
Lord  your  God  hath  commanded 
you :  ye  shall  not  turn  aside  to 
the  right  hand  or  to  the  left. 
Deut.  x.  4.  And  he  wrote  on  the 
tables  according  to  the  first  writ- 
ing, the  ten  commandments, 
which  the  Lord  spake  unto  you 
in  the  mount,  out  of  the  midst 
of  the  fire,  in  the  day  of  the  as- 
sembly: and  the  Lord  gave  them 
unto  me.  Exod.  xxxiv.  1.  And 
the  Lord  said  unto  Moses,  Hew 
thee  two  tables  of  stone  like  unto 


112 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


Chap.  XIX 


the  first  four  commandments  containing  our  duty  towards 
God,  and  the  other  six  our  duty  to  man.0 

III.  Besides  this  law,  commonly  called  Moral,  God  was 
pleased  to  give  to  the  people  of  Israel,  as  a  church  under 
age,  ceremonial  laws,  containing  several  typical  ordi- 
nances ;  partly  of  worship,  prefiguring  Christ,  his  graces, 
actions,  sufferings,  and  benefits;11  and  partly  holding  forth 
divers  instructions  of  moral  duties.6  All  which  ceremonial 
laws  are  now  abrogated  under  the  new  testament/ 

IV.  To  them  also,  as  a  body  politic,  he  gave  sundry  ju- 
dicial laws,  which  expired  together  with  the  state  of  that 

fore  the  old  leaven,  that  ye  may- 
be a  new  lump,  as  ye  are  un- 
leavened :  for  even  Christ  our 
passover  is  sacrificed  for  us. 
2  Cor.  vi.  17.  Wherefore  come 
out  from  among  them,  and  be 
ye  separate,  saith  the  Lord,  and 
touch  not  the  unclean  thing;  and 
I  will  receive  you.  Jude,  ver.  23. 
And  others  save  with  fear,  pull- 
ing them  out  of  the  fire;  hating 
even  the  garment  spotted  by  the 
flesh. 

fCol.  ii.  14.  Blotting  out  the 
hand-writing  of  ordinances  that 
was  against  us,  which  was  con- 
trary to  us,  and  took  it  out  of  the 
way,  nailing  it  to  his  cross.  Ver.  16. 
Let  no  man  therefore  judge  you 
in  meat  or  in  drink,  or  in  respect 
of  a  holy-day,  or  of  the  new 
moon,  or  of  the  sabbath-days: 
Ver.  17.  Which  are  a  shadow  of 
things  to  come;  but  thedbody  is 
of  Christ.  Dan.  ix.  27.  And  he 
shall  confirm  the  covenant  with 
many  for  one  week:  and  in  the 
midst  of  the  week  he  shall  cause 
the  sacrifice  and  the  oblation  to 
cease;  and  for  the  overspreading 
of  abominations  he  shall  make  it 
desolate,  even  until  the  consum- 
mation, and  that  determined, 
shall  be  poured  upon  the  deso* 
late.     Eph.  ii.   15.    Having  abo- 


the  first:  and  I  will  write  upon 
These  tables  the  words  that  were 
in  the  first  tables,  which  thou 
brakest. 

c  Mat.  xxii.  37.  Jesus  said  unto 
him,  Thou  shalt  love  the  Lord 
thy  God  with  all  thy  heart,  and 
with  all  thy  soul,  and  with  all  thy 
mind.  Ver.  33.  This  is  the  first 
and  great  commandment.  Ver.  39. 
And  the  second  is  like  unto  it, 
Thou  shalt  love  thy  neighbour  as 
thyself.  Ver.  40.  On  these  two 
commandments  hang  all  the  law 
and  the  prophets. 

III.  d  [Heb.  Chapter  ix.]  Heb. 
x.  1.  For  the  law  having  a  shadow 
of  good  things  to  come,  and  not 
the  very  image  of  the  things,  can 
never  with  those  sacrifices,  which 
they  offered  year  by  year  conti- 
nually, make  the  comers  thereunto 
perfect.  Gal.  iv.  1.  Now  I  say, 
that  the  heir,  as  long  as  he  is  a 
child,  differeth  nothing  from  a  ser- 
vant, though  he  be  lord  of  all ;  Ver. 
2.  But  is  under  tutors  and  gover- 
nors, until  the  time  appointed  of 
the  father.  Ver.  3.  Even  so  we, 
when  we  were  children,  were  in 
bondage  under  the  elements  of  the 
world.  Col.  ii.  17.  Which  are  a 
shadow  of  things  to  come ;.  but  the 
body  is  of  Christ. 

e  1  Cor.  v.  7.  Purge  out  there- 


Chap.  XIX. 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


11! 


people,  not  obliging  any  other  now,  farther  than  the  gene- 
ral equity  thereof  may  require.5 

V.  The  moral  law  doth  for  ever  bind  all,  as  well  justified 
persons  as  others,  to  the  obedience  thereof;11  and  that  not 
only  in  regard  of  the  matter  contained  in  it,  but  also  in  re- 
spect of  the  authority  of  God,  the  Creator,  who  gave  it.1 
Neither  doth  Christ  in  the  gospel  any  way  dissolve,  bui 
much  strengthen  this  obligation,* 


fished  in  his  flesh  the  enmity,  even 
the  law  of  commandments  con- 
tained in  ordinances,  for  to  make 
in  himself  of  twain  one  new  man, 
so  making  peace;  Ver.  16-  And 
that  he  might  reconcile  both  unto 
God  in  one  body  by  the  cross, 
having  slain  the  enmity  thereby. 

IV.  e  [Exod.  Chapter  xxi.  Exod. 
xxii.  1.  to  the  29th  Verse.  See 
both  in  the  Bible.]  Gen-  xlix.  10- 
The  sceptre  shall  not  depart  from 
Judah,  nor  a  lawgiver  from  be- 
tween his  feet,  until  Shiloh  come; 
and  unto  him  shall  the  gathering 
of  the  people  be-  With  1  Pet-  ii. 
13.  Submit  yourselves  to  every 
ordinance  of  man  for  the  Lord's 
sake:  whether  it  be  to  the  king, 
as  supreme  :  Ver.  14-  Or  unto  go- 
vernors, as  unto  them  that  are 
sent  by  him  for  the  punishment 
of  evil-doers,  and  for  the  praise 
of  them  that  do  well.  Mat.  v- 
17-  Think  not  that  I  am  come  to 
destroy  the  law  or  the  prophets: 
I  am  not  come  to  destroy,  but 
to  fulfil.  With  ver,  38.  Ye  have 
heard  that  it  hath  been  said,  An 
eye  for  an  eye,  and  a  tooth  for 
a  tooth.  Ver.  39.  But  I  say  unto 
you,  That  ye  resist  not  evil:  but 
whosoever  shall  smite  thee  on 
thy  right  cheek,  turn  to  him  the 
other  also.  1  Cor-  ix-  8.  Say  I 
these  things  as  a  man?  or  soith 
not  the  law  the  same  also?  Ver. 
9.  For  it  is  written  in  the  law 
10* 


of  Moses,  Thou  shalt  not  muz- 
zle the  mouth  of  the  ox  that 
treadeth  out  the  corn.  Doth  God 
take  care  for  oxen?  Ver.  10. 
Or  saith  he  it  altogether  for  our 
sakes?  for  our  sakes,  no  doubt,  this 
is  written:  that  he  that  plougheth 
should  plough  in  hope;  and  that  he 
that  thrasheth  in  hope  should  be 
partaker  of  his  hope. 

V.  h  Rom.  xiii.  8,  9.  [See  above 
in  letter  b.]  Ver.  10.  Love  work- 
eth  no  ill  to  his  neighbour:  there- 
fore love  is  the  fulfilling  of  the 
law.  Eph.  vi.  2.  Honour  thy  fa- 
ther and  mother,  (which  is  the 
first  commandment  with  promise.) 
1  John  ii.  3.  And  hereby  do  we 
know  that  we  know  him,  if  we 
keep  his  commandments.  Ver.  4. 
He  that  saith,  I  know  him,  and 
keepeth  not  his  commandments, 
is  a  liar,  and  the  truth  is  not  in 
him.  Ver.  7-  Brethren,  I  write  no 
new  commandment  unto  you,  but 
an  old  commandment  which  ye 
had  from  the  beginning:  the  old 
commandment  is  the  word  which 
ye  have  heard  from  the  beginning. 
Ver.  8.  Again,  a  new  command- 
ment I  write  unto  you,  which 
thing  is  true  in  him  and  in  you: 
because  the  darkness  is  past,  and 
the  true  light  now  shineth. 

1  James  ii.  10,  11.   [See  in  letter 

k  Mat.  v.  17.  [See  in  letter  *.] 
Ver.  18.  For  verily  I  say  unto  you>. 


114 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


Chap.  XIX. 


VI.  Although  true  believers  be  not  under  the  law  as  a 
covenant  of  works,  to  be  thereby  justified  or  condemned;1 
yet  is  it  of  great  use  to  them,  as  well  as  to  others ;  in  that, 
as  a  rule  of  life,  informing  them  of  the  will  of  God  and  their 
duty,  it  directs  and  binds  them  to  walk  accordingly;111  dis- 
covering also  the  sinful  pollutions  of  their  nature,  hearts,  and 
lives;11  so  as,  examining  themselves  thereby,  they  may  come 


Till  heaven  and  earth  pass,  one 
jot  or  one  tittle  shall  in  no  wise 
pass  from  the  law,  till  all  be  ful- 
filled. Ver.  19.  Whosoever  there- 
fore shall  break  one  of  these  least 
commandments,  and  shall  teach 
men  so,  he  shall  be  called  the 
least  in  the  kingdom  of  heaven: 
but  whosoever  shall  do  and  teach, 
them,  the  same  shall  be  called 
great  in  the  kingdom  of  heaven. 
James  ii.  8.  [See  in  letter  b  before.] 
Rom.  iii.  31.  Do  we  then  make 
void  the  law  through  faith?  God 
forbid :  yea,  we  establish  the 
law. 

VI.  '  Rom.  vi.  14.  For  sin  shall 
r.ot  have  dominion  over  you  :  for 
ye  are  not  under  the  law,  but 
under  grace.  GaL  ii.  16.  Know- 
ing that  a  man  is  not  justified  by 
the  works  of  the  law*  but  by  the 
faith  of  Jesus  Christ;  even  we 
have  believed  in  Jesus  Christ, 
that  we  might  be  justified  by  the 
faith  of  Christ,  and  not  by  the 
works  of  the  law :  for  by  the 
works  of  the  law  shall  no  flesh  be 
justified.  Gal.  iii.  13.  Christ  hath 
redeemed  us  from  the  curse  of  the 
law,  being  made  a  curse  for  us: 
for  it  is  written,  Cursed  is  every 
one  that  hangeth  on  a  tree.  Gal. 
iv.  4.  But  when  the  fulness  of  the 
time  was  come,  God  sent  forth 
his  Son,  made  of  a  woman,  made 
under  the  law,  Ver.  5.  To  redeem 
them  that  were  under  the  law, 
that  we  might  receive  the  adop- 
tion of  sons.     Acts  xiii.  39.  And 


by  him  all  that  believe  are  justified 
from  all  things,  from  which  ye 
could  not  be  justified  by  the  law 
of  Moses.  Rom.  viii.  1.  There  is 
therefore  now  no  condemnation  to 
them  which  are  in  Christ  Jesus, 
who  walk  not  after  the  flesh,  but 
after  the  Spirit. 

m  Rom.  vii.  12.  Wherefore  the 
law  is  holy ;  and  the  command- 
ment holy,  and  just,  and  good. 
Ver.  22.  For  I  delight  in  the  law 
of  God  after  the  inward  man. 
Ver.  25.  I  thank  God,  through  Je- 
sus Christ  our  Lord.  So  then, 
with  the  mind  I  myself  serve  the 
law  of  God  ;  but  with  the  flesh 
the  law  of  sin.  Psal.  cxix.  4. 
Thou  hast  commanded  us  to  keep 
thy  precepts  diligently.  Ver.  5.  O 
that  my  ways  were  directed  to 
keep  thy  statutes !  Ver.  6.  Then 
shall  I  not  be  ashamed,  when  I 
have  respect  unto  all  thy  com- 
mandments. 1  Cor-  vii.  19.  Cir- 
cumcision is  nothing,  and  uncir- 
cumcision  is  nothing,  but  the 
keeping  of  the  commandments  of 
God.  Gal.  v.  14,  16,  18,  19,  20, 
21,  22,  23.     See  in  the  Bible. 

n  Rom.  vii.  7.  What  shall  .we  say 
then?  Is  the  law  sin?  God  forbid. 
Nay,  I  had  not  known  sin  but  by 
the  law:  for  I  had  not  known 
lust,  except  the  law  had  said, 
Thou  shalt  not  covet.  Rom.  iii. 
20.  Therefore  by  the  deeds  of  the 
law  there  shall  no  flesh  be  justi- 
fied in  his  sight:  for  by  the  law  is 
the  knowledge  of  sin. 


Chap.  XLX. 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


115 


to  farther  conviction  of,  humiliation  for,  and  hatred  against 
sin;0  together  with  a  clearer  sight  of  the  need  they  have  of 
Christ,  and  the  perfection  of  his  obedience.?  It  is  likewise 
of  use  to  the  regenerate,  to  restrain  their  corruptions,  in  that 
it  forbids  sin;q  and  the  threatenings  of  it  serve  to  show  what 
even  their  sins  deserve,  and  what  afflictions  in  this  life  they 
may  expect  for  them,  although  freed  from  the  curse  thereof 
threatened  in  the  law/    The  promises  of  it,  in  like  manner, 


0  James  i.  23.  For  if  any  be  a 
hearer  of  the  word,  and  not  a 
doer,  he  is  like  unto  a  man  be- 
holding his  natural  face  in  a  glass; 
Ver.  24.  For  he  beholdeth  himself, 
and  goeth  his  way,  and  straight- 
way forgetteth  what  manner  of 
man  he  was.  Ver.  25.  But  whoso 
looketh  into  the  perfect  law  of  li- 
berty, and  continueth  therein,  he 
being  not  a  forgetful  hearer,  but 
a  doer  of  the  work,  this  man  shall 
be  blessed  in  bis  deed,  Rom.  vii.  9. 
For  I  was  alive  without  the  law 
once ;  but  when  the  command- 
ment came,  sin  revived,  and  I  died. 
Ver  14.  For  we  know  that  the  law 
is  spiritual ;  but  I  am  carnal,  sold 
under  sin.  Ver.  24.  O  wretched  man 
that  I  am!  who  shall  deliver  me 
from  the  body  of  this  death  \ 

p  Gal.  iii.  24-  Wherefore  the 
law  was  our  schoolmaster  to  bring 
us  unto  Christ,  that  we  might  be 
justified  by  faith.  Rom.  vii.  24. 
[See  before  in  letter  °.  Verse  25. 
in  letter™.]  Rom.  viii.  3.  For 
what  the  law  could  not  do,  in 
that  it  was  weak  through  the  flesh, 
God  sending  his  own  Son  in  the 
likeness  of  sinful  flesh,  and  for  sin, 
condemned  sin  in  the  flesh:  Ver.  4. 
That  the  righteousness  of  the  law 
might  be  fulfilled  in  us,  who  walk 
not  after  the  flesh,  but  after  the 
Spirit. 

q  James  ii.  11.  For  he  that  said, 
Do    not    commit    adultery,    said 


also,  Do  not  kill.  Now,  if  thou 
commit  no  adultery,  yet  if  thou 
kill,  thou  art  become  a  transgres- 
sor of  the  law.  Psal.  cxix.  101. 
I  have  refrained  my  feet  from 
every  evil  way,  that  I  might  keep 
thy  word.  Ver.  104-  Through  thy 
precepts  I  get  understanding; 
therefore  I  hate  every  false  way. 
Ver.  128.  Therefore  I  esteem  all 
thy  precepts  concerning  all  things 
to  be  right;  and  I  hate  every  false 
way. 

r  Ezra  ix.  13.  And  after  all  that 
is  come  upon  us  for  our  evil  deeds, 
and  for  our  great  trespass,  seeing 
that  thou  our  God  hast  punished 
us  less  than  our  iniquities  deserve, 
and  hast  given  us  such  deliverance 
as  this;  Ver.  14.  Should  we  again 
break  thy  commandments,  and 
join  in  affinity  with  the  people 
of  these  abominations,  wouldest 
not  thou  be  angry  with  us,  till 
thou  hadst  consumed  us,  so  that 
there  should  be  no  remnant  nor 
escaping]  Psal.  Ixxxix.  30.  If  his 
children  forsake  my  law,  and 
walk  not  in  rny  judgments;  Ver. 

31.  If  they  break  my  statutes,  and 
keep  not  my  commandments;  Ver. 

32.  Then  will  I  visit  their  trans- 
gression with  the  rod,  and  their  ini- 
quity with  stripe.s.  Ver.  33.  Never- 
theless my  loving-kindness  will  I 
not  utterly  take  from  him,  nor 
suffer  my  faithfulness  to  fail. 
Ver.  34.     My  covenant  will  I  not 


116 


TJie  Confession  of  Faith. 


Chap.  XIX. 


show  them  God's  approbation  of  obedience,  and  what  >bless- 
ings  they  may  expect  upon  the  performance  thereof,9  al- 
though not  as  due  to  them  by  the  law  as  a  covenant  of 
works:*  so  as  a  man's  doing  good,  and  refraining  from 
evil,  because  the  law  encourageth  to  the  one,  and  deterreth 
from  the  other,  is  no  evidence  of  his  being  under  the  law. 
and  not  undet  grace.7 

VII.  Neither   are   the   forementioned   uses    of  the    law 
contrary  to  the  grace  of  the  gospel,  but  do  sweetly  comply 


break,  nor  alter  the  thing  that  is 
gone  out  of  my  lips. 

s  [Lev.  xxvi.  to  the  lUli  Verse.] 
With  2  Cor.  vi.  16.  And  what 
agreement  hath  the  temple  of  God 
with  idols'?  for  ye  are  the  temple 
of  the  living  God;  as  God  hath 
said,  I  will  dwell  in  them,  and 
walk  in  them;  and  I  will  be  their 
God,  and  they  shall  be  my  people. 
Eph.  vi.  2.  Honour  thy  father  and 
mother,  (which  is  the  first  com- 
mandment with  promise;)  Ver.  3. 
That  it  may  be  well  with  thee, 
and  thou  mayest  live  long  on 
the  earth.  Psal.  xxxvii.  11.  Bat 
the  meek  shall  inherit  the  earth  ; 
and  shall  delight  themselves  in  the 
abundance  of  peace.  With  Mat. 
v.  5.  Blessed  are  the  meek:  for 
they  shall  inherit  the  earth.  Psal. 
xix*  11-  Moreover,  by  them  is  thy 
servant  warned:  and  in  keeping 
of  them  there  is  great  reward. 

'■  Gal-  ii.  16.  Knowing  that  a 
man  is  not  justified  by  the  works 
of  the  law,  but  by  the  faith  of 
Jesus  Christ,  even  we  have  be- 
lieved in  Jesus  Christ,  that  we 
might  be  justified  by  the  faith  of 
Christ,  and  not  by  the  works  of 
the  law;  for  by  the  works  of  the 
law  shall  no  rlesh  be  justified. 
Luke  xvii.  10-  So  likewise  ye, 
when  ye  shall  have  done  all  those 
things  which  are  commanded  you, 
sav,  We  are  unprofitable  servants; 


we  have  done  that  which  was  our 
duty  to  do. 

v  Rom.  vi.  12.  Let  not  sin 
therefore  reign  in  your  mortal 
body,  that  ye  should  obey  it  in 
the  lusts  thereof.  Ver-  14-  For  sin 
shall  not  have  dominion  over  you: 
for  ye  are  not  under  the  law,  but 
under  grace.  1  Pet.  iii.  8.  Finally, 
be  ye  all  of  one  mind,  having  com- 
passion one  of  another;  love  as  bre- 
thren, be  pitiful,  be  courteous: 
Ver.  9.  Not  rendering  evil  for  evil,, 
or  railing  for  railing;  but  con- 
trariwise, blessing:  knowing  that 
ye  are  thereunto  called,  that  ye 
should  inherit  a  blessing.  Ver.  10. 
For  he  that  will  love  life,  and  see 
goad  days,  let  him  refrain  his 
tongue  from  evil,  and  his  lips  that 
they  speak  no  guile:  Ver.  11.  Let 
him  eschew  evil,  and  do  good ; 
let  him  seek  peace,  and  ensue  it. 
Ver.  12.  For  the  eyes  of  the  Lord 
are  ever  the  righteous,  and  his 
ears  are  open  unto  their  prayers: 
but  the  face  of  the  Lord  is  against 
them  that  do  evil.  With  Psal. 
xxxiv.  12.  What  man  is  he  that 
desireth  life,  and  lovelh  many 
days  that  he  may  see  good?  Ver. 
13.  Keep  thy  tongue  from  evil,  and 
thy  lips  from  speaking  guile.  Ver. 
14-  Depart  from  evil,  and  do  good  ; 
seek  peace,  and  pursue  it.  Ver.  15. 
The  eyes  of  the  Lord  are  upon 
the   righteous,  and   his   ears  are 


Chap.  XX. 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


117 


with  it;"  the  Spirit  of  Christ  subduing  and  enabling  the  will 
of  man  to  do  that  freely  and  cheerfully  which  the  will  of 
God  revealed  in  the  law  requireth  to  be  done.x 


CHAP.  XX.  Of  Christian  Liberty,  and  Liberty  of  Conscience. 

The  liberty  which  Christ  hath  purchased  for  believers 
under  the  gospel,  consists  in  their  freedom  from  the  guilt 
of  sin,  the  condemning  wrath  of  God,  the  curse  of  the  mo- 
ral law;a  and  in  their  being  delivered  from  this  present 
evil  world,  bondage  to  Satan,  and  dominion  of  sin,b  from 


open  unto  their  cry.  Ver.  16.  The 
face  of  the  Lord  is  against  them 
that  do  evil,  to  cut  off  the  re- 
membrance of  them  from  the 
earth.  Heb.  xii.  28.  Wherefore 
we  receiving  a  kingdom  which 
cannot  be  moved,  let  us  have 
grace;  whereby  we  may  serve 
God  acceptably,  with  reverence 
and  godly  fear.  Ver.  29.  For  our 
God  is  a  consuming:  fire. 

VII.  w  Gal.  iiL  21.  Is  the  law 
then  against  the  promises  of  God  ! 
God  forbid:  for  if  there  had  been  a 
law  given  which  could  have  given 
life,  verily  righteousness  should 
have  been  by  the  law. 

x  Ezek.  xxxvi.  27.  And  I  will 
put  my  Spirit  within  you,  and 
cause  you  to  walk  in  my  statutes, 
and  ye  shall  keep  my  judgments, 
and  do  them.  Heb.  viii.  10.  For 
this  is  the  covenant  that  I  will 
make  with  the  house  of  Israel ; 
After  those  days,  saith  the  Lord,  I 
will  put  my  laws  into  their  mind, 
and  write  them  in  their  hearts ; 
and  I  will  be  to  them  a  God,  and 
3hall  be  to  me  a  people. 
With  Jer.  xxxi.  33.  But  this  shall 
be  the  covenant  that  I  will  make 
with  the  house  of  Israel ;  After 
those  days,  saith  the  Lord,  I  will 
put  my  law  in  their  inward  parts, 
and  write  it  in  their  hearts;  and 


will  be  their  God,  and  they  shall 
be  rov  people. 

I.  »  Tit  ii.  14.  Who  gave  him- 
self for  us,  that  he  might  redeem 
us  from  all  iniquity,  and  purify 
unto  himself  a  peculiar  people, 
zealous  of  good  works.  1  Thess. 
i.  10.  And  to  wait  for  his  Son  from 
heaven,  whom  he  raised  from  the 
dead,  even  Jesus,  which  delivered 
us  from  the  wrath  to  come.  Gal. 
iii.  13.  Christ  hath  redeemed  us 
from  the  curse  of  the  law,  being 
made  a  curse  for  us:  for  it  is  writ- 
ten, Cursed  is  every  one  that  hang- 
eth  on  a  tree. 

b  Gal.  i.  4.  Who  gave  himself 
for  our  sins,  that  he  might  deliver 
us  from  this  present  evil  world, 
according  to  the  will  of  God  and 
our  Father.  Col.  i.  13.  Who  hath 
delivered  us  from  the  power  of 
darkness,  and  hath  translated  us 
into  the  kingdom  of  his  dear  Son. 
Acts  xxvi.  IS.  To  open  their  eyes, 
and  to  turn  them  from  darkness 
to  light,  and  from  the  power  of 
Satan  unto  God,  that  they  may  re- 
ceive forgiveness  of  sins,  and  in- 
heritance among  them  which  are 
sanctified  by  faith  that  is  in  me. 
Rom.  vi.  14.  For  sin  shall  not  have 
dominion  over  you :  for  ye  are 
not  under  the  law,  but  under 
grace. 


118 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


Chap.  XX. 


the  evil  of  afflictions,  the  sting  of  death,  the  victory  of  the 
grave,  and  everlasting  damnation;0  as  also  in  their  free  ac- 
cess to  God,d  and  their  yielding  obedience  unto  him,  not  out 
of  slavish  fear,  but  a  child-like  love,  and  willing  mind.e  All 
which  were  common  also  to  believers  under  the  law;f  but 
under  the  new  testament,  the  liberty  of  Christians  is  farther 
enlarged  in  their  freedom  from  the  yoke  of  the  ceremonial 
law,  to  which  the  Jewish  Church  was  subjected,5  and  in 


c  Rom.  viii.  28.  We  know  that 
all  things  work  together  for  good 
to  them  that  love  God,  to  them 
who  are  the  called  according  to 
his  purpose.  Psal.  cxix.  71.  It  is 
good  for  me  that  I  have  been 
afflicted :  that  I  might  learn 
thy  statutes.  1  Cor.  xv.  54.  So 
when  this  corruptible  shall  have 
put  on  incorrnption,  and  this 
mortal  shall  have  put  on  immor- 
tality, then  shall  be  brought  to 
pass  the  saying  that  is  written, 
Death  is  swallowed  up  in  victory. 
Ver.  55.  O  death  where  is  thy 
sting?  O  grave,  where  is  thy 
victory?  Ver.  56.  The  sting  of 
death  is  sin;  and  the  strength 
of  sin  is  the  law;  Ver.  57.  But 
thanks  be  to  God,  which  giveth  us 
the  victory,  through  our  Lord  Je- 
sus Christ.  Rom.  viii.  1-  There 
is  therefore  now  no  condemna- 
tion to  them  which  are  in  Christ 
Jesus,  who  walk  not  after  the  flesh, 
but  after  the  Spirit. 

d  Rom.  v.  1.  Therefore  being 
justified  by  faith,  we  have  peace 
with  God,  through  our  Lord  Je- 
sus Christ.  Ver.  2.  By  whom  also 
we  have  access  by  faith  into  this 
grace  wherein  we  stand,  and  re- 
joice in  hope  of  the  glory  of  God. 

e  Rom.  vii.  14.  For  as  many  as 
are  led  by  the  Spirit  of  God,  they 
are  the  sons  of  God.  Ver.  15.  For 
ye  have  not  received  the  spirit  of 
bondage  again  to  fear ;  but  ye  have 


received  the  Spirit  of  adoption, 
whereby  we  cry,  Abba,  Father. 
1  John  iv.  18.  There  is  no  fear  in 
love,  but  perfect  love  casteth  out 
fear:  because  fear  hath  torment; 
he  that  feareth  is  not  made  perfect 
in  love. 

f  Gal.  iii.  9.  So  then  they  which 
be  of  faith  are  blessed  with  faith- 
ful Abraham.  Ver.  14.  That  the 
blessing  of  Abraham  might  come 
on  the  Gentiles  through  Jesus 
Christ ;  that  we  might  receive 
the  promise  of  the  Spirit  through 
faith. 

*  Gal.  iv.  1.  Now  I  say,  that 
the  heir,  as  long  as  he  is  a  child, 
differeth  nothing  from  a  servant, 
though  he  be  lord  of  all ;  Ver.  2. 
But  is  under  tutors  and  governors, 
until  the  time  appointed  by  the  fa- 
ther. Ver.  3.  Even  so  we,  when  we 
were  children,  were  in  bondage 
under  the  elements  of  the  world. 
Ver.  6.  And  because  ye  are  sons, 
God  hath  sent  forth  the  Spirit  of 
his  Son  into  your  hearts,  crying, 
Abba,  Father.  Ver.  7.  Wherefore 
thou  art  no  more  a  servant,  but  a 
son ;  and  if  a  son,  then  an  heir  of 
God  through  Christ.  Gal.  v.  1. 
Stand  fast  therefore  in  the  liber- 
ty wherewith  Christ  hath  made 
us  free,  and  be  not  entangled 
again  with  the  yoke  of  bondage. 
Acts  xv.  10.  Now  therefore  why 
tempt  ye  God,  to  put  a  yoke  upon 
the  neck  of  the  disciples,  which 


Chap.  XX. 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


119 


greater  boldness  of  access  to  the  throne  of  grace,h  and  in 
tiller  communications  of  the  free  Spirit  of  God,  than  be- 
evers  under  the  law  did  ordinarily  partake  of.1 

II.  God  alone  is  Lord  of  the  conscience/  and  hath  left  it 
ree  from  the  doctrines  and  commandments  of  men  which 
re  in  any  thing  contrary  to  his  word,  or  beside  it,  in  matters 
>f  faith  or  worship.1     So  that  to  believe  such  doctrines,  or 


neither  our  fathers  nor  we  were 
able  to  bear]  Ver.  11.  But  we  be- 
lieve, that  through  the  grace  of 
the  Lord  Jesus  Chrigt,  we  Bhall  be 
saved,  even  as  they. 

h  Heb.  iv.  14.  Seeing  then  that 
we  have  a  great  high  priest,  that 
is  passed  into  the  heavens,  Jesus 
the  Son  of  God,  let  us  hold  fast 
our  profession.     Ver.   16.    Let  us 

•  therefore  come  boldly  unto  the 
throne  of  grace,  that  we  may  ob- 
tain mercy,  and  find  grace  to  help 
in  time  of  need.  Heb.  x.  19. 
Having  therefore,  brethren,  bold- 
ness to  enter  into  the  holiest  by  the 

|  blood  of  Jesus,  Ver.  20.  By  a  new 
I  and  living  way,  which  he  hath 
i  consecrated  for  us  through  the 
i  veil,  that  is  to  say,  his  flesh;  Ver. 
21.  And  having  a  high  priest  over 
I  the  house  of  God  ;  Ver.  22.  Let  us 

•  draw  near  with  a  true  heart,  in 
1  full  assurance  of  faith,  having  our 
;  hearts  sprinkled  from  an  evil  con- 
science, and    our  bodies    washed 
with  pure  water. 

1  John  vii.  38.  He  that  believeth 
on  me,  as  the  scripture  hath  said, 
out  of  his  belly  shall  flow  rivers 
I  of  living  water.  Ver.  39.  But  this 
spake  he  of  the  Spirit,  which  they 
that  believe  on  him  should  re- 
ceive :  for  the  Holy  Ghost  was 
not  yet  given,  because  that  Jesus 
was  not  yet  glorified-  2  Cor.  iii. 
13.  And  not  as  Moses,  which  put 
-il  over  his  face,  that  the  chil- 
dren of  Israel  could  not  steadfastly 


look  to  the  end  of  that, which  is 
abolished.  Ver-  17.  Now  the  Lord 
is  that  Spirit:  and  where  the  Spi- 
rit of  the  Lord  is,  there  is  liberty. 
Ver.  IS.  But  we  all,  with  open 
face  beholding  as  in  a  glass  the 
glory  of  the  Lord,  are  changed 
into  the  same  image,  from  glory 
to  glory,  even  as  by  the  Spirit  of 
the  Lord. 

II.  k  James  iv.  12.  There  is  one 
lawgiver,  who  is  able  to  save  and 
to  destroy ;  who  art  thou  that 
judgest  another!  Rom.  xiv.  4. 
Who  art  thou  that  judgest  another 
man's  servant  ;  to  his  own  master 
he  standeth  or  fulleth:  yea,  he 
shall  be  holden  up :  for  God  is  able 
to  make  him  stand. 

1  Acts  iv.  19.  But  Peter  and  John 
answered  and  said  unto  them, 
Whether  it  be  right  in  the  sight 
of  God  to  hearken  unto  you  more 
than  unto  God,  judge  ye.  Acts 
v.  29.  Then  Peter  and  the  other 
apostles  answered  and  said,  We 
ought  to  obey  God  rather  than 
men.  1  Cor.  vii.  23.  Ye  are 
bought  with  a  price,  be  not  ye  the 
servants  of  men.  Mat.  xxiii.  8. 
But  be  not  ye  called  Rabbi :  for 
one  is  your  Master,  even  Christ, 
and  all  ye  are  brethren.  Ver.  9. 
And  call  no  man  your  father  upon 
the  earth  :  for  one  is  your  Father, 
which  is  in  heaven.  Ver.  10. 
Neither  be  ye  called  masters:  for 
one  is  your  Master,  even  Christ. 
2  Cor.  i.  24.  Not  for  that  we  have 


I 


120 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


Chap.  XX* 


to  obey  such  commandments  out  of  conscience,  is  to  betray 
true  liberty  of  conscience;110  and  the  requiring  of  an  im- 
plicit faith,  and  an  absolute  and  blind  obedience,  is  to  de- 
stroy liberty  of  conscience,  and  reason  also.n 

III.  They  who,  upon  pretence  of  Christian  liberty,  do  prac- 
tise any  sin,  or  cherish  any  lust,  do  thereby  destroy  the  end  oi 


dominion  over  your  faith,  but  are 
helpers  of  your  joy :  for  by  faith 
ye  stand.  Mat.  xv.  9.  But  in  vain 
they  do  worship  me,  teaching  for 
doctrines  the  commandments  of 
men. 

m  Col.  ii.  20.  Wherefore  if  ye 
be  dead  with  Christ  from  the 
rudiments  of  the  world,  why,  as 
though  living  in  the  world,  are 
ye  subject  to  ordinances,  Ver.  22. 
(Which  all  are  to  perish  with  the 
using,)  after  the  commandments 
and  doctrines  of  men!  Ver.  23. 
Which  things  have  indeed  a  show 
of  wisdom  in  will-worship  and 
humility,  and  neglecting  of  the 
body;  not  in  any  honour  to  the 
satisfying  of  the  flesh.  Gal.  i.  10. 
For  do  I  now  persuade  men,  or 
God  1  or  do  I  seek  to  please  men? 
for  if  I  yet  pleased  men,  I  should 
not  be  the  servant  of  Christ.  Gal. 
ii.  4.  And  that  because  of  false 
brethren  unawares  brought  in, 
who  came  in  privily  to  spy  out 
our  liberty  which  we  have  in 
Christ  Jesus,  that  they  might  bring 
us  into  bondage.  Ver.  5.  To 
whom  we  gave  place  by  sub- 
jection, no,  not  for  an  hour ;  that 
the  truth  of  the  gospel  might 
continue  with  you.  Gal.  v.  1. 
Stand  fast  therefore  in  the  liber- 
ty wherewith  Christ  hath  made 
us  free,  and  be  not  entangled 
again  with  the  yoke  of  bond- 
age. 

n  Rom.  x.  17.  So  then,  faith 
cometh  by  hearing,  and  hearing  by 


the  word  of  God.     Rom.  xiv.  23. 

And  he  that  doubteth  is  damned 
if  he  eat,  because  he  eateth  not  of 
faith :  for  whatsoever  is  not  of 
faith  is  sin.  Isa.  viii.  20.  To  the 
law,  and  to  the  testimony ;  if  they 
speak  not  according  to  this  word, 
it  is  because  there  is  no  light  in 
them.  Acts  xvii.  11.  These  were 
more  noble  than  those  in  Thessa- 
lonica,  in  that  they  received  the 
word  with  all  readiness  of  mind, 
and  searched  the  scriptures  daily, 
whether  those  things  were  so. — 
John  iv.  22.  Ye  worship  ye  know 
not  what :  we  know  what  we  wor-' 
ship  ;  for  salvation  is  of  the  Jews. 
Hos.  v.  11.  Ephraim  is  oppressed, 
and  broken  in  judgment;  because 
he  willingly  walked  after  the 
commandment.  Rev.  xiii.  12. — 
And  he  exerciseth  all  the  power 
of  the  first  beast  before  him,  and 
causeth  the  earth,  and  them 
which  dwell  therein,  to  worship 
the  first  beast,  whose  deadly 
wound  was  healed.  Ver.  16. — 
And  he  causeth  all,  both  small 
and  great,  rich  and  poor,  free  and 
bond,  to  receive  a  mark  in  their 
right  hand,  or  in  their  foreheads; 
Ver.  17.  And  that  no  man  might 
buy  or  sell,  save  he  that  had  the 
mark,  or  the  name  of  the  beast, 
or  the  number  of  his  name. —  • 
Jer.  viii.  9.  The  wise  men  are 
ashamed,  they  are  dismayed  and 
taken :  lo,  they  have  rejected  the 
word  of  the  Lord,  and  what  wis- 
dom is  in  them  1 


Chap.  XX. 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


121 


Christian  liberty ;  which  is,  that,  being  delivered  out  of  the 
hands  of  our  enemies,  we  might  serve  the  Lord  without 
fear,  in  holiness  and  righteousness  before  him,  all  the  days 
of  our  life.0 

IV.  And  because  the  powers  which  God  hath  ordained, 
and  the  liberty  which  Christ  hath  purchased,  are  not  in- 
tended by  God  to  destroy,  but  mutually  to  uphold  and 
preserve  one  another ;  they  who,  upon  pretence  of  Chris- 
tian liberty,  shall  oppose  any  lawful  power,  or  the  lawful 
exercise  of  it,  whether  it  be  civil  or  ecclesiastical,  resist 
the  ordinance  of  God.?  And  for  the  publishing  of  such 
opinions,  or  maintaining  of  such  practices,  as  are  contrary 
to  the  light  of  nature,  or  to  the  known  principles  of  Chris- 
tianity, whether  concerning  faith,  worship,  or  conversation ; 
or  to  the  power  of  godliness ;  or  such  erroneous  opinions  or 
practices,  as  either  in  their  own  nature,  or  in  the  manner 
of  publishing  or  maintaining  them,  are  destructive  to  the 
external  peace  and  order  which  Christ  hath  established  in 
the  church ;  they  may  lawfully  be  called  to  account,  and 


III.  °  Gal  v.  13.  For,  brethren, 
ye  have  been  cal-led  unto  liberty; 
only  use  not  liberty  for  an  occasion 
to  the  flesh,  but  by  love  serve  one 
another.  1  Pet.  ii.  16.  As  free,  and 
not  using  your  liberty  for  a  cloak 
of  maliciousness,  but  as  the  ser- 
vants of  God.  2  Pet.  ii.  19.  While 
they  promise  them  liberty,  they 
themselves  are  the  servants  of  cor- 
ruption :  for  of  whom  a  man  is 
overcome,  of  the  same  is  he  brought 
in  bondage.  John  viii.  34.  Jesus 
answered  them,  Verily,  verily,  I 
say  unto  you,  Whosoever  commit- 
teth  sin  is  the  servant  of  sin.  Luke 
i.  74.  That  he  would  grant  unto  us, 
that  we,  being  delivered  out  of  the 
hands  of  our  enemies,  might  serve 
him  without  fear,  Ver.  75.  In  holi- 
ness and  righteousness  before  him, 
all  the  days  of  our  life. 

IV.  p  Mat.  xii.  25.  And  Jesus 

11 


knew  their  thoughts,  and  said  un- 
to them,  Every  kingdom  divided 
against  itself  is  brought  to  desola- 
tion ;  and  every  city  or  house  di- 
vided against  itself  shall  not  stand. 
1  Pet.  ii.  13.  Submit  yourselves  to 
every  ordinance  of  man  for  the 
Lord's  sake:  whether  it  be  to  the 
king  as  supreme;  Ver.  14.  Or  unto 
governors,  as  unto  them  that  are 
sent  by  him  for  the  punishment  of 
evil  doers,  and  for  the  praise  of 
them  that  do  well.  Ver.  16.  As  free, 
and  not  using  your  liberty  for  a 
cloak  of  maliciousness,  but  as  the 
servants  of  God.  [Rom.  xiii.  1.  to 
the  8th  Verse.]  Heb.  xiii.  17.  Obey 
them  that  have  the  rule  over  you, 
and  submit  yourselves:  for  they 
watch  for  your  souls,  as  they  thai; 
must  give  account:  that  they  may 
do  it  with  joy,  and  not  with  grief; 
for  that  is  unprofitable  for  you. 


122 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


Chap.  XX. 


proceeded  against  by  the  censures  of  the  churchy  and  by 
the  power  of  the  civil  magistrate/ 


*  Rom.  i.  32.  Who  knowing 
the  judgment  of  God,  (that  they 
which  commit  such  things  are 
worthy  of  death,)  not  only  do  the 
same,  but  have  pleasure  in  them 
that  do  them.  With  1  Cor.  v.  1.  It 
is  reported  commonly  that  there 
is  fornication  among  you,  and 
such  fornication  as  is  not  so  much 
as  named  among  the  Gentiles, 
that  one  should  have  his  father's 
wife.  Ver.  5.  To  deliver  such  a 
one  unto  Satan  for  the  destruc- 
tion of  the  flesh,  that  the  spirit 
may  be  saved  in  the  day  of  the 
Lord  Jesus.  "Ver.  11.  But  now  I 
have  written  unto  you,  not  to 
keep  company,  if  any  man  that  is 
called  a  brother  be  a  fornicator, 
or  covetous,  or  an  idolater,  or 
a  railer,  or  a  drunkard,  or  an  ex- 
tortioner; with  such  a  one,  no, 
not  to  eat-  Ver-  13.  But  them  that 
are  without,  God  judgeth.  There- 
fore put  away  from  among  your- 
selves that  wicked  person.  2  John, 
ver.  10.  If  there  come  any  unto 
you,  and  bring  not  this  doctrine, 
receive  him  not  into  your  house, 
neither  bid  him  God  speed.  Ver. 
11.  For  he  that  biddeth  him  God 
speed  is  partaker  of  his  evil  deeds. 
And  2  Thess.  iii.  14.  And  if  any 
man  obey  not  our  word  by  this 
epistle,  note  that  man,  and  have 
no  company  with  him,  that  he 
may  be  ashamed.  And  1  Tim. 
vi.  3.  If  any  man  teach  otherwise, 
and  consent  not  to  wholesome 
words,  even  the  words  of  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  to  the  doc- 
trine which  is  according  to  godli- 
ness; Ver.  4.  He  is  proud,  know- 
ing nothing,  but  doting  about 
questions   and    strifes    of  words, 


whereof  cometh  envy,  strife,  rail- 
ings, evil  surmisings,  Ver  5.  Per- 
verse disputings  of  men   of  cor- 
rupt minds,  and  destitute  of  the 
truth,  supposing  that  gain  is  god- 
liness:  from  such  withdraw  thy- 
self.    And  Tit.  i.  10.   For  there 
are  many  unruly  and  vain  talkers 
and   deceivers,  especially  they  of 
the  circumcision:  Ver.  11.  Whose 
mouths    must    be    slopped,    who 
subvert   whole    houses,    teaching 
things  which  they  ought  not,  for 
filthy  lucre's  sake.     Ver.  13.  This 
witness  is  true:  wherefore  rebuke 
them   sharply,  that  they  may  be 
sound  in  the  faith.     And  Tit.  iii. 
10.     A   man   that    is    a  heretic, 
after  the  first  and  second  admoni- 
tion, reject.     With  Mat.  xviii.  15. 
Moreover,    if    thy    brother    shall 
trespass  against  thee,  go  and  tell 
him  his  fault   between  thee  and 
him  alone :  if  he  shall  hear  thee, 
thou    hast    gained    thy    brother. 
Ver.  16.  But  if  he  will  not  hear 
thee,  then  take  with  thee  one  or 
two  more,  that  in  the  mouth  of 
two  or  three  witnesses  every  word 
may  be  established.    Ver.  17.  And 
if  he  shall  neglect  to  hear  them, 
tell  it  unto  the  church  :  but  if  he 
neglect  to   hear   the   church,  let 
him    be   unto   thee  as  a  heathen 
man,  and  a  publican.   1  Tim.  i.  19. 
Holding   faith    and    a  good   con- 
science;  which  some  having  put 
away,  concerning  faith  have  made 
shipwreck:  Ver.  20.   Of  whom  is 
Hymeneus  and  Alexander;  whom 
I  have  delivered  unto  Satan,  that 
they  may  learn  not  to  blaspheme. 
Rev.  ii.  2.   I  know  thy  works,  and 
thy  labour,  and  thy  patience,  and 
how  thou    canst    not  bear  them 


Chap.  XXI. 


Tlie  Confession  of  Faith. 


12; 


CHAPTER  XXI.  Of  Religious  Worship,  and  the  Sabbath-day. 

The  light  of  nature  showeth  that  there  is  a  God,  who 
hath    lordship    and   sovereignty   over   all;    is    good,    and 


which  are  evil :  and  thou  hast  tried 
them  which  say  they  are  apostles, 
and  are  not,  and  hast  found  them 
liars.  Ver.  14.  But  I  have  a  few 
things  against  thee,  because  thou 
hast  there  them  that  hold  the  doc- 
trine of  Balaam,  who  taught  Balac 
to  cast  a  stumbling-block  before 
the  children  of  Israel,  to  eat  things 
sacrificed  unto  idols,  and  to  com- 
mit fornication.  Ver.  15.  So  hast 
thou  also  them  that  hold  the  doc- 
trine of  the  Nicolaitanes,  which 
thing  I  hate-  V,er.  20-  Notwith- 
standing, I  have  a  few  things 
against  thee,  because  thou  sufferest 
that  woman  Jezebel,  which  calleth 
herself  a  prophetess,  to  teach  and 
to  seduce  my  servants  to  commit 
fornication,  and  to  eat  things  sa- 
crificed unto  idols.  Rev.  iii.  9.  Be- 
hold, I  will  make  them  of  the  syna- 
gogue of  Satan,"  which  say  they  are 
Jews,  and  are  not,  but  do  lie;  be- 
hold, I  will  moke  them  to  come 
and  worship  before  thy  feet,  and 
to  know  that  I  have  loved  tftee. 

r  [Deut.  xiii.  6.  to  the  12th.]  Rom. 
xiii.  3.  For  rulers  are  not  a  terror 
to  good  works,  but  to  the  evil. 
Wilt  thou  then  not  be  afraid  of  the 
power?  do  that  which  is  good,  and 
thou  shalt  have  praise  of  the  same: 
Ver.  4.  For  he  is  the  minister  of 
God  to  thee  for  good-  But  if  thou 
do  that  which  is  evil,  be  afraid  ;  for 
he  beareth  not  the  sword  in  vain : 
for  he  is  the  minister  of  God,  a  re- 
venger to  execute  wrath  udoii  him 
that  doeth  evil.  With  2  John, 
verses  10,  11.  [See  in  letter*.] 
Ezra  vii.  23.   Whatsoever  is  com- 


manded by  the  God  of  heaven,  let 
it  be  diligently  done  for  the  house 
of  the  God  of  heaven :  fur  why 
should  there  be  wrath  against  the 
realm  of  the  king  and  his  sons? 
Ver-  25-  And  thou,  Ezra,  after  the 
wisdom  of  thy  God  that  is  in  thine 
hand,  set  magistrates  and  judges, 
which  may  judge  all  the  people 
that  are  beyond  the  river,  all  such 
as  know  the  laws  of  thy  God;  and 
teach  ye  them  that  know  them  not. 
Ver.  26.  And  whosoever  will  not 
do  the  law  of  thy  God,  and  the 
law  of  the  king,  let  judgment  be 
executed  speedily  upon  him,  whe- 
ther it  be  unto  death,  or  to  banish- 
ment, or  to  confiscation  of  goods, 
or  to  imprisonment.  Ver.  27. 
Blessed  be  the  Lord  God  of  our 
fathers,  which  hath  put  such  a 
thing  as  this  in  the  king's  heart,  to 
beautify  the  house  of  the  Lord 
which  is  in  Jerusalem :  Ver.  28. 
And  hath  extended  mercy  unto  me 
before  the  king  and  his  counsellors, 
and  before  all  the  king's  mighty 
princes;  and  I  was  strengthened, 
as  the  hand  of  the  Lord  my  God 
was  upon  me,  and  I  gathered  to- 
gether out  of  Israel  chief  men  to 
go  up  with  me.  Rev.  xvii.  12.  And 
the  ten  horns  which  thou  sawest 
are  ten  kings,  which  have  received 
no  kingdom  as  yet;  but  receive 
power  as  kings  one  hour  with 
the  beast.  Ver.  16.  And  the  ten 
horns  which  thou  sawest  upon  the 
beast,  these  shall  hate  the  whore, 
and  shall  make  her  desolate  and 
naked,  and  shall  eat  her  flesh,  and 
burn  her  with  fire.     Ver.  17.  For 


124 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


Chap.  XXL 


doeth  good  unto  all ;  and  is  therefore  to  be  feared,  loved, 
praised,  called  upon,  trusted  in,  and  served,  with  all  the  heart, 


God  hath  put  in  their  hearts  to 
fulfil  his  will,  and  to  agree,  and  to 
give  their  kingdom  unto  the  beast, 
until  the  words  of  God  shall  be  ful- 
filled. Neh.  xiii.  15.  In  those  days 
saw  I  in  Judah  some  treading 
wine-presses  on  the  sabbath,  and 
bringing  in  sheaves,  and  lading 
asses;  as  also  wine,  grapes,  and 
figs,  and  all  manner  of  burdens, 
which  they  brought  into  Jerusa- 
lem on  the  sabbath  day:  and  I 
testified  against  them  in  the  day 
wherein  they  sold  victuals.  Ver.  17. 
Then  I  contended  with  the  nobles 
of  Judah,  and  said  unto  them, 
What  evil  thing  is  this  that  ye  do, 
and  profane  the  sabbath-day  1  Ver. 
21.  Then  I  testified  against  them, 
and  said  unto  them,  Why  lodge  ye 
about  the  wall !  If  ye  do  so  again, 
I  will  lay  hands  on  you.  From 
that  time  forth  came  they  no  more 
on  the  sabbath.  Ver.  22.  And  I 
commanded  the  Levites,  that  they 
should  cleanse  themselves,  and 
that  they  should  come  and  keep 
the  gates,  to  sanctify  the  sabbath- 
day.  Remember  me,  O  my  God, 
concerning  this  also,  and  spare  me 
according  to  the  greatness  of  thy 
mercy.  Ver.  25.  And  I  contended 
with  them,  and  cursed  them,  and 
smote  certain  of  them,  and  plucked 
off  their  hair,  and  made  them 
swear  by  God,  saying,  Ye  shall 
not  give  your  daughters  unto  their 
sons,  nor  take  their  daughters  unto 
your  sons,  or  for  yourselves.  Ver. 
30.  Thus  cleansed  I  them  from  all 
strangers,  and  appointed  the  wards 
of  the  priests  and  the  Levites, 
every  one  in  his  business.  2  Kings 
xxiii.  5.  And  he  put  down  the 
idolatrous  priests,  whom  the  kings 


of  Judah  had  ordained  to  burn  in- 
cense in  the  high  places  in  the 
cities  of  Judah,  and  in  the  places 
round  about  Jerusalem;  them  also 
that  burnt  incense  unto  Baal,  to 
the  sun,  and  to  the  moon,  and  to 
the  planets,  and  to  all  the  host  of 
heaven.  Ver.  6.  And  he  brought 
out  the  grove  from  the  house  of 
the  Lord,  without  Jerusalem,  unto 
the  brook  Kidron,  and  burnt  it  at 
the  brook  Kidron,  and  stamped  it 
small  to  powder,  and  cast  the  pow- 
der thereof  upon  the  graves  of  the 
children  of  the  people.  Ver.  9. 
Nevertheless,  the  priests  of  the 
high  places  came  not  up  to  the 
altar  of  the  Lord  in  Jerusalem, 
but  they  did  eat  of  the  unleavened 
bread  among  their  brethren.  Ver. 
20.  And  he  slew  all  the  priests  of 
the  high  places  that  were  there 
upon  the  altars,  and  burnt  men's 
bones  upon  them,  and  returned  to 
Jerusalem.  Ver.  21.  And  the  king 
commanded  all  the  people,  saying, 
Keep  the  passover  unto  the  Lord 
your  God,  as  it  is  written  in  the 
book  of  this  covenant.  2  Chron. 
xxxiv.  S3.  And  Josiah  took  away 
all  the  abominations  out  of  all  the 
countries  that  pertained  to  the  chil- 
dren of  Israel,  and  made  all  that 
were  present  in  Israel  to  serve, 
even  to  serve  the  Lord  their  God. 
And  all  his  days  they  departed  not 
from  following  the  Lord,  the  God 
of  their  fathers.  2  Chron.  xv.  12. 
And  they  entered  into  a  covenant 
to  seek  the  Lord  God  of  their 
fathers  with  all  their  heart,  and 
with  all  their  soul ;  Ver.  13.  That 
whosoever  would  not  seek  the 
Lord  God  of  Israel  should  be  put 
to  death,  whether  small  or  great, 


Chap.  XXI.  The  Confession  of  Faith.  125 

and  with  all  the  soul,  and  with  all  the  might. a  ^  But  the  ac- 
ceptable way  of  worshipping  the  true  God  is  instituted  by 
himself,  and  so  limited  by  his  own  revealed  will,  that  he  may 
not  be  worshipped  according  to  the  imaginations  and  devices 


whether  man  or  woman.  '  Ver.  16. 
And  also  concerning  Maachah,  the 
mother  of  Asa  the  king",  he  re- 
moved her  from  being  queen,  be- 
cause she  had  made  an  idol  in  a 
grove:  and  Asa  cut  down  her  idol, 
and  stamped  it,  and  burnt  it  at  the 
brook  Kidron.  Dan.  iii.  29.  There- 
fore I  make  a  decree,  That  every 
people,  nation,  and  language, 
which  speak  any  thing  amiss 
against  the  God  of  Shadrach,  Me- 
shach,  and  Abed-nego,  shall  be  cut 
in  pieces,  and  their  houses  shall  be 
made  a  dunghill ;  because  there  is 
no  other  god  that  can  deliver  after 
this  sort.  1  Tim.  ii.  2.  For  kings, 
and  for  all  that  are  in  authority ; 
that  we  may  lead  a  quiet  and 
peaceable  life  in  all  godliness  and 
honesty.  Isa.  xlix.  23.  And  kings 
shall  be  thy  nursing-fathers,  and 
their  queens  thy  nursing-mothers; 
they  shall  bow  down  to  thee  with 
their  face  toward  the  earth,  and  lick 
up  the  dust  of  thy  feet,  and  thou 
shalt  know  that  I  am  the  Lord: 
for  they  shall  not  be  ashamed  that 
wait  for  me.  Zech.  xiii.  2.  And  it 
shall  come  to  pass  in  that  day, 
saith  the  Lord  of  hosts,  that  I  will 
cut  off  the  names  of  the  idols  out 
of  the  land,  and  they  shall  no  more 
be  remembered:  and  also  I  will 
cause  the  prophets  and  the  unclean 
spirit  to  pass  out  of  the  land.  Ver. 
3.  And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  that 
when  any  shall  yet  prophesy,  then 
his  father  and  his  mother  that  be- 
gat him  shall  say  unto  him,  Thou 
shalt  not  live;  for  thou  speakest 
lies  in  the  name  of  the  Lord: 
11* 


and  his  father  and  his  mother  that 
begat  him  shall  thrust  him  through 
when  he  prophesieth. 

I.  a  Rom.  i.  20.  For  the  invisible 
things  of  him  from  the  creation  of 
the  world  are  clearly  seen,  being 
understood  by  the  things  that  are 
made,  even  his  eternal  power  and 
Godhead;  so  that  they  are  without 
excuse.  Acts  xvii-  24.  God,  that 
made  the  world,  and  all  tilings 
therein,  seeing  that  he  is  Lord  of 
heaven  and  earth,  dwelleth  not  in 
temples  made  with  hands.  Psal. 
cxix.  68.  Thou  art  good,  and  docst 
good :  teach  me  thy  statutes.  Jer. 
x.  7.  Who  would  not  fear  thee,  O 
King  of  nations'?  for  to  thee  doth 
it  appertain  :  forasmuch  as  among 
all  the  wise  men  of  the  nations, 
and  in  all  their  kingdoms,  there 
is  none  like  unto  thee.  Psal. 
xxxi.  23.  O  love  the  Lord,  all  ye 
his  saints:  for  the  Lord  preserveth 
the  faithful,  and  plentifully  re- 
ward eth  the  proud  doer.  Psal. 
xviii.  3.  1  will  call  upon  the  Lord, 
who  is  worthy  to  be  praised;  so 
shall  I  be  saved  from  mine  ene- 
mies. Rom.  x.  12.  For  there  is  no 
difference  betwixt  the  Jew  and  the 
Greek:  for  the  same  Lord  over 
all  is  rich  unto  all  that  call  upon 
him.  Psal.  Ixii.  8.  Trust  in  him 
at  all  times;  ye  people,  pour  out 
your  heart  before  him:  God  is 
a  refuge  for  us.  Josh.  xxiv.  14. 
Now  therefore  fear  the  Lord, 
and  serve  him  in  sincerity  and  in 
truth,  and  put  away  the  gods 
which  your  fathers  served  on  the 
other  side  of  the   flood,  and  in 


126 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


Chap.  XXI. 


of  men,  or  the  suggestions  of  Satan,  under  any  visible  re- 
presentation, or  any  other  way  not  prescribed  in  the  holy 
scripture.15 

II.  Religious  worship  is  to  be  given  to  God,  the  Father, 
Son,  and  Holy  Ghost;  and  to  him  alone :c  not  to  angels, 
saints,  or  any  other  creature  :d  and,  since  the  fall,  not  with- 


Egypt:  and  serve  ye  tlie  Lord. 
Mark  xii.  S3.  And  to  love  him 
with  all  the  heart,  and  with 
all  the  understanding-,  and  with 
all  the  "soul,  and  with  all  the 
strength,  and  to  love  his  neigh- 
bour  as  himself,  is  more  than  all 
whole  burnt-offerings  and  sacri- 
fices. 

b  Deut.  xii.  32.  What  things  so- 
ever I  command  you,  observe  to 
do  it :  thou  shalt  not  add  thereto, 
nor  diminish  from  it.  Mat.  xv.  9. 
But  in  vain  they  do  worship  me, 
teaching  for  doctrines  the  com- 
mandments of  men.  Acts  xvii.  25. 
Neither  is  worshipped  with  men's 
hands,  as  though  he  needed  any 
thing,  seeing  he  giveth  to  all  life, 
and  breath,  and  all  things/  Mat. 
iv.  9.  And  saith  unto  him,  All 
these  things  will  I  give  thee,  if 
thou  wilt  fall  down  and  worship 
me.  Ver.  10.  Then  saith  Jesus 
unto  him,  Get  thee  hence,  Satan: 
for  it  is  written,  Thou  shalt  wor- 
ship the  Lord  thy  God,  and  him 
only  shalt  thou  serve.  [Deut.  xv. 
to  the  20lh  Verse.]  Exod.  xx.  4. 
Thou  shalt  not  make  unto  thee 
any  graven  image,  or  any  likeness 
of  any  thing  that  is  in  heaven 
above,  or  that  is  in  the  earth  be- 
neath, or  that  is  in  the  water 
under  the  earth.  Ver.  5.  Thou 
shalt  not  bow  down  thyself  to 
them,  nor  serve  them:  for  I  the 
Lord  thy  God  am  a  jealous  God, 
visiting  "the  iniquity  of  the  fathers 
upon  the  children  unto  the  third 


and  fourth  generation  of  them  that 
hate  me:  Ver  6.  And  showing 
mercy  unto  thousands  of  them 
that  love  me,  and  keep  my  com- 
mandments. Col.  ii.  23.  Which 
things  have  indeed  a  show  of  wis- 
dom in  will-worship  and  humility, 
and  neglecting  of  the  body,  not  in 
any  honour  to  the  satisfying  of  the 
flesh. 

II. c  Mat.  iv.  10.  [See  before  in 
letter*.]  With  John  v.  23.  That 
all  men  should  honour  the  Son, 
even  as  they  honour  the  Father. 
He  that  honoureth  not  the  Son, 
honoureth  not  the  Father  which 
hath  sent  him-  And  2  Cor.  xiii. 
14.  The  grace  of  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  and  the  love  of  God,  and 
the  communion  of  the  Holy  Ghost, 
be  with  you  all.     Amen. 

d  Col.  ii.  11.  Let  no  man  be- 
guile you  of  your  reward,  in  a 
voluntary  humility,  and  worship- 
ping of  angels,  intruding  into 
those  things  which  lie  hath  not 
seen,  vainly  puffed  up  by  his 
fleshly  mind.  Rev.  xix.  10.  And 
I  fell  at  his  feet  to  worship  him : 
and  he  said  unto  me,  See  thou  do 
it  not;  I  am  thy  fellow-servant, 
and  of  thy  brethren  that  have  the 
testimony  of  Jesus;  worship  God: 
for  the  testimony  of  Jesus  is  the 
spirit  of  prophecy.  Rom.  i.  25. 
Who  changed  the  truth  of  God 
into  a  lie,  and  worshipped  and 
served  the  creature  more  than 
the  Creator,  who  is  blessed  for 
ever.     Amen. 


Chap.  XXI. 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


127 


out  a  Mediator ;  nor  in  the  mediation  of  any  other  but  of 
Christ  alone. e 

III.  Prayer,  with  thanksgiving,  being  one  special  part  of 
i  religious  worship/  is  by  God  required  of  all  men;5  and, 
that  it  may  be  accepted,  it  is  to  be  made  in  the  name  of  the 
Son,h  by  the  help  of  his  Spirit,1  according  to  his  will,*  with 
understanding,  reverence,  humility,  fervency,  faith,  love, 
and  perseverance;1  and,  if  vocal,  in  a  known  tongue.m 


e  John  xiv.  6.  Jesus  saith  unto 
him,  I  am  the  way,  and  the  truth, 
and  the  life:  no  man  cometh  unto 
the  Father  but  by  me.  1  Tim-  ii.  5. 
For  there  is  one  God,  and  one 
Mediator  between  God  and  men, 
the  man  Christ  Jesus.  Eph.  ii.  I*. 
For  through  him  we  both  have 
access  by  one  Spirit  unto  the  Fa- 
ther. Col.  iii.  17.  And  whatsoever 
ye  do  in  word  or  deed,  do  all  in 
the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  giving 
thanks  to  God  and  the  Father  by 
him. 

HI.  f  Phil.  iv.  6.  Be  careful  for 
nothing:  but  in  every  thing  by 
prayer  and  supplication  with 
thanksgiving,  let  your  requests  be 
made  known  unto  God. 

s  Psal.  lxv.  2.  O  thou  that  near- 
est prayer,  unto  thee  shall  all  flesh 
come. 

h  John  xiv.  13.  And  whatsoever 
ye  shall  ask  in  my  name,  that  will 
I  do,  that  the  Father  mav  be  glori- 
fied in  the  Son.  Ver.  14.  If  ye  shall 
ask  any  thing  in  my  name,  I  will 
do  it.  1  Pet.  ii.  5.  Ye  also,  as  live- 
ly stones  are  built  up  a  spiritual 
house,  a  holy  priesthood,  to  offer 
up  spiritual  sacrifices,  acceptable 
to  God  by  Jesus  Christ. 

'  Rom.  viii.  26.  Likewise  the 
Spirit  also  helpeth  our  infirmities: 
for  we  know  not  what  we  should 
pray  for  as  we  ought:  but  the  Spi- 
rit itself  maketh  intercession  for 


us  with  groanings   which   cannot 
be  uttered. 

k  1  John  v.  14.  And  this  is  the 
confidence  that  we  have  in  him, 
that  if  we  ask  any  thing  accord- 
ing to  his  will,  he  heareth  us. 

1  Psal.  xlvii.  7.  For  God  is  the 
king  of  all  the  earth:  sing  ye 
praises  with  understanding.  Eccl. 
v.  1.  Keep  thy  foot  when  thou 
goest  to  the  house  of  God,  and  be 
more  ready  to  hear,  than  to  give 
the  sacrifice  of  fools:  for  they  con- 
sider not  that  they  do  evil.  Ver.  2. 
B2  not  rash  with  thy  mouth,  and 
let  not  thine  heart  be  hasty  to  utter 
any  thing  before  God :  for  God  is 
in  heaven,  and  thou  upon  earth: 
therefore  let  thy  words  be  few. 
Heb.  xii.  23.  Wherefore,  we  receiv- 
ing a  kingdom  which  cannot  be 
moved,  let  us  have  grace,  whereby 
we  may  serve  God  acceptably, 
with  reverence  and  godly  fear. 
Gen.  xviii.  27.  And  Abraham  an- 
swered and  said,  Behold  now,  I 
have  taken  upon  me  to  speak  unto 
the  Lord,  which  am  but  dust  and 
ashes.  James  v.  16.  Confess  your 
faults  one  to  another,  and  pray  one 
for  another,  that  ye  may  be  heal- 
ed :  the  effectual  fervent  prayer  of 
a  righteous  man  availeth  much. 
James  i.  6.  But  let  him  ask  in  faith, 
nothing  wavering:  for  he  that 
wavereth  is  like  a  wave  of  the  sea, 
driven  with  the  wind  and  tossed. 


128 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


Chap.  XXI. 


IV.  Prayer  is  to  be  made  for  things  lawful,"  and  for  all 
sorts  of  men  living,  or  that  shall  live  hereafter;0  but  not  for 
the  dead,?  nor  for  those  of  whom  it  may  be  known  that  they 
have  sinned  the  sin  unto  deaths 


Ver.  7.  For  let  not  that  man  think 
that  he  shall  receive  any  thing  of 
the  Lord.  .  Mark  xi.  24.  There- 
fore I  say  unto  you,  What  things 
soever  ye  desire  when  ye  pray, 
believe  that  ye  receive  them,  and 
ye  shall  have  them.  Mat.  vi.  12. 
And  forgive  us  our  debts,  as  we 
forgive  our  debtors.  Ver.  14.  For 
if  ye  forgive  men  their  trespasses, 
your  heavenly  Father  will  also  for- 
give you.  Ver.  15.  But  if  ye  for- 
give not  men  their  trespasses,  nei- 
ther will  your  Father  forgive  your 
trespasses.  Col.  iv.  2.  Continue 
in  prayer,  and  watch  in  the  same 
with  thanksgiving.  Eph.  vi.  18. 
Praying  always  with  all  prayer  and 
supplication  in  the  Spirit,  and 
watching  thereunto  with  all  per- 
severance and  supplication  for  all 
saints. 

m  1  Cor.  xiv.  14.  For  if  I  pray  in 
an  unknown  tongue,  my  spirit 
prayeth,  but  my  understanding  is 
unfruitful. 

IV.  n  [1  John.  v.  14.  See  letter  K] 
0  1  Tim.  ii.  1. 1  exhort  therefore, 
that,  first  of  all,  supplications, 
prayers,  intercessions,  and  giving 
of  thanks,  be  made  for  all  men: 
Ver.  2.  For  kings,  and  for  all  that 
are  in  authority ;  that  we  may 
lead  a  quiet  and  peaceable  life  in 
all  godliness  and  honesty.  John 
xvii.  20.  Neither  pray  I  for  these 
alone,  but  for  them  also  which  shall 
believe  on  me  through  their  word. 
2  Sam.  vii.  29.  Therefore  now  let 
it  please  thee  to  bless  the  house  of 
thy  servant,  that  it  may  continue 
for  ever  before  thee :  for  thou,  O 


Lord  God,  hast  spoken  it;  and 
with  thy  blessing  let  the  house  of 
thy  servant  be  blessed  for  ever. 
Ruth  iv.  12.  And  let  thy  house  be 
like  the  house  of  Pharez,  (whom 
Tamar  bare  unto  Judah)  of  the 
seed  which  the  Lord  shall  give 
thee  of  this  young  woman. 

p  2  Sam.  xii.  21.  Then  said  his 
servant  unto  him,  What  thing  is 
this  that  thou  hastdonc?  Thou  didst 
fast  and  weep  for  the  child  while  it 
was  alive;  but  when  the  child  was 
dead,  thou  didst  rise  and  eat  bread. 
Ver.  22.  And  he  said,  While  the 
child  was  yet  alive,  I  fasted  and 
wept:  for  I  said,  Who  can  tell 
whether  God  will  be  gracious  to 
me,  that  the  child  may  live?  Ver. 
23.  But  now  he  is  dead,  wherefore 
should  I  fast?  can  I  bring  him  back 
again?  I  shall  go  to  him,  but  he 
shall  not  return  to  me.  With  Luke 
xvi.  25.  But  Abraham  said,  Son,  re- 
member that  thou  in  thy  lifetime 
receivedst  thy  good  things,  and 
likewise  Lazarus  evil  things:  but 
now  he  is  comforted,  and  thou  art 
tormented.  Ver.  26.  And  besides  all 
this,  between  us  and  you  there  is  a 
great  gulf  fixed :  so  that  they  which 
would  pass  from  hence  to  you  can- 
not: neither  can  they  pass  to  us 
that  would  come  from  thence. 
Rev.  xiv.  13.  And  I  heard  a  voice 
from  heaven,  saying  unto  rne, 
Write ;  Blessed  are  the  dead  which 
die  in  the  Lord  from  henceforth  : 
Yea,  saith  the  Spirit,  that  they  may 
rest  from  their  labours;  and  their 
works  do  follow  them. 

1 1  John  v.  16.  If  any  man  see 


Chap.  XXI. 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


129 


V.  The  reading  of  the  scriptures  with  godly  fear;r  the 
sound  preaching,5  and  conscionable  hearing  of  the  word,  in 
obedience  unto  God,  with  understanding,  faith,  and  re- 
verence : t  singing  of  psalms  with  grace  in  the  heart ; v  as 
also  the  due  administration  and  worthy  receiving  of  the 
sacraments  instituted  by  Christ ;  are  all  parts  of  the  ordi- 
nary religious  worship  of  God:w  besides  religious  oaths  * 


his  brother  sin  a  sin  which  is  not 
unto  death,  lie  shall  ask,  and  he 
shall  give  him  life  for  them  that 
sin  not  unto  death.  There  is  a 
sin  unto  death  :  I  do  not  say  that 
he  shall  pray  for  it. 

V.  '  Acts  xv.  21.  For  Closes  of 
old  time  hath  in  every  city  them 
that  preach  him,  being-  read  in  the 
synagogues  every  sabbath-day. 
Rev.  i.  3.  Blessed  is  he  that  read- 
eth,  and  they  that  hear  the  words 
of  this  prophecy,  and  keep  those 
things  which  are  written  therein: 
for  the  time  is  at  hand. 

s  2  Tim.  iv.  2.  Preach  the  word, 
be  instant  in  season,  out  of  season; 
reprove,  rebuke,  exhort,  with  all 
long-suffering  and  doctrine. 

1  James  i.  22.  But  be  ye  doers  of 
the  word,  and  not  hearers  only,  de- 
ceiving your  own  selves.  Acts  x. 
33.  Immediately  therefore  I  sent  to 
thee;  and  thou  hast  well  done  that 
thou  art  come.  Now  therefore  are 
we  all  here  present  before  God,  to 
hear  all  things  that  are  commanded 
thee  of  God.  Mat.  xiii.  19.  When 
any  one  heareth  the  word  of  the 
kingdom,  and  understandeth  it  not, 
then  cometh  the  wicked  one,  and 
catcheth  away  that  which  was 
sown  in  his  heart:  this  is  he  which 
received  seed  by  the  way-side. 
Heb.  iv,  2.  For  unto  us  was  the 
gospel  preached,  as  well  as  unto 
them:  but  the  word  preached  did 
not  profit  them,  not  being  mixed 
with  faith  in  them  that  heard  it. 


Isa.  Ixvi.  2.  For  all  those  things 
hath  mine  hand  made,  and  all 
those  things  have  been,  saith  the 
Lord:  but  to  this  man  will  I  look, 
even  to  him  that  is  poor,  and  of  a 
contrite  spirit,  and  trembleth  at 
my  word. 

"'  Col.  iii.  16.  Let  the  word  of 
Christ  dwell  in  you  richly  in  all 
wisdom ;  teaching  and  admonish- 
ing one  another  in  psalms,  and 
hymns,  and  spiritual  songs,  singing 
with  grace  in  your  hearts  to  the 
Lord.  Eph.  v.  19.  Speaking  to 
yourselves  in  psalms,  and  hymns, 
and  spiritual  songs,  singing  and 
making  melody  in  your  hearts  to 
the  Lord.  James  v.  13.  Is  any 
among  you  afflicted  ?  let  him  pray. 
Is  any  merry]  let  him  sing  psalms. 

w  Mat.  xxviii.  19.  Go  ye  there- 
fore and  teach  all  nations,  bap- 
tizing them  in  the  name  of  the  Fa- 
ther, and  of  the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy 
Ghost.  [1  Cor.  xi.  23.  to  Verse 
29.]  Acts  ii.  42.  And  they  con- 
tinued steadfastly  in  the  apostles' 
doctrine  and  fellowship,  and  in 
breaking  of  bread,  and  in  prayers. 

x  Deut.  vi.  13.  Thou  shalt  fear 
the  Lord  thy  God,  and  serve  him, 
and  shalt  swear  by  his  name. 
With  Neh.  x.  29.  they  clave  to 
their  brethren,  their  nobles,  and 
entered  into  a  curse,  and  into  an 
oath,  to  walk  in  God's  law,  which 
was  given  by  Moses  the  servant  of 
God,  and  to  observe  and  do  all 
the  commandments  of  the  Lord 


130 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


Chap.  XXI. 


and  vows,y  solemn  fastings,2  and  thanksgivings  upon  special 
occasions,1  which  are,  in  their  several  times  and  seasons,  to 
be  used  in  a  holy  and  religious  manner .b 

VI.  Neither  prayer,  nor  any  other  part  of  religious  wor- 
ship, is,  now  under  the  gospel,  either  tied  unto,  or  made 
more  acceptable  by,  any  place  in  which  it  is  performed, 
or  towards  which  it  is  directed:0  but  God  is  to  be  wor- 
shipped every  where  d  in  spirit  and  in  truth ; e  as  in  private 


our   God,  and  his  judgments  and 
his  statutes. 

y  Isa.  xix.  21.  And  the  Lord  shall 
be  known  to  Egypt,  and  the  Egyp- 
tians shall  know  the  Lord  in  that 
cloy,  and  shall  do  sacrifice  and  ob- 
lation ;  yea,  they  shall  vow  a  vow 
unto  the  Lord,  and  perform  it. 
With  Eccl.  v.  4.  When  thou  vow- 
est  a  vow  unto  God,  defer  not  to 
pay  it,  for  he  hath  no  pleasure  in 
fools;  pay  that  which  thou  hast 
vowed,  Ver.  5.  Better  is  it  that 
thou  shouldest  not  vow,  than  that 
thou  shouldest  vow  and  not  pay. 

z  Joel  ii.  12.  Therefore  also  now, 
saith  the  Lord,  Turn  ye  even  to  me 
with  all  your  heart,  and  with  fast- 
ing", and  with  weeping,  and  with 
mourning.  Esth.  iv.  16.  Go,  gather 
together  all  the  Jews  that  are  pre- 
sent in  Shushan,  and  fast  ye  for 
me,  and  neither  eat  nor  drink  three 
days,  night  or  day;  I  also  and  my 
maidens  will  fast  likewise,  and  so 
will  I  go  in  unto  the  king,  which 
is  not  according  to  the  law ;  and  if 
I  perish,  I  perish.  Mat.  ix.  15. 
And  Jesus  said  unto  them,  Can 
the  children  of  the  bride-chamber 
mourn  as  long  as  the  bridegroom 
is  with  them?  but  the  clays  will 
come  when  the  bridegroom  shall 
be  taken  from  them,  and  then  shall 
they  fast.  1  Cor.  vii.  5.  Defraud 
ye  not  one  the  other,  except  it 
be  with  consent  for  a  time,  that 


ye  may  give  yourselves  to  fasting 
and  prayer ;  and  come  together 
again,  that  Satan  tempt  you  not 
for  your  incontinency. 

a  [Psal.  cvii.  throughout.]  Esth. 
ix.  22.  As  the  days  wherein  the 
Jews  rested  from  their  enemies, 
and  the  month  which  was  turned 
unto  them  from  sorrow  to  joy,  and 
from  mourning  into  a  good  day: 
that  they  should  make  them  clays 
of  feasting  and  joy,  and  of  sending 
portions  one  to  another,  and  gifts 
to  the  poor. 

b  Heb.  xii.  28.  Wherefore,  we  re- 
ceiving a  kingdom  which  cannot 
be  moved,  let  us  have  grace,  where- 
by we  may  serve  God  acceptably, 
with  reverence  and  godly  fear. 

VI.  c  John  iv.  21.  Jesus  saith 
unto  her,  Woman,  believe  me,  the 
hour  cometh,  when  ye  shall  nei- 
ther in  this  mountain,  nor  yet  at 
Jerusalem,  worship  the  Father. 

d  Mai.  i.  11.  For  from  the  rising 
of  the  sun,  even  unto  the  g< 
down  of  the  same,  my  name  shall 
be  great  among  the  Gentiles,  and 
in  every  place  incense  shall  he  of- 
fered unto  my  name,  and  a  pure 
offering:  for  my  name  shall  be 
great  among  the  heathen,  saith 
the  Lord  of  hosts.  1  Tim.  ii.  8.  I 
will  therefore  that  men  pray  every 
where,  lifting  up  holy  hands,  with- 
out wrath  and  doubting. 

e  John  iv.  23.    But    the   hour 


!hap.  XXI. 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


131 


families f  daily,8  and  in  secret  each  one  by  himself; h  so 
more  solemnly  in  the  public  assemblies,  which  are  not 
carelessly  or  wilfully  to  be  neglected  or  forsaken,  when 
God,  by  his  word  or  providence,  calleth  thereunto.1 


cometh,  and  now  is,  when  the  true 
worshippers  shaJl  worship  the  Fa- 
ther in  spirit  and  in  truth:  for  the 
Father  seeketh  such  to  worship 
him,  Vcr.  24.  God  is  a  Spirit; 
and  they  that  worship  him  must 
worship  him  in  spirit  and  in  truth. 
f  Jer.  x.  25.  Pour  out  thy  fury 
upon  the  heathen  that  know  thee 
not,  and  upon  the  families  that  call 
not  on  thy  name:  for  they  have 
eaten  up  Jacob,  and  devoured  him, 
and  consumed  him,  and  have  made 
his  habitation  desolate.  Deut.  vi.  6. 
And  these  words  which. I  command 
thee  this  day  shall  be  in  thine 
heart:  Ver.  7.  And  thou  shalt  teach 
them  diligently  unto  thy  children; 
and  shalt  talk  of  them  when  thou 
sittest  in  thine  house,  and  when 
thou  walkest  by  the  way,  and  when 
thou  liest  down,  and  when  thou 
risest  up.  Job  i.  5.  And  it  was  so, 
when  the  days  of  their  feasting 
were  gone  about,  that  Job  sent 
and  sanctified  them,  and  rose  up 
early  in  the  morning-,  and  offered 
burnt-offerings,  according  to  the 
number  of  them  all:  for  Job  said, 
It  may  be  that  my  sons  have  sin- 
ned, and  cursed  God  in  their  hearts. 
Thus  did  Job  continually.  2  Sam. 
vi.  18.  And  as  soon  as  David  had 
made  an  end  of  offering  burnt- 
offerings,  and  peace-offerings,  he 
blessed  the  people  in  the  name  of 
the  Lord  of  hosts.  Ver.  20.  Then 
David  returned  to  bless  his  house- 
hold. 1  Pet.  iii.  7.  Likewise,  ye 
husbands,  dwell  with  them  accord- 
ing to  knowledge,  giving  honour 
unto  the  wife  as  unto  the  weaker 


vessel,  and  as  being  heirs  together 
of  the  grace  of  life;  that  your 
prayers  be  not  hindered.  Acts 
x.  2.  A  devout  man,  and  one  that 
feared  God  with  all  his  house, 
which  gave  much  alms  to  the 
people,  and  prayed  to  God  alway. 

s  Mat,  vi.  11.  Give  us  this  day 
our  daily  bread. 

h  Mat.  vi.  6.  But  thou,  when 
thou  prayest,  enter  into  thy  closet; 
and,  when  thou  hast  shut  the  door, 
pray  to  thy  Father  which  is  in  se- 
cret; and  thy  Father  which  seeth 
in  secret  shall  reward  thee  openly. 
Eph.  vi.  13.  Praying  always  with 
all  prayer  and  supplicatipn  in  the 
Spirit,  and  watching  thereunto 
with  all  perseverance,  and  suppli- 
cation for  all  saints. 

'  Fsa-  1  vi.  G.  Also  the  sons  of  the 
stranger,  that  join  themselves  to 
the  Lord,  to  serve  him,  and  to  love 
the  name  of  the  Lord,  to  be  his  ser- 
vants, every  one  that  keepeth  the 
sabbath  from  polluting  it,  and 
taketh  hold  of  my  covenant:  Ver.  7. 
Even  them  will  I  bring  to  n^  holy 
mountain,  and  make  them  joyful 
in  my  house  of  prayer:  their  burnt- 
. offerings  and  their  sacrifices  shall 
be  accepted  upon  mine  altar;  for 
mine  house  shall  be  called  a  house 
of  prayer  for  all  people.  Heb.  x. 
25.  Not  forsaking  the  assembling 
of  ourselves  together,  as  the  man- 
ner of  some  is;  but  exhorting  one 
another:  and  so  much  the  more  as 
ye  see  the  day  approaching.  Prov. 
i.  20.  Wisdom  crieth  without,  she 
uttereth  her  voice  in  the  streets: 
Ver.  21.    She  crieth  in  the  chief 


132 


The  Confession  of  Faith, 


Chap.  XXI. 


VII.  As  it  is  of  the  law  of  nature,  that,  in  genera],  a  due 
proportion  of  time  be  set  apart  for  the  worship  of  God ;  so, 
in  his  word,  by  a  positive,  moral,  and  perpetual  command- 
ment, binding  all  men  in  all  ages,  he  hath  particularly  ap- 
pointed one  day  in  seven  for  a  sabbath,  to  be  kept  holy  unto 
him  : k  which,  from  the  beginning  of  the  world  to  the  resur- 
rection of  Christ,  was  the  last  day  of  the  week ;  and,  from 
the  resurrection  of  Christ,  was  changed  into  the  first  day  of 
the  week,1  which  in  scripture  is  called  the  Lord's  Day,"" 


place  of  concourse,  in  the  openings 
of  the  gates:  in  the  city  she  utter- 
eth  her  words,  saying,  Ver.  24.  Be- 
cause I  have  called,  and  yc  refused, 
I  have  stretched  out  my  hand,  and 
no  man  regarded.  Prov.  viii.  34. 
Blessed  is  the  man  that  heareth 
me,  watching  daily  at  my  gates, 
waiting  at  the  posts  of  my  doors. 
Acts  xiii.  42.  And  when  the  Jews 
were  gone  out  of  the  synagogue, 
the  Gentiles  besought  that  these 
words  might  be  preached  to  them 
the  next  sabbath.  Luke  iv.  16. 
And  he  came  to  Nazareth,  where 
he  had  been  brought  up:  and,  as 
his  custom  was,  he  went  into  the 
synagogue  on  the  sabbath-day, 
and  stood  up  for  to  read.  Acts  ii. 
42.  And  they  continued  steadfastly 
in  the  apostles'  doctrine  and  fel- 
lowship, and  in  breaking  of  bread, 
and  in  prayers. 

VII.  k  Exod.  xx.  8.  Remember 
the  sabbath-day,  to  keep  it  holy. 
Ver.  10.  But  the  seventh  day  is  the 
sabbath  of  the  Lord  thy  God:  in 
it  thou  shalt  not  do  any  work,  thou, 
nor  thy  son,  nor  thy  daughter,  thy 
man-servant,  nor  thy  maid-ser- 
vant, nor  thy  cattle,  nor  thy  stran- 
ger that  is  within  thy  gates.  Ver. 
11.  For  in  six  days  the  Lord  made 
heaven  and  earth,  the  sea,  and  all 
that  in  them  is,  and  rested  the 
seventh  day:  wherefore  the  Lord 
blessed  the  sabbath-day,  and  hal- 


lowed it.     Isa.  lvi.  2.    Blessed  is 
the  man  that  doeth  this,  and  the 
son  of  man  that  layeth  hold  on  it : 
that  keepeth  the  sabbath  from  pol- 
luting  it,  and   keepeth   his   hand 
from  doing  any  evil.     Ver.  4.  For 
thus    saith    the    Lord    unto    the 
eunuchs   that  keep   my  sabbaths, 
and  choose  the  things  that  please 
me,  and    take   hold  of  my  cove- 
nant.    Ver.  6,  7.    [See  in  letter  \] 
1  Gen.  ii.  2.  And  on  the  seventh 
day  God  ended  his  work  which  he 
had  made:  and  he  rested  on  the  se- 
venth day  from  all  his  work  which 
he  had  made.     Ver.  3.    And  God 
blessed  the  seventh  day,  and  sanc- 
tified it:  because  that  in  it  ho  had 
rested  from  all  his  work  which  God 
created  and  made.     1  Cor.  xvi.  1. 
Now  concerning  the  collection  for 
the  saints,  as  I  have  given  order  to 
the  churches  of  Galatia,  even  so  do 
ye.     Ver.  2.  Upon  the  first  day  of 
the  week  let  every  one  of  you  lay 
by  him  in  store,  as  God  hath  pros- 
pered him,  that  there  be  no  ga- 
therings when  I  come.     Acts  xx. 
7.  And  upon  the  first  day  of  the 
week,    when    the   disciples  came 
together    to    break    bread,    Paul 
preached  unto  them,  ready  to  de- 
part on  the  morrow,  and  continued 
his  speech  until  midnight. 

ra  Rev.  i.  10.  I  was  in  the  Spirit 
on  the  Lord's  day,  and  heard  behind 
me  a  great  voice,  as  of  a  trumpet. 


Chap.  XXL 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


133 


and  is  to  be  continued  to  the  end  of  the  world,  as  the  Chris- 
tian Sabbath.n 

VIII.  This  sabbath  is  then  kept  holy  unto  the  Lord,  when 
men,  after  a  due  preparing  of  their  hearts  and  ordering  of 
their  common  affairs  before-hand,  do  not  only  observe  a 
holy  rest  all  the  day  from  their  own  works,  words,  and 
thoughts  about  their  worldly  employments  and  recreations;0 

n  Exod.  xx.  8,  10.  [See  letter  K] 
With  Mat.  v.  17.  Think  not  that 
I  am  come  to  destroy  the  law  or 
the  prophets:  I  am  not  come  to 
destroy,  but  to  fulfil.  Ver.  18.  For 
verily  I  say  unto  you,  Till  heaven 
and  earth  pass,  one  jot  or  one  tit- 
tle shall  in  no  wise  pass  from  the 
law,  till  all  be  fulfilled. 

VIII.  °  Exod.  xx.  8 .  [See  let- 
ter*.'] Exod.  xvi.  23.  And  he  said 
unto  them,  This  is  that  which 
the  Lord  hath  said,  To-morrow 
is  the  rest  of  the  holy  sabbath  un- 
to the  Lord:  bake  that  which  ye 
will  bake  to-day,  and  seethe  that 
ye  will  seethe;  and  that  which 
remaineth  over  lay  up  for  you,  to 
be  kept  until  the  morning.  Ver. 
25.  And  Moses  said,  Eat  that  to- 
day; for  to-day  is  a  sabbath  unto 
the  Lord:  to-day  ye  shall  not  find 
it  in  the  field.  Ver.  26.  Six  days 
ye  shall  gather  it ;  but  on  ihe 
seventh  day,  which  is  the  sabbath, 
in  it  there  shall  be  none.  Ver.  29. 
See,  for  that  the  Lord  hath  given 
you  the  sabbath,  therefore  he  giv- 
eth  you  on  the  sixth  day  the  bread 
of  two  days:  abide  ye  every  man 
in  his  place,  let  no  man  go  out 
of  his  place  on  the  seventh  day. 
Ver.  30.  So  the  people  rested  on 
the  seventh  day.  Exod.  xxxi.  15. 
Six  days  may  work  be  done,  but 
in  the  seventh  is  the  sabbath  of 
rest,  holy  to  the  Lcrd:  whoso- 
ever doeth  any  work  in  the  sab- 
bath-day, he  shall  surely  be  put 
to  death.  Ver.  16.  Wherefore  the 
12 


children  of  Israel  shall  keep  the 
sabbath,  to  observe  the  sabbath 
throughout  their  generations,  for 
a  perpetual  covenant.  Ver.  17.  It 
is  a  sign  between  me  and  the  chil- 
dren of  Israel  for  ever:  for  in  six 
days  the  Lord  made  heaven  and 
earth,  and  on  the  seventh  day  he 
rested,  and  was  refreshed.  Isa. 
Iviii.  13.  If  thou  turn  away  thy 
foot  from  the  sabbath,  from  do- 
ing thy  pleasure  on  my  holy  day, 
and  call  the  sabbath  a  delight,  the 
holy  of  the  Lord,  honourable, 
and  shalt  honour  him,  not  doing 
thine  own  ways,  nor  finding  thine 
own  pleasure,  nor  speaking  thine 
own  words.  Neh.  xiii.  15.  In 
those  days  saw  I  in  Judah  some 
treading  wine-presses  on  the  sab- 
bath, and  bringing  in  sheaves,  and 
lading  asses:  as  also  wine,  grapes, 
and  figs,  and  all  manner  of  bur- 
dens which  they  brought  into  Je- 
rusalem on  the  sabbath-day :  and 
I  testified  against  them  in  the  day 
wherein  they  sold  victuals.  Ver. 
16.  There  dwelt  men  of  Tyre  also 
therein,  which  brought  fish,  and 
all  manner  of  ware,  and  sold  on 
the  sabbath  unto  the  children  of 
Judah,  and  in  Jerusalem.  Ver.  17. 
Then  I  contended  with  the  nobles 
of  Judah,  and  said  unto  them, 
What  evil  thing  is  this  that  ye 
do,  and  profane  the  sabbath-day? 
Ver.  18.  Did  not  your  fathers  thus, 
and  did  not  our  God  bring  all 
this  evil  upon  us,  and  upon  this 
city?   yet  ye  bring   more  wrath 


134 


Tht  Confession  of  Faith. 


Chap.  XXII. 


but  also  are  taken  up  the  whole  time  in  the  public  and  pri- 
vate exercises  of  his  worship,  and  in  the  duties  of  necessity 
and  mercy.p 


CHAPTER  XXII.     Of  lawful  Oaths  and  Vows. 

A  lawful  oath  is  a  part  of  religious  worship,3  wherein, 
upon  just  occasion,  the  person  swearing  solemnly  calleth 
God  to  witness  what  he  asserteth  or  promiseth ;  and  to 
judge  him  according  to  the  truth  or  falsehood  of  what  he 
sweareth.b 

II.  The  name  of  God  only  is  that  by  which  men  ought 
to  swear,  and  therein  it  is  to  he  used  with  all  holy  fear  and 
reverence  :c  therefore  to  swear  vainly  or  rashly  by  that 
glorious  and  dreadful  name,  or  to  swear  at  all  by  any  other 


upon  Israel,  by  profaning  the 
sabbath.  Ver.  19.  And  it  came  to 
pass,  that,  when  the  gates  of  Je- 
rusalem began  to  be  dark  before 
the  sabbath,  I  commanded  that 
the  gates  should  be  shut,  and 
charged  that  they  should  not  be 
opened  till  aficr  the  sabbath:  and 
some  of  my  servants  set  I  at  the 
gates,  that  there  should  no  bur- 
den be  brought  in  on  the  sabbath- 
day.  Ver.  21.  Then  I  testified 
against  them,  and  said  unto  them, 
Why  lodge  ye  about  the  wall  ?  If 
ye  do  so  again,  I  will  lay  hands  on 
you.  From  that  time  forth  came 
they  no  more  on  the  sabbath. 
Ver.  22.  And  I  commanded  the 
Levites,  that  they  should  cleanse 
themselves,  and  that  they  should 
come  and  keep  the  gates,  to  sancti- 
fy the  Sabbath  day.  Remember 
m?,  O  my  God,  concerning  tins 
also,  and  spare  me  according  to  the 
greatness  of  thy  mercy. 

p  Isa.  lviii.  13.  [See  in  letter0. 
Mat.  xii.  1.  to  the  VSth  Verse.] 

I.  a  Deut.  x.  20.  Thou  shalt  fear 
the  Lord  thy  God  ;  him  shalt  thou 


serve,  and  to  him  shalt  thou  cleave, 
and  swear  by  his  name. 

b  Exod.  xx.  7.  Thou  shalt  not 
take  the  name  of  the  Lord  thy 
God  in  vain :  for  the  Lord  will  not 
hold  him  guiltless  that  taketh  his 
name  in  vain.  Lev.  xix.  12.  And 
ye  shall  not  swear  by  my  name 
falsely,  neither  shalt  thou  profane 
the  name  of  thy  God :  I  am  the 
Lord.  2  Cor.  i."  23.  Moreover,  I 
call  God  for  a  record  upon  my 
soul,  that  to  spare  you  I  came  not 
as  yet  unto  Corinth.  2  Chron.  vi. 
22.  If  a  man  sin  against  bis  neigh- 
bour, and  an  oath  be  laid  upon 
him  to  make  him  swear,  and  the 
oath  come  before  thine  altar  in 
this  house:  Ver.  23.  Then  hear 
thou  from  heaven,  and  do,  and 
judge  thy  servants,  by  requiting 
the  wicked,  by  recompensing  his 
way  upon  his  own  head,  and  by 
justifying  the  righteous,  by  giving 
him  according  to  his  righteous- 
ness. 

II.  c  Deut  vi.  13.  Thou  shalt 
fear  the  Lord  thy  God,  and  serve 
him,  and  shalt  swear  by  his  name. 


Chap.  XXII. 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


135 


thing,  is  sinful,  and  to  be  abhorred.d  Yet  as,  in  matters  of 
uht  and  moment,  an  oath  is  warranted  by  the  word  of 
God  under  the  New  Testament,  as  well  as  under  the  Old ; e 
so  a  lawful  oath  being  imposed  by  lawful  authority,  in  such 
matters  ought  to  be  taken/ 

III.  Whosoever  taketh  an  oath,  ought  duly  to  consider  the 
weightiness  of  so  solemn  an  act,  and  therein  to  avouch  no- 
thing but  what  he  is  fully  persuaded  is  the  truth.5  Neither 
may  any  man  bind  himself  by  oath  to  any  thing  but  what  is 
good  and  just,  and  what  he  believeth  so  to  be,  and  what  he 
is  able  and  resolved  to  perform. h    Yet  it  is  a  sin  to  refuse 


1  ExYkI.  xx.  7.  [See  later  b.] 
Jer.  v.  7.  I  low  shall  I  pardon  thee 
for  this'.'  thy  children  have  fa 
me,  and  sworn  by  them  that  are  no 
goils :  when  I  fed  them  to  t 
they  then  committed  adultery,  and 
assembled  themselves  by  troops  in 
the  harlots'  houses.  Mat.  v.  31. 
But  I  say  unto  you,  Swear  not 
at  all :  neither  by  heaven,  for  it  is 
God's  throne.  Ver.  37.  But  let 
your  communication  be,  Yea,  yea; 
Nay,  nay:  for  whatsoever  is  more 
than  these  cometh  of  evil.  James 
v.  12.  But  above  all  things,  my 
brethren,  swear  not;  neither  by 
heaven,  neither  by  the  earth,  nei- 
ther by  any  other  oath :  but  let  your 
yea  be  yea;  and  your  na 
lest  ye  fall  into  condemnation. 

e  Heb.  vi.  16.  For  men  verily 
swear  by  the  greater:  and  an  oath 
for  confirmation  is  to  them  an 
end  of  all  strife.  2  Cor.  i.  23.  [See 
letter*.]  Isa.  lxv.  16.  That  he 
who  blesseth  himself  in  the  earth, 
shall  bless  himself  in  the  God  of 
truth ;  and  he  that  sweareth  in  the 
earth,  shall  swear  by  the  God  of 
truth :  because  the  former  troubles 
are  forgotten,  and  because  they 
are  hid  from  mine  eyes. 

f  1  Kings  viii.  31.  If  any  man 
trespass  against  his  neighbour,  and 
an  oath  be  laid  upon  him  to  cause 


him  to  swear,  and  the  oath  c 
berore  thine  altar  in  this  house. 
Neh.  xiii.  25.  And  I  contended 
with  them,  and  cursed  them,  and 
srno.te  certain  of  them,  and  plu 
off  their  hair,  and  made  them 
swear  by  God,  saying,  Ye  shall  not 
give  your  daughters  unto  their 
sons,  nor  take  their  daughters  unto 
your  sons,  or  for  yourselves.  Ezra 
x.  5.  Then  arose  Ezra,  and  made 
the  chief  priests,  the  Levi  tea,  and 
all  Israel,  to  swear  that  they  should 
do  according  to  this  word :  and 
they  sware. 

III.  5  Exod.  xx.  7.  [See  letter  \] 
Jer.  iv.  2.  And  thou  shalt  swear, 
The  Lord  liveth,  in  truth,  in  judg- 
ment, and  in  righteousness;  and  the 
nations  shall  bless  themselves 
him,  and  in  him  shall  they  glory. 

b  Gen.  xxiv.  2.  And  Abraham 
said  unto  his  eldest  servant  of  his 
house,  that  ruled  over  all  that  he 
had,  Put,  I  pray  thee,  thy  hand 
under  my  thigh :  Ver.  3.  And  I  will 
make  thee  swear  by  the  Lord,  the 
God  of  heaven,  and  the  God  of 
the  earth,  that  thou  shalt  not  take 
a  wife  unto  my  son  of  the  daugh- 
ters of  the  Canaanites,  among 
whom  I  dwell.  Ver.  5.  And  the 
servant  said  unto  him,  Peradven- 
ture  the  woman  will  not  be  will- 
ing to  follow  me   unto  this  land; 


136 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


Chap.  XXIL 


an  oath  touching  any  thing  that  is  good  and  just,  being 
imposed  by  lawful  authority,1 

IV.  An  oath  is  to  be  taken  in  the  plain  and  common  sense 
of  the  words,  without  equivocation  or  mental  reservation.* 
It  cannot  oblige  to  sin ;  but  in  any  thing  not  sinful,  being 
taken,  it  binds  to  performance,  although  to  a  man's  own  hurt  ;l 


must  I  needs  bring' thy  son  again 
unto  the  land  from  whence  thou 
earnest?  Ver.  6.  And  Abraham  said 
unto  him,  Beware  thou,  that  thou 
bring  not  my  son  thither  again. 
Ver.  8.  And  if  the  woman  will  not 
be  willing  to  follow  thee,  then 
thou  shalt  be  clear  from  this  my 
oath :  only  bring  not  my  son  thi- 
ther again.  Ver.  9.  And  the  ser- 
vant put  his  hand  under  the  thigh 
of  Abraham  his  master,  and  sware 
to  him  concerning  that  matter. 

'  Numb.  v.  19.  And  the  priest 
shall  charge  her  by  an  oath,  and 
say  unto  the  woman,  If  no  man 
have  lain  with  thee,  and  if  thou 
hast  not  gone  aside  to  uncleanness 
with  another  instead  of  thy  hus- 
band, be  thou  free  from  this  bitter 
water  that  causeth  the  curse.  Ver. 
21.  Then  the  priest  shall  charge 
the  woman  with  an  oath  of  curs- 
ing; and  the  priest  shall  say  unto 
the  woman,  The  Lord  make  thee 
a  curse  and  an  oath  among  thy 
people,  when  the  Lord  doth  make 
thy  thigh  to  rot,  and  thy  belly  to 
swell.  Neh.  v.  12.  Then  said  they, 
We  will  restore  them,  and  will  re- 
quire nothing  of  them  ;  so  will  we 
do  as  thou  sayest.  Then  I  called 
the  priests,  and  took  an  oath  of 
them,  that  they  should  do  accord- 
ing to  this  promise.  Exod.  xxii.  7. 
If  a  man  shall  deliver  unto  his 
neighbour  money  or  stuff  to  keep, 
and  it  be  stolon  out  of  the  man's 
house;  if  the  thief  be  found,  let 
him  pay  double.  Ver.  8.  If  the 
thief  be  not  found,  then  the  master 


of  the  house  shall  be  brought  unto 
the  judges,  to  see  whether  he  have 
put  his  hand  unto  his  neighbour's 
goods-  Ver.  9.  For  all  manner  of 
trespass,  whether  it  be  for  ox,  for 
ass,  for  sheep,  for  raiment,  or  for 
any  manner  of  lost  thing,  which 
another  challengeth  to  be  his,  the 
cause  of  both  parties  shall  come 
before  the  judges:  and  whom 
the  judges  shall  condemn,  he 
shall  pay  double  unto  his  neigh- 
bour. Ver.  10.  If  a  man  deliver 
unto  his  neighbour  an  ass,  or  an 
ox,  or  a  sheep,  or  any  beast,  to 
keep;  and  it  die,  or  be  hurt,  or 
driven  away,  no  man  seeing  it: 
Ver.  11.  Then  shall  an  oath  of  the 
Lord  be  between  them  both,  that 
lie  hath  not  put  his  hand  unto  his 
neighbour's  goods;  and  the  own< 
of  it  shall  accept  thereof,  and  " 
shall  not  make  it  good. 

IV.  k  Jer.  iv.  2.  [See  letters.] 
Psal.  xxiv.  4.  He  that  hath  clean 
hands,  and  a  pure  heart:  who 
hath  not  lifted  up  his  soul  unto 
vanity,  nor  sworn  deceitfully. 

1  1  Sam.  xxv.  22.  So  and  more 
also  do  God  unto  the  enemies  of 
David,  if  I  leave  of  all  that  per- 
tain to  him  by  the  morning-light 
any  that  pisseth  against  the  wall. 
Ver.  32.  And  David  said  to  Abi- 
gail, Blessed  be  the  Lord  God  of 
Israel,  which  sent  thee  this  day  to 
meet  me:  Ver.  33.  And  blessed  be 
thy  advice,  and  blessed  be  thou, 
which  hast  kept  me  this  day  from 
coming  to  shed  blood,  and  from 
avenging  myself  with  mine  own 


Chap.  XXII. 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


nor  is  it  to  be  violated,  although  made  to  heretics  or  infi- 
dels.111 

V.  A  vow  is  of  the  like  nature  with  a  promissory  oath, 
and  ought  to  be  made  with  the  like  religious  care,  and  to 
be  performed  with  the  like  faithfulness.11 

VI.  It  is  not  to  be  made  to  any  creature,  but  to  God 
alone:0  and,  that  it  may  be  accepted,  it  is  to  be  made  vo- 


hand.  Ver.  34.  For  in  very  deed, 
as  the  Lord  God  of  Israel  liveth, 
which  hath  kept  me  back  from 
hurting  thee,  except  thou  hadst 
hasted  and  come  to  meet  me, 
surely  there  had  not  been  left 
unto'Nabal  by  the  morning-light 
any  that  pisseth  against  the  wall. 
Psal.  xv.  4.  In  whose  eyes  a  vile 
person  is  contemned ;  but  he  ho- 
noureth  them  that  fear  the  Lord: 
he  that  sweareth  to  his  own  hurt, 
and  changeth  not. 

m  Ezek.  xvii.  16.  As  I  live,  saith 
the  Lord  God,  surely  in  this  place 
where  the  king  dwelleth  that 
made  him  king,  whose  oath  he 
despised,  and  whose  covenant  he 
brake,  even  with  him,  in  the 
midst  of  Babylon  he  shall  die. — 
Ver.  1?.  Seeing  he  despised  the 
oath,  by  breaking  the  covenant, 
(when,  la,  he  had  given  his  hand,) 
and  hath  done  all  these  things,  he 
shall  not  escape.  Ver.  19.  There- 
fore thus  saith  the  Lord  God, 
As  I  live,  surely  mine  oath  that 
he  hath  despised,  and  my  cove- 
nant that  he  hath  broken,  even 
it  will  I  recompense  upon  his 
own  head.  Josh.  ix.  IS.  And  the 
children  of  Israel  smote  them  not, 
because  the  princes  of  the  con- 
gregation had  sworn  unto  them 
by  the  Lord  God  of  Israel :  and 
all  the  congregation  murmured 
against  the  princes.  Ver.  19.  But 
all  the  princes  said  unto  all  the 
congregation,  We  have  sworn  unto 
them  bv  the  Lord  God  of  Israel: 
12* 


now  therefore  we  m3y  not  touch 
them.  With  2  Sam.  xxi.  1.— 
Then  there  was  a  famine  in  the 
days  cf  David  three  years,  year 
after  year;  and  David  inquired 
of  the*  Lord:  and  the  Lord  an- 
swered, It  is  for  Saul  and 
bloody  house,  because  he  slew  the 
Gibeonites. 

V.  ;  1.  And  the  Lord 

shall  be  known  to  Egypt,  and  the 
Egyptians  shall  know  the  Lord 
in  lhatjiay,  and  shall  do  sacrifice 
and  oblation,  yea,  they  shall  vow 
a  vow  unto  the  Lord,  and  perform 
it.  Eccl.  v.  4.  When  thou  vow- 
est  a  vow  unto  God,  defer  not  to 
pay  it:  for  he  hath  no  pleasure 
in  fools;  pay  that  which  thou  hast 
vowed.  Ver.  5.  Better  is  it  that 
thou  shouldest  not  vow,  than  that 
thou  shouldest  vow  and  not  pay. 
Ver.  6.  Suffer  not  thy  mouth  to 
cause  thy  flesh  to  sin,  neither 
re  the  angel,  that 
it  was  an  error:  wherefore  should 
God  be  angry  at  thy  voice,  and 
destroy  the  work  of  thine  hands; 
Psal.  ixi.  8.  So  will  I  sing  praise 
unto  thy  name  for  ever,  that  I 
may  daily  perform  my  vows. — 
Psd.  Ixvi.  13.  I  will  go  into 
house  with  burnt-offerings :  I 
pay  thee  my  vows,  Ver.  14. — 
Which  my  lips  have  uttered,  and 
my  mouth  hath  spoken,  when  I 
was  in  trouble. 

VI.  °  Psal.  lxxvi.  11.  Vow,  and 
pay  unto  the  Lord  your  God: 
let  all  that  be    rouud   about  him. 


138  The  Confession  of  Faith.  Chap.  XXII. 

luntarily,  out  of  faith,  and  conscience  of  duty,  in  way  of 
thankfulness  for  mercy  received,  or  for  the  obtaining  of 
what  we  want;  whereby  we  more  strictly  bind  ourselves 
to  necessary  duties,  or  to  other  things,  so  far  and  so  long 
as  they  may  fitly  conduce  thereunto. p 

VII.  No  man  may  vow  to  do  any  thing  forbidden  in  the 
word  of  God,  or  what  would  hinder  any  duty  therein  com- 
manded, or  which  is  not  in  his  own  power,  and  for  the  per- 
formance whereof  he  hath  no  promise  or  ability  from  God.q 


bring  presents  unto  him  that  ought 
to  be  feared.  Jer.  xliv.  25.  Thus 
saith  the  Lord  of  hosts,  the  God  of 
Israel,  saying,  Ye' and  your  wives 
have  both  spoken  with  your 
mouths,  and  fulfilled  with  your 
hand,  saying,  We  will  surely  per- 
form our  vows  that  we  have  vow- 
ed, to  burn  incense  to  the  queen  of 
heaven,  and  to  pour  out  drink-of- 
ferings unto  her:  ye  will  surely 
accomplish  your  vows,  and  surely 
perform  your  vows.  Verse  26. 
Therefore  hear  ye  the  word  of  ihe 
Lord,  all  Judah  that  dwell  in  the 
land  of  Egypt,  Behold,  I  have 
sworn  by  my  great  name,  saith  the 
Lord,  that  my  name  shall  no  more 
be  named  in  the  mouth  of  any  man 
of  Judah  in  all  the  land  of  Egypt, 
saying,  The  Lord  God  liveth. 

p  Deut.  xxiii.  21.  When  thou 
shalt  vow  a  vow  unto  the  Lord 
thy  God,  thou  shalt  not.  slack  to 
pay  it:  for  the  Lord  thy  God  will 
surely  require  it  of  thee;  and  it 
would  be  sin  in  thee.  Ver.  22. 
But  if  thou  shalt  forbear  to  vow, 
it  shall  be  no  sin  in  thee.  Ver.  23. 
That  which  is  gone  out  of  thy  lips 
thou  shalt  keep  and  perform;  even 
a  free-will-offering,  according  as 
thou  hast  vowed  unto  the  Lord 
thy  God,  which  thou  hast  pro- 
mised with  thy  mouth.  Psal.  1.  14. 
Offer  unto  God  thanksgiving,  and 
pay  thy  vows  unto  the  most  High* 


Gen.  xxviii.  20.  And  Jacob  vowed 
a  vow,  saying,  If  God  will  be 
with  me,  and  will  keep  me  in 
this  way  that  I  go,  and  will  give 
me  bread  to  eat,  and  raiment  to 
put  on;  Ver.  21-  So  that  I  come 
again  to  my  father's  house  in 
peace:  then  shall  the  Lord  be 
my  God.  Ver.  22.  And  this  stone, 
which  I  have  set  for  a  pillar,  shall 
be  God's  house  :  and  of  all  that 
thou  shalt  give  me,  I  will  surely 
give  the  tenth  unto  thee.  1  iSam. 
i.  11.  And  she  vowed  a  vow,  and 
said,  O  Lord  of  hosts,  if  thou 
wilt  indeed  look  on  the  affliction 
of  thine  handmaid,  and  remem- 
ber me,  and  not  forget  thine 
handmaid,  but  wilt  give  unto  thine 
handmaid  a  man-child,  then" will 
1  give  him  unto  the  Lord  all  the 
days  of  his  life,  and  there  shall 
no  razor  come  upon  his  head. — 
Psal.  Ixvi.  13,  14.  [See  letter*.] 
Psal.  cxxxii.  2.  How  he  sware 
unto  the  Lord,  and  vowed  unto 
the  mighty  God  of  Jacob.  Ver. 
3.  Surely  I  will  not  come  into  the 
tabernacle  of  my  house,  nor  go 
up  into  my  bed;  Ver.  4.  I  will 
not  give  sleep  to  mine  eyes,  or 
slumber  to  mine  eyelids,  Ver.  5. 
Until  I  find  out  a  place  for  the 
Lord,  a  habitation  for  the  might? 
God  of  Jacob. 

VII.  q  Acts  xxiii.  12.  And  whet 
it  was  day,  certain  of  the  Jews 


Chap.  XXIII. 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


139 


In  which  respects,  Popish  monastical  vows  of  perpetual 
single  life,  professed  poverty,  and  regular  obedience,  are 
so  far  from  being  degrees  of  higher  perfection,  that  they 
are  superstitious  and  sinful  snares,  in  which  no  Christian 
may  entangle  himself/ 


CHAPTER  XXIII.     Of  the  *  Magistrate. 

God,  the  supreme  Lord  and  King  of  all  the  world,  hath 
ordained  civil  magistrates  to  be  under  him,  over  the  people, 


banded  together,  and  bound  them- 
selves under  a  curse,  saving-,  that 
they  would  neither  eat  nor  drink 
till  they  had  killed  Paul.  Ver.  14. 
And  they  came  to  the  chief  priests 
and  elders,  and  said,  We  have 
bound  ourselves  under  a  great 
curse,  that  we  will  eat  nothing 
until  we  have  slain  Paul,  Mark 
vi.  26.  And  the  king  was  exceed- 
ing sorry :  yet  for  his  oath%s  sake, 
and  for  their  sakes  which  sat  with 
him,  he  would  not  reject  her. — 
Numb.  xxx.  5.  But  if  her  father 
disallow  her  in  the  day  that  he 
heareth,  not  any  of  her  vows,  or 
of  her  bonds,  wherewith  she  hath 
bound  her  soul,  shall  stand:  and 
the  Lord  shall  forgive  her,  beeause 
her  father  disallowed  her.  Ver.  6. 
But  if  her  husband  disallow  her 
on  the  day  that  he  heard  it:  then 
he  shall  make  her  vow  which  she 
vowed,  and  that  which  she  utter- 
ed with  her  lips,  wherewith  she 
bound  her  soul,  of  none  effect: 
and  the  Lord  shall  forgive  her. 
Ver.  12.  But  if  her  husband  hath 
utterly  made  them  void  on  the 
day  he  heard  them;  then 
soever  proceedeth  out  of  her  lips, 
concerning  her  vows,  or  concern- 
ing the  bond  of  her  soul,  shall  not 
stand:  her  husband  hath  made 
them  void ;  and  the  Lord  shall  for- 


give her.  Ver.  13.  Every  vow,  and 
every  binding  oath  to  afflict  the 
soul,  her  husband  may  establish  it, 
or  her  husband  may  make  it  void. 
1  Mat  xLs.  il.  But  he  said  unto 
them,  All  men  cannot  receive  this 
saying,  save  they  to  whom  it  is 
given.  Ver.  12.  For  there  are 
some  eunuchs,  which  were  so- 
born  from  their  mother's  womb; 
and  there  are  some  eunuchs,  which 
were  made  eunuchs  of  men  ;  and 
there  be  eunuchs,  which  have 
made  themselves  eunuchs  for  the 
kingdom  of  heaven's  sake:  he  that 
is  able  to  receive  it,  let  him  re- 
ceive it.  1  Cor.  vii.  2.  Neverthe- 
.  to  avoid  fornication,  let  every 
man  have  his  own  wife,  and  let 
every  woman  have  her  own  hus- 
band. Ver.  9.  But  if  they  cannot 
contain,  let  them  marry:  for  it 
is  better  to  marry  than  to  burn, 
Eph.  iv.  23.  Let"  him.  that  stole, 
steal  no  more :  but  rather  let  him 
labour,  working  with  his  hands 
the  thing  which  is  good,  that  he 
may  have  to  give  to  him  that 
needeth.  1  Pet.  iv.  2.  That  he 
no  longer  should  live  the  rest  of 
his  time  in  the  flesh  to  the  lusts 
of  men,  but  to  the  will  of  God. 
1  Cor.  vii.  23.  Ye  are  bought  with 
a  price,  be  not  ye  the  servants  of 
men. 


140 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


Chap.  XXIII. 


for  his  own  glory,  and  the  public  good ;  and,  to  this  end, 
hath  armed  them  with  the  power  of  the  sword,  for  the  de- 
fence and  encouragement  of  them  that  are  good,  and  for 
the  punishment  of  evil-doers.a 

II.  It  is  lawful  for  Christians  to  accept  and  execute  the 
office  of  a  magistrate,  when  called  thereunto  :b  in  the 
managing  whereof,  as  they  ought  especially  to  maintain 
piety,  justice,  and  peace,  according  to  the  wholesome  laws 
of  each  commonwealth;0  so,  for  that  end,  they  may  law- 
fully, now  under  the  New  Testament,  wage  war  upon  just 
and  necessary  occasions.* 


I.  a  Rom.  xiii.  1.  Let  every  soul 
be  subject  unto  the  higher  powers. 
For  there  is  no  power  but  of  God  : 
the  powers  that  be  are  ordained 
of  God.  Ver.  2.  Whosoever  there- 
fore resisteth  the  power,  resisteth 
the  ordinance  of  God:  and  they 
that  resist  shall  receive  to  them- 
selves damnation.  Ver.  3.  For 
rulers  are  not  a  terror  to  good 
works,  but  to  the  evil.  VViit  thou 
then  not  be  afraid  of  the  power  ] 
do  that  which  is  good,  and  thou 
shalt  have  praise  of  the  same: 
Ver.  4.  For  he  is  the  minister  of 
God  to  thee  for  good.  But  if  thou 
do  that  which  is  evil,  be  afraid  : 
for  he  beareth  not  the  sword  in 
vain;  for  he  is  the  minister  of  Godv 
a  revenger  to  execute  wrath  upon 
him  that  doeth  evil.  1  Pet.  ii-  13. 
Submit  yourselves  to  every  ordi- 
nance of  man  for  the  Lord's  sake  : 
whether  it  be  to  the  king,  as  su- 
preme; Ver.  14.  Or  unto  gover- 
nors, as  unto  them  that  are  sent 
by  him  for  the  punishment  of  evil- 
doers, and  for  the  praise  of  them 
that  do  well. 

II.  b  Prov.  viii.  15.  By  me  kings 
reign,  and  princes  decree  justice. 
Ver.  16.  By  me  princes  rule,  and 
nobles,  even  all  the  judges  of  the 
earth.  Rom.  xiii.  1,  2,  4.  [See  in 
letter  a.] 


c  Psal.  ii.  10.  Be  wise  now 
therefore,  O  ye  kings:  be  in- 
structed, ye  judges  of  the  earth. — 
Ver- 11.  Serve  the  Lord  with  fear, 
and  rejoice  with  trembling.  Ver. 
12.  Kiss  the  Son,  lest  he  be  angry, 
and  ye  perish  from  the  way,  when 
his  wrath  is  kindled  but  a  little: 
blessed  are  all  they  that  put  their 
trust  in  him.  1  Tim.  ii.  2.  For 
kings,  and  for  all  that  are  in  au- 
thority ;  that  we  may  lead  a  quiet 
and  peaceable  life  in  all  godliness 
and  honesty.  Psal.  Ixxxii.  3.  De- 
fend the  poor  and  fatherless:  do 
justice  to  the  afflicted  and  needy. 
Ver.  4.  Deliver  the  poor  and 
needy;  rid  them  out  of  the  hand 
of  the  wicked.  2  Sam.  xxiii.  3. — 
The  God  of  Israel  said,  The  Rock 
of  Israel  spake  to  me,  He  that 
ruleth  over  men  must  be  just, 
ruling  in  the  fear  of  God.  1  Pet. 
ii.  13.     [See  in  letter3-.] 

d  Luke  iii.  14.  And  the  soldiers 
likewise  demanded  of  him,  say- 
ing, And  what  shall  we  do?  And 
he  said  unto  them,  Do  violence 
to  no  man,  neither  accuse  any 
falsely,  and  be  content  with  your 
wages.  Rom.  xiii.  4.  [See  letter3.] 
Mat.  viii.  9.  For  I  am  a  man  un- 
der authority,  having  soldiers  un- 
der me:  and  I  say  to  this  man, 
Go,  and  he  goeth :    and  to  ano- 


Chap.  XXIII.  The  Confession  of  Faith. 


141 


III.  The  civil  magistrate  may  not  assume  to  himself  the 
administration  of  the  word  and  sacraments,  or  the  power  of 
the  kevs  of  the  kingdom  of  heaven  :e  yet  he  hath  authority, 
and  it*  is  his  duty,  to  take  order,  that  unity  and  peace  be 
preserved  in  the  church,  that  the  truth  of  God  be  kept 
pure  and  entire,  that  all  blasphemies  and  heresies  be  sup- 
pressed, all  corruptions  and  abuses  in  worship  and  disci- 


ther,  Come,  and  he  cometh:  and 
to  my  servant,  Do  this,  and  he 
doeth  it-  Ver.  10.  When  Jesus 
heard  it,  he  marvelled,  and  said 
to  them  that  followed,  Verily  I 
say  unto  you,  I  have  not  found 
so  great  faith,  no,  not  in  Israel. 
Acts  x.  1.  There  was  a  certain 
man  in  Cesarea  called  Cornelius, 
a  centurion  of  the  band  called  the 
Italian  Band,  Ver.  2.  A  devout 
man,  and  one  that  feared  God 
with  all  his  house,  which  gave 
much  alms  to  the  people,  and 
prayed  to  God  alway.  Rev-  xvii. 
14.  These  shall  make  war  with 
the  Lamb,  and  the  Lamb  shall 
overcome  them :  for  he  is  Lord 
of  lords,  and  King  of  kings:  and 
they  that  are  with  him  are  called, 
and  chosen,  and  faithful.  Ver.  16. 
And  the  ten  horns  which  thou 
sawest  upon  the  beast,  these  shall 
hate  the  whore,  and  shall  make 
her  desolate  and  naked,  and  shall 
eat  her  flesh,  and  burn  her  with 
fire. 

III.  e  2  Chron.  xxvi.  18.  And 
they  withstood  Uzziah  the  king, 
and  said  unto  him,  It  appertain- 
ed not  unto  thee,  Uzziah,  to 
burn  incense  unto  the  Lord,  but 
to  the  priest6  the  sons  of  Aaron, 
that  are  consecrated  to  burn  in- 
cense: go  out  of  the  sanctuary, 
for  thou  hast  trespassed ;  neither 
shall  it  be  for  thine  honour  from 
the  Lord  God.  With  Matth. 
xviii.  17-  And  if  he  shall  neglect 
to  hear  them,   tell   it    unto    the 


church  :  but  if  he  neglect  to  hear 
the  church,  let  him  be  unto  thee 
as  a  heathen  man,  and  a  publi- 
can. And  Mat.  xvi.  19-  And  I 
will  give  unto  thee  the  keys  of 
the  kingdom  of  heaven :  and 
whatsoever  thou  shalt  bind  on 
earth,  shall  be  bound  in  heaven: 
and  whatsoever  thou  shalt  loose 
on  earth,  shall  be  loosed  in  heaven. 
1  Cor.  xii.  28.  And  God  hath  set 
some  in  the  church;  first,  apostles; 
secondarily,  prophets ;  thirdly, 
teachers;  after  that,  miracles;  then 
gifts  of  healing,  helps,  govern- 
ments, diversities  of  tongues. 
Ver.  29.  Are  all  apostles  1  are  all 
prophets?  are  all  teachers'?  are  all 
workers  of  miracles]  Eph.  iv.  11. 
And  he  gave  some  apostles,  and 
some  prophets,  and  some  evange- 
lists, and  some  pastors  and  teach- 
ers; Ver.  12.  For  the  perfecting  of 
the  saints,  for  the  work  of  the 
ministry,  for  the  edifying  of  the 
body  of  Christ.  1  Cor.  iv.  1.  Let 
a  man  so  account  of  us  as  of  the 
ministers  of  Christ,  and  stewards 
of  the  mysteries  of  God.  Ver.  2. 
Moreover,  it  is  required  in  stew- 
ards, that  a  man  be  found  faith- 
ful. Rom.  x.  15-  And  how  shall 
they  preach  except  they  be  sent? 
as  it  is  written,  How  beautiful  are 
the  feet  of  them  that  preach  the 
gospel  of  peace  and  bring  glad 
tidings  of  good  things  !  Heb.  v.  4. 
And  no  man  taketh  this  honour 
unto  himself,  but  he  that  is  called 
of  God,  as  was  Aaron. 


142 


Hie  Confession  of  Faith. 


Chap.;  XXIII. 


pline  prevented  or  reformed,  and  all  the  ordinances  of  God 
duly  settled,  administered,  and  observed/     For  the  better 


fIsa.  xlix.  23.  And  kings  shall 
be  thy  nursing-fathers,  and  their 
queens  thy  nursing-mothers:  they 
shall  bow  down  to  thee  with  their 
face  toward  the  earth,  and  lick  up 
the  dust  of  thy  feet,  and  thou  shalt 
know  that  I  am  the  Lord  :  for  they 
shall  not  be  ashamed  that  wait  for 
me.  Psal.  cxxii.  9.  Because  of  the 
house  of  the  Lord  our  God,  I  will 
seek  thy  good.  Ezra  vii.  23. 
Whatsoever  is  commanded  by  the 
God  of  heaven,  let  it  be  diligently 
done  for  the  house  of  the  God  of 
heaven  :  for  why  should  there  be 
wrath  against  the  realm  of  the 
king  and  his  sonsl  Ver.  25.  And 
thou,  Ezra,  after  the  wisdom  of 
thy  God  that  is  in  thine  hand,  set 
magistrates  and  judges,  which  may 
judge  all  the  people  that  are  be- 
yond the  river,  all  such  as  know 
the  laws  of  thy  God;  and  teach  ye 
them  that  know  them  not.  Ver. 
26-  And  whosoever  will  not  do  the 
law  of  thy  God  and  the  law  of  the 
king,  let  judgment  be  executed 
speedily  upon  him,  whether  it  be 
unto  death,  or  to  banishment,  or 
to  confiscation  of  goods,  or  to  im- 
prisonment. Ver.  27.  Blessed  be 
the  Lord  God  of  our  fathers,  which 
hath  put  such  a  thing  as  this  in  the 
king's  heart  to  beautify  the  house 
of  the  Lord  which  is  in  Jerusalem  : 
Ver.  28.  And  hath  extended  mercy 
unto  me  before  the  king  and  his 
counsellors,  and  before  all  the 
king's  mighty  princes:  and  I  was 
strengthened  as  the  hand  of  the 
Lord  my  God  was  upon  me,  and 
I  gathered  together  out  of  Israel 
chief  men  to  go  up  with  me. 
Lev.  xxiv.  16.  And  he  that  blas- 
phemeth  the  name  of  the  Lord, 
he  shall  surely  be  put  to  death: 


and  all  the  congregation  shall  cer- 
tainly stone  him :  as  well  the 
stranger,  as  he  that  is  born  in  the 
land,  when  he  blasphemeth  the 
name  of  the  Lord  shall  be  put  to 
death.  Deut.  xiii.  5.  And  that 
prophet,  or  that  dreamer  of 
dreams,  shall  be  put  to  death, 
(because  he  hath  spoken  to  turn 
you  away  from  the  Lord  your 
God,  which  brought  you  out  of 
the  land  of  Egypt,  and  redeemed 
you  out  of  the  bouse  of  bondage, 
to  thrust  thee  out  of  the  way 
which  the  Lord  thy  God  com- 
manded thee  to  walk  in,)  so  shalt 
thou  put  the  evil  away  from  the 
midst  of  thee.  Ver.  6.  If  thy  bro- 
ther, the  son  of  thy  mother,  or 
thy  son,  or  thy  daughter,  or  the 
wife  of  thy  boson,  or  thy  friend, 
which  is  as  thine  own  soul,  en- 
tice thee  secretly,  saying,  let  us 
go  and  serve  other  gods,  which 
thou  hast  not  known,  thou,  nor 
thy  fathers:  Ver.  12.  If  thou  shalt 
hear  say  in  one  of  thy  cities,  which 
the  Lord  thy  God  hath  given 
thee  to  dwell  there,  saying,  &c. 
2  Kin^s  xviii.  4.  He  removed 
the  high  places,  and  brake  the 
images,  and  cut  down  the  groves, 
and  brake  in  pieces  the  brasen 
serpent  that  Moses  had  made: 
for  unto  those  days  the  children 
of  Israel  did  burn  incense  to  it, 
and  he  called  it  Nehushtan. 
[1  Chron.  xiii.  1.  to  the  9th  Verse. 
2  Kings  xxiii.  1.  to  the  26th  Verse.] 
2  Chron.  xxxiv.  33.  And  Josiah 
took  away  all  the  abominations 
out  of  all  the  countries  that 
pertained  to  the  children  of 
Israel,  and  made  all  that  were 
present  in  Israel  to  serve,  even 
to   serve    the    Lord    their    God. 


Chap.  XXIII.  The  Confession  of  Faith. 


143 


effecting  whereof,  he  hath  power  to  call  synods,  to  be  pre- 
sent at  them,  and  to  provide  that  whatsoever  is  transacted 
in  them  be  according  to  the  mind  of  God.g 

IV.  It  is  the  duty  of  people  to  pray  for  magistrates,11  to 
honour  their  persons/  to  pay  them  tribute  and  other  dues,* 
to  obey  their  lawful  commands,  and  to  be  subject  to  their 
authority  for  conscience'  sake.1  Infidelity,  or  difference 
in  religion,  doth  not  make  void  the  magistrate's  just  and 
legal  authority,  nor  free  the  people  from  their  due  obedience 


And  all  his  days  they  departed  not 
from  following  the  Lord,  the  God 
of  their  fathers.  2  Chron.  xv.  12. 
And  they  entered  into  a  covenant, 
to  seek  the  Lord  God  of  their  fa- 
thers, with  all  their  heart,  and  with 
all  their  soul;  Ver.  13.  That  who- 
soever would  not  seek  the  Lord 
God  of  Israel  should  be  put  to 
death,  whether  small  or  great, 
whether  man  or  woman. 

s  2  Chron.  xix.  8.  Moreover, 
in  Jerusalem  did  Jehoshaphat  set 
of  the  Levites,  and  of  the  priests, 
and  of  the  chief  of  the  fathers  of 
Israel,  for  the  judgment  of  the 
Lord,  and  for  controversies,  when 
they  returned  to  Jerusalem.  Ver. 
9.  And  he  charged  them,  saying, 
Thus  shall  ye  do  in  the  fear  of 
the  Lord,  faithfully,  and  with  a 
perfect  heart.  Ver.  10.  And  what 
cause  soever  shall  come  to  you  of 
your  brethren  that  dwell  in  their 
cities,  between  blood  and  blood, 
between  law  and  commandment, 
statutes  and  judgments,  ye  shall 
even  warn  them  that  they  tres- 
pass not  against  the  Lord/and  so 
wrath  come  upon  you,  and  upon 
your  brethren:  this  do,  and  ye 
shall  not  trespass.  Ver.  11.  And, 
behold,  Amariah  the  chief  priest 
is  over  you  in  all  matters  of  the 
Lord;  and  Zebadiah,  the  son  of 
Ishmael,  the  ruler  of  the  house 
Judah,  for  all  the  king's  mat- 


ters :  also  the  Levites  shall  be  of- 
ficers before  you.  Deal  courage- 
ously, and  the  Lord  shall  be  with 
the  good.  [2  Chron.  Chapters 
xxix.  and  xxx.]  Matth.  ii.  4. 
And  when  he  had  gathered  all  the 
chief  priests  and  scribes  of  the 
people  together,  he  demanded  of 
them  where  Christ  should  be  born. 
Ver.  5.  And  they  said  unto  him,  In 
Bethlehem  of  Judea:  for  thus  it 
is  written  by  the  prophet. 

IV.  h  1  Tim.  ii.  1.  I  exhort 
therefore,  that,  first  of  all,  suppli- 
cations, prayers,  intercessions,  and 
giving  of  thanks,  be  made  for  all 
men  :  Ver.  2.  For  kings,  and  for  all 
that  are  in  authority  ;  that  we  may 
lead  a  quiet  and  peaceable  life  in 
all  godliness  and  honesty. 

1  1  Pet.  ii.  17.  Honour  all  men. 
Love  the  brotherhood.  Fear  God. 
Honour  the  king. 

k  Rom.  xiii.  6.  For,  for  this 
cause  pay  you  tribute  also:  for 
they  are  God's  ministers,  attend- 
ing continually  upon  this  very 
thing.  Ver.  7.  Render  therefore  to 
all  their  dues;  tribute  to  whom 
tribute  is  due,  custom  to  whom 
custom,  fear  to  whom  fear,  ho- 
nour to  whom  honour. 

1  Rom.  xiii.  5.  Wherefore  ye 
must  needs  be  subject,  not  only 
for  wrath,  but  also  tor  conscience' 
sake.  Tit.  iii.  1.  Put  them  in 
mind  to  be  subject  to  principali- 


144 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


Chap.  XXIII. 


to  him : m  from  which  ecclesiastical  persons  are  not  exempt- 
ed;" much  less  hath  the  Pope  any  power  or  jurisdiction 
over  them  in  their  dominions,  or  over  any  of  their  people; 
and  least  of  all  to  deprive  them  of  their  dominions  or  lives, 
if  he  shall  judge  them  to  be  heretics,  or  upon  any  other 
pretence  whatsoever.0 


ties  and  powers,  to  obey  magis- 
trates, to  be  ready  to  every  good 
work. 

m  1  Pet.  ii.  13.  Submit  your- 
selves to  every  ordinance  of  man 
for  the  Lord's  sake:  whether  it 
be  to  the  king,  as  supreme ;  Ver. 
14.  Or  unto  governors,  as  unto 
them  that  are  sent  by  him  for  the 
punishment  of  evil  doers,  and  for 
the  praise  of  them  that  do  well. 
Ver.  16.  As  free,  and  not  using  your 
liberty  for  a  cloak  of  malicious- 
ness, but  as  the  servants  of  God. 

n  Rom.  xiii.  1.  Let  every  soul  be 
subject  unto  the  higher  powers. 
For  there  is  no  power  but  of  God; 
the  powers  that  be  are  ordained  of 
God.  1  Kings  ii.  35.  And  the  king 
put  Benaiah,  the  son  of  Jehoiada, 
in  his  room,  over  the  host;  and 
Zadok  the  priest  did  the  king  put 
in  the  room  of  Abiathar.  Acts 
xxv.  9.  But  Festus,  willing  to  do 
the  Jews  a  pleasure,  answered 
Paul,  and  said,  Wilt  thou  go  up  to 
Jerusalem,  and  there  be  judged  of 
these  things  before  me'?  Ver.  10. 
Then  said  Paul,  I  stand  at  Cesar's 
judgment-seat,  where  I  ought  to 
be  judged;  to  the  Jews  have  I 
done  no  wrong,  as  thou  very 
well  knowest.  Ver.  11.  For  if  I 
be  an  offender,  or  have  commit- 
ted any  thing  worthy  of  death, 
I  refuse  not  to  die:  but  if  there 
be  none  of  these  things  whereof 
these  accuse  me,  no  man  may 
deliver  me  unto  them.  I  ap- 
peal unto  Cesar.  2  Pet.  ii.  1.  But 
there    v/ere    false    prophets    also 


among  the  people,  even  as  there 
shall  be  false  teachers  among  you, 
who  privily  shall  bring  in  dam- 
nable heresies,  even  denying  the 
Lord  that  bought  them,  and  bring 
upon  themselves  swift  destruction. 
Ver.  10.  But  chiefly  them  that 
walk  after  the  flesh,  in  the  lust  of 
uncleanncss,  and  despise  govern- 
ment: presumptuous  are  they,  self- 
willed,  they  are  not  afraid  to  speak 
evil  of  dignities.  Ver.  11.  Where- 
as angels,  which  are  greater  in 
power  and  might,  bring  not  rail- 
ing accusation  against  them  before 
the  Lord.  Jude,  ver.  8.  Likewise 
also  these  filthy  dreamers  defile 
the  flesh,  despise  dominion,  and 
speak  evil  of  dignities.  Ver.  9. 
Yet  Michael  the  archangel,  when 
contending  with  the  devil,  (he  dis- 
puted about  the  body  of  Moses,) 
durst  not  bring  against  him  a  rail- 
ing accusation,  but  said,  The  Lord 
rebuke  thee.  Ver.  10.  But  these 
speak  evil  of  those  things  which 
they  know  not:  but  what  they 
know  naturally,  as  brute  beasts, 
in  those  things  they  corrupt  them- 
selves. Ver.  11.  Wo  unto  them! 
for  they  have  gone  in  the  way 
of  Cain,  and  ran  greedily  after 
the  error  of  Balaam  for  reward, 
and  perished  in  the  gainsaying  o : 
Core. 

0  2  Thess.  ii.  4.  Who  opposeth 
and  exalteth  himself  above  all 
that  is  called  God,  or  that  is  wor- 
shipped ;  so  that  he,  as  God,  sitteth 
in  the  temple  of  God,  showing 
himself  that   he  is   God.     Rev. 


Chap.  XXIV.  The  Confession  of  Faith.  145 

CHAPTER  XXIV.   Of  Marriage  and  Divorce. 
Marriage  is  to  be  between  one  man  and  one  woman: 
neither  is  it  lawful  for  any  man  to   have  more  than  one 
wife,  nor  for  any  woman  to  have  more  than  one  husband 
at  the  same  time.a 

II.  Marriage  was  ordained  for  the  mutual  help  of  hus- 
band and  wife;b  for  the  increase  of  mankind  with  a  legi- 
timate issue,  and  of  the  church  with  a  holy  seed:c  and 
for  preventing  of  uncleanness.d 

III.  It  is  lawful  for  all  sorts  of  people  to  marry  who  are 
able  with  judgment  to  give  their  consent  :e  yet  it  is  the  duty 


xiii.  15.  And  he  had  power  to  give 
life  unto  the  image  of  the  beast, 
that  the  image  of  the  beast  should 
both  speak,  and  cause  that  as  many 
as  would  not  worship  the  image  of 
the  beast  should  be  killed.  Ver. 
16.  And  he  causeth  all,  both  small 
and  great,  rich  and  poor,  free  and 
bond,  to  receive  a  mark  in  their 
right  hand,  or  in  their  foreheads: 
Ver.  17.  And  that  no  man  might 
buy  or  sell,  save  he  that  had  the 
mark,  or  the  name  of  the  beast,  or 
the  number  of  his  name. 

I.  a  Gen.  ii.  24.  Therefore  shall 
a  man  leave  his  father  and  his 
mother,  and  shall  cleave  unto  his 
wife :  and  they  shall  be  one  flesh. 
Mat.  xix.  5.  And  said,  For  this 
cause  shall  a  man  leave  father  and 
mother,  and  shall  cleave  to  his 
wife:  and  they  twain  shall  be  one 
flesh.  Ver.  6.  Wherefore  they  are 
no  more  twain,  but  one  flesh. 
What  therefore  God  hath  joined 
together,  let  not  man  put  asunder. 
Prov.  ii.  17.  Which  forsaketh  the 
guide  of  her  youth,  and  forgetteth 
the  covenant  of  her  God. 

II.  b  Gen.  ii.  18.  And  the  Lord 
God  said,  It  is  not  good  that  the 
man  should  be  alone:  I  will  make 
him  a  help  meet  for  him. 

13 


c  Mai.  ii.  15.  And  did  not  he 
make  one?  Yet  had  ho  the  residue 
of  the  Spirit.  And  wherefore  one  ? 
That  he  might  seek  a  godly  seed. 
Therefore  take  heed  to  your  spi- 
rit, and  let  none  deal  treacherously 
against  the  wife  of  his  youth. 

d  1  Cor.  vii.  2.  Nevertheless,  to 
avoid  fornication,  let  every  man 
have  his  own  wife,  and  let  every 
woman  have  her  own  husband. 
Ver.  9.  But  if  they  cannot  contain, 
let  them  marry:  for  it  is  better 
to  marry  than  to  burn. 

III.  e*Heb.  xiii.  4.  Marriage  is 
honourable  in  all,  and  the  bed  un- 
dented: but  whoremongers  and 
adulterers  God  will  judge.  1  Tim. 
iv.  3.  Forbidding  to  marry,  and 
commanding  to  abstain  from 
meats,  which  God  hath  created  to 
be  received  with  thanksgiving  of 
them  which  believe  and  know  the 
truth.  1  Cor.  vii.  36.  But  if  any 
man  think  that  he  behaveth  him- 
self uncomely  towards  his  virgin, 
if  she  pass  the  flower  of  her  age, 
and  need  so  require,  let  him  do 
what  he  will,  he  sinneth  not:  let 
them  raarry.  Ver.  37.  Neverthe- 
less, he  that  standeth  steadfast  in 
his  heart,  having  no  necessity,  but 
hath  power  over  his  own  will,  and 


146 


The  Confession  of  Faith, 


Chap.  XXIV. 


of  Christians  to  marry  only  in  the  Lord.f  And  therefore 
such  as  profess  the  true  reformed  religion  should  not  marry 
\  with  infidels,  Papists,  or  other  idolaters :  neither  should 
such  as  are  godly  be  unequally  yoked,  by  marrying  with 
such  as  are  notoriously  wicked  in  their  life,  or  maintain 
damnable  heresies.® 


hath  so  decreed  in  his  heart  that 
he  will  keep  his  virgin,  doeth  well. 
Ver.  38.  So  then,  he  that  giveth 
her  in  marriage  doeth  well;  but  he 
that  giveth  her  not  in  marriage 
doeth  better.  Gen.  xxiv.  57.  And 
they  said,  We  will  call  the  damsel, 
and  inquire  at  her  mouth.  Ver.  58. 
And  they  called  Rebekah,  and  said 
unto  her,  Wilt  thou  go  .with  this 
man?  And  she  said,  I  will  go. 

fl  Cor.  vii.  39.  The  wife  is 
bound  by  the  law  as  long  as  her 
husband  liveth;  but  if  her  husband 
be  dead,  she  is  at  liberty  to  be 
married  to  whom  she  will;  only 
in  the  Lord. 

s  Gen.  xxxiv.  14.  And  they  said 
unto  them,  We  cannot  do  this 
thing,  to  give  our  sister  to  one 
that  is  uncircumcised ;  for  that 
were  a  reproach  unto  us.  Exod. 
xxxiv.  16.  And  thou  take  of 
their  daughters  unto  thy  sons, 
and  their  daughters  go  a  whoring 
after  their  gods,  and  make  thy 
sons  go  a  whoring  after  their 
gods.  Deut.  vii.  3.  Neither  shalt 
thou  make  marriages  with  them; 
thy  daughter  thou  shalt  not  give 
unto  his  son,  nor  his  daughter 
shalt  thou  take  unto  thy  son. 
Ver.  4.  For  they  will  turn  away 
thy  son  from  following  me,  that 
they  may  serve  other  gods:  so 
will  the  anger  of  the  Lord  be 
kindled  against  you,  and  destroy 
thee  suddenly.  1  Kings  xi.  4. 
For  it  came  to  pass,  when  Solo- 
mon was  old,  that  his  wives  turned 
away  his  heart  after  other  gods : 


and  his  heart  was  not  perfect 
with  the  Lord  his  God,  as  was 
the  heart  of  David  his  father. 
Neh.  xiii.  25.  And  I  contended 
with  them,  and  cursed  them,  and 
smote  certain  of  them,  and  plucked 
off  their  hair,  and  made  them 
swear  by  God,  saying,  Ye  shall 
not  give  your  daughters  unto 
their  sons,  nor  take  their  daugh- 
ters unto  your  sons,  or  for  your- 
selves. Ver.  26.  Did  not  Solomon 
king  of  Israel  sin  by  these  things'? 
yet  among  many  nations  was 
there  no  king  like  him,  who  was 
beloved  of  his  God,  and  God 
made  him  king  over  all  Israel: 
nevertheless,  even  him  did  out- 
landish women  cause  to  sin. 
Ver.  27.^  Shall  we  then  hearken 
unto  you  to  do  all  this  great  evil, 
to  transgress  against  our  God, 
in  marrying  strange  wives'?  Mai. 
ii.  11.  Judah  hath  dealt  trea- 
cherously, and  an  abomination  is 
committed  in  Israel,  and  in  Je- 
rusalem :  for  Judah  hath  profaned 
the  holiness  of  the  Lord  which 
he  loved,  and  hath  married  the 
daughter  of  a  strange  god.  Ver. 
12.  The  Lord  will  cut  off  the  man 
that  doeth  this:  the  master  and  the 
scholar  out  of  the  tabernacles  of 
Jacob,  and  him  that  offereth  an 
offering  unto  the  Lord  of  hosts. 
2  Cor.  vi.  14.  Be  ye  not  unequally 
yoked  together  with  unbelievers: 
for  what  fellowship  hath  righte- 
ousness with  unrighteousness?  and 
what  communion  hath  light  with 
darkness? 


Chap.  XXIV.  The  Confession  of  Faith. 


147 


IV.  Marriage  ought  not  to  be  within  the  degrees  of  con- 
sanguinity or  affinity  forbidden  in  the  word;11  nor  can 
such  incestuous  marriages  ever  be  made  lawful  by  any  law 
of  man,  or  consent  of  parties,  so  as  those  persons  may  live 
together  as  man  and  wife.1  The  man  may  not  marry  any 
of  his  wife's  kindred  nearer  in  blood  than  he  may  of  his 
own,  nor  the  woman  of  her  husband's  kindred  nearer  in 
blood  than  of  her  own.* 

V.  Adultery  or  fornication  committed  after  a  contract, 
being  detected  before  marriage,  giveth  just  occasion  to  the 
innocent  party  to  dissolve  that  contract.1     In  the  case  of 


IV.  h  [Lev.  Chapter  xviii.]  1 
Cor.  v.  1.  It  is  reported  common- 
ly that  there  is  fornication  among 
you,  and  such  fornication  as  is  not 
so  much  as  named  among  the  Gen- 
tiles, that  one  should  have  his  fa- 
ther's wife.  Amos  ii.  7.  That 
pant  after  the  dust  of  the  earth 
on  the  head  of  the  poor,  and  turn 
aside  the  way  of  the  meek ;  and 
a  man  and  his  father  will  go  in 
unto  the  same  maid,  to  profane  my 
holy  name. 

'  Mark  vi.  18.  For  John  had  said 
unto  Herod,  It  is  not  lawful  for 
thee  to  have  thy  brother's  wife. 
Lev.  xviii.  24.  Defile  not  ye  your- 
selves in  any  of  these  things:  for 
in  all  these  the  nations  are  defiled 
which  I  cast  out  before  you:  Ver. 
25.  And  the  land  is  defiled:  there- 
fore I  do  visit  the  iniquity  thereof 
upon  it,  and  the  land  itself  vomit- 
eth  out  her  inhabitants.  Ver.  26. 
Ye  shall  therefore  keep  my  statutes 
and  my  judgments,  and  shall  not 
commit  any  of  these  abominations; 
neither  any  of  your  own  nation, 
nor  any  stranger  that  sojourneth 
among  you  :  Ver.  27.  (For  all  these 
abominations  have  the  men  of  the 
land  done,  which  were  before  you, 
and  the  land  is  defiled:)  Ver.  23. 
That  the  land  spue  not  you  out 


also,  when  ye  defile  it,  as  it  spued 
out  the  nations  that  were  before 
you. 

k  Lev.  xx.  19.  And  thou  shalt 
not  uncover  the  nakedness  of  thy 
mother's  sister,  nor  of  thy  father's 
sister;  for  he  uncovereth  his  near 
kin;  they  shall  bear  their  iniquity. 
Ver.  20.  And  if  a  man  shall  lie 
with  his  uncle's  wife,  he  hath  un- 
covered his  uncle's  nakedness: 
they  shall  bear  their  sin  ;  they  shall 
die  childless.  Ver.  21.  And  if  a 
man  shall  take  his  brother's  wife, 
it  is  an  unclean  thing:  he  hath 
uncovered  his  brother's  nakedness; 
they  shall  be  childless, 

V.  »  Mat.  i.  18-  Now  the  birth 
of  Jesus  Christ  was  on  this  wise: 
When  as  his  mother  Mary  was 
espoused  to  Joseph,  before  they 
came  together,  she  was  found  with 
child  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  Ver.  19. 
Then  Joseph  her  husband,  being  a 
just  man,  and  not  willing  to  make 
her  a  public  example,  was  mind- 
ed to  put  her  away  privily.  Ver. 
20.  But  while  he  thought  on  these 
things,behold,  the  angel  of  the  Lord 
appeared  unto  him  in  a  dream,  say- 
ing, Joseph,  thou  son  of  David, 
fear  not  to  take  unto  thee  Mary 
thy  wife:  for  that  which  is  con- 
ceived in  her  is  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 


148 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


Chap.  XXIV. 


adultery  after  marriage,  it  is  lawful  for  the  innocent,  party, 
to  sue  out  a  divorce,m  and  after  the  divorce,  to  marry  ano- 
ther, as  if  the  offending  party  were  dead." 

VI.  Although  the  corruption  of  man  be  such  as  is  apt 
to  study  arguments,  unduly  to  put  asunder  those  whom 
God  hath  joined  together  in  marriage;  yet  nothing  but 
adultery,  or  such  wilful  desertion  as  can  no  way  be  re- 
medied by  the  church  or  civil  magistrate,  is  cause  sufficient 
of  dissolving  the  bond  of  marriage:0  wherein  a  public  and 
orderly  course  of  proceeding  is  to  be  observed,  and  the  per- 
sons concerned  in  it  not  left  to  their  own  wills  and  discre- 
tion in  their  own  case.? 


m  Mat.  v.  31.  It  hath  been  said, 
Whosoever  shall  put  away  his 
wife,  let  him  give  her  a  writing 
of  divorcement:  Ver.  32.  But  I  say 
unto  you,  That  whosoever  shall 
put  away  his  wife,  saving  for  the 
cause  of  fornication,  causeth  her 
to  commit  adultery:  and  whoso- 
ever shall  marry  her  that  is  di- 
vorced, committeth  adultery. 

u  Mat.  xix.  9.  And  I  say  unto 
you,  Whosoever  shall  put  away 
his  wife,  except  it  be  for  forni- 
cation, and  shall  marry  another, 
committeth  adultery:  and  whoso 
marrieth  her  which  is  put  away, 
doth  commit  adultery.  Rom.  vii- 
2.  For  the  woman  which  hath  a 
husband,  is  bound  by  the  law  to 
her  husband  so  long-  as  he  liveth: 
but  if  the  husband  be  dead,  she  is 
loosed  from  the  law  of  her  husband. 
Ver.  3.  So  then,  if  while  her  hus- 
band liveth  she  be  married  to  an- 
other man,  she  shall  be  called  an 
adulteress:  but  if  her  husband  be 
dead,  she  is  free  from  that  law;  so 
that  she  is  no  adulteress  though 
she  be  married  to  another  man- 

VI.  °  Mat.  xix.  8.  He  saith  unto 
them,  Moses,  because  of  the  hard- 
ness of  your  hearts,  suffered  you 
to  put  away  your  wives;  but  from 


the  beginning  it  was  notvso-  Ver. 
9.  [See  letter  n.]— 1  Cor.  vii.  15. 
But  if  the  unbelieving  depart,  let 
him  depart.  A  brother  or  a  sister 
is  not  under  bondage  in  such  cases: 
but  God  hath  called  us  to  peace. 
Mat.  xix.  G.  Wherefore  they  are 
no  more  twain,  but  one  flesh. — 
What  therefore  God  hath  joined 
together,  let  no  man  put  asunder. 
p  Deut.  xxiv.  1.  When  a  man 
hath  taken  a  wife,  and  married 
hor,  and  it  come  to  pass  that  she 
find  no  favour  in  his  eyes,  because 
he  hath  found  some  uncleanness 
in  her:  then  let  him  write  her  a 
bill  of  divorcement,  and  give  it  in 
her  hand,  and  send  her  out  of  his 
house.  Ver.  2.  And  when  she  is 
departed  out  of  his  house,  she  may 
go  and  be  another  man's  wife. 
Ver.  3.  And  if  the  latter  husband 
hate  her,  and  write  her  a  bill  of 
divorcement,  and  giveth  it  in  her 
hand,  and  sendeth  her  out  of  his 
house;  or  if  the  latter  husband  die, 
which  took  her  to  be  his  wife; 
Ver.  4.  Her  former  husband  which 
sent  her  away  may  not  take  hex 
again  to  be  his  wife,  after  that 
she  is  defiled  :  for  that  is  abomi- 
nation before  the  Lord :  and  thou 
shalt  not  cause  the  land  to  sin, 


Chap.  XXV. 


The  Confession  of  Faith 


149 


CHAPTER  XXV.     Of  the  Church. 

The  catholic  or  universal  church,  which  is  invisible, 
consists  of  the  whole  number  of  the  elect  that  have  been, 
are,  or  shall  be  gathered  into  one,  under  Christ  the  head 
thereof;  and  is  the  spouse,  the  body,  the  fulness  of  him  that 
filleth  all  in  all." 

II.  The  visible  church,  which  is  also  catholic  or  univer- 
sal under  the  Gospel,  (not  confined  to  one  nation,  as  be- 
fore under  the  law,)  consists  of  all  those  throughout  the 
world  that  profess  the   true  religion,15  together  with  their 


which  the   Lord    thy  God  giveth 
thee  for  an  inheritance. 

I.  »  Eph.  i.  10.  That  in  the  dis- 
pensation of  the  fulness  of  times  he 
might  gather  together  in  one  all 
things  in  Christ,  both  which  are  in 
heaven,  and  which  are  on  earth, 
even  in  him,  Ver.  22.  And  hath  put 
all  things  under  his  feet,  and  gave 
him  to  be  the  head  over  all  things 
to  the  church,  Ver.  23.  Which  is 
his  bodv,  the  fulness  of  him  that 
filleth  all  in  all.  Eph.  v.  23.  For 
the  husband  is  the  head  of  the  wife, 
even  as  Christ  is  the  head  of  the 
church:  and  he  is  the  saviour  of 
the  body.  Ver.  27.  That  he  might 
present  it  to  himself  a  glorious 
church,  not  having  spot,  or  wrinkle, 
or  any  such  thing;  but  that  it  should 
be  holy  and  without  blemish.  Ver. 
32.  This  is  a  great  mystery:  but  I 
speak  concerning  Christ  and  the 
church.  Col.  i.  18.  And  he  is  the 
head  of  the  body,  the  church; 
who  is  the  beginning,  the  first-born 
from  the  dead;  that  in  all  things 
he  might  have  the  pre-eminence. 

II.  ^  1  Cor.  i.  2.  Unto  the 
church  of  God  which  is  at  Co- 
rinth, to  them  that  are  sanctified 
in  Christ  Jesus,  called  to  be  saints, 
with  all  that  in  every  place  call 
upon  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ 
our    Lord,   both   theirs  and  oiks. 

13* 


1  Cor.  xii.  12.  For  as  the  body  is 
one,  and  hath  many  members,  and 
all  the  members  of  that  one  body, 
being  many,  are  one  body:  so  also 
is  Christ  Ver.  13.  For  by  one  Spi- 
rit are  we  all  baptized  into  one 
body,  whether  we  be  Jews  or  Gen- 
tiles, whether  we  be  bond  or  free; 
and  have  been  all  made  to  drink 
into  one  Spirit.  Psal.  ii.  8.  Ask  of 
me,  and  I  shall  give  thee  the  hea- 
then for  thine  inheritance,  and  the 
uttermost  parts  of  the  earth  for  thy 
possession.  Rev.  vii.  9.  After  this 
I  beheld,  and,  lo,  a  great  multi- 
tude, which  no  man  could  num- 
ber, of  all  nations,  and  kindreds, 
and  people,  and  tongues,  stood  be- 
fore the  throne,  and  before  the 
Lamb,  clothed  with  white  robes, 
and  palms  in  their  hands.  Rom. 
xv.  9.  And  that  the  gentiles  might 
glorify  God  for  his  mercy;  as  it  is 
written,  For  this  cause  I  will  con- 
fess to  thee  among  the  Gentiles, 
and  sing  unto  thy  name.  Ver.  10. 
And  again  he  saith,  Rejoice,  ye 
Gentiles,  with  his  people.  Ver.  11. 
And  again,  Praise  the  Lord,  all  ye 
Gentiles;  and  laud  him,  all  ye 
people.  Ver.  12.  And  again  Esaias 
saith,  There  shall  be  a  root  of 
Jesse,  and  he  that  shall  rise  to 
reign  over  the  Gentiles,  in  him 
shall  the  Gentiles  trust, 


- 


150 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


Chap.  XXV. 


children ; c  and  is  the  kingdom  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,d 
the  house  and  family  of  God,e  out  of  which  there  is  no  or- 
dinary possibility  of  salvation/ 

III.  Unto  this  catholic  visible  church  Christ  hath  given 
the  ministry,  oracles,  and  ordinances  of  God,  for  the  ga- 
thering and  perfecting  of  the  saints  in  this  life,  to  the  end  of 
the  world ;  and  doth  by  his  own  presence  and  Spirit,  ac- 
cording to  his  promise,  make  them  effectual  thereunto.8 


c  1  Cor.  vii.  14.  Fcr  the  unbe- 
lieving- husband  is  sanctified  by  the 
wife,  and  the  unbelieving  wife  is 
sanctified  by  the  husband:  else 
were  your  children  unclean ;  but 
now  are  they  holy.  Acts  ii.  39. 
For  the  promise  is  unto  you,  and 
to  your  children,  and  to  all  that 
are  afar  off,  even  as  many  as  the 
Lord  our  God  shall  call.  Ezck. 
xvi.  20-  Moreover,  thou  hast  taken 
thy  sons  and  thy  daughters,  whom 
thou  hast  born  unto  me,  and  these 
hast  thou  sacrificed  unto  them  to 
be  devoured:  is  this  of  thy  whore- 
doms a  small  matter,  Ver.  21. 
That  thou  hast  slain  my  children, 
and  delivered  them  to  cause  them 
to  pass  through  the  fire  for  them) 
Rom.xi.  16.  For  if  the  first-fruit 
be  holy,  the  lump  is  also  holy;  and 
if  the  root  be  holy,  so  are  the 
branches.  Gen.  iii.  15.  And  I  will 
put  enmity  between  thee  and  the 
woman,  and  between  thy  seed  and 
her  seed  :  it  shall  bruise  thy  head, 
and  thou  shalt  bruise  his  heel. 
Gen.  xvii.  7.  And  I  will  establish 
my  covenant  between  me  and  thee, 
and  thy  seed  after  thee,  in  their 
generations,  for  an  everlasting  co- 
venant: to  be  a  God  unto  thee, 
and  to  thy  seed  after  thee. 

d  Mat.  xiii.  47.  Again,  the  king- 
dom of  heaven  is  like  unto  a  net 
that  was  cast  into  the  sea,  and 
gathered  of  every  kind.  Isa.  ix.  7. 
Of  the  increase  of  his  government 


and  peace  there  shall  be  no  end, 
upon  the  throne  of  David,  and  up- 
on his  kingdom,  to  order  it,  and 
to  establish  it  with  judgment  and 
with  justice,  from  henceforth  even 
for  ever :  the  zeal  of  the  Lord  of 
hosts  will  perform  this. 

e  Eph.  ii.  19.  Now  therefore  ye 
are  no  more  strangers  and  foreign- 
ers, but_  fellow  citizens  with  the 
saints,  and  of  the  household  of 
God.  Eph.  iii.  15.  Of  whom  the 
whole  family  in  heaven  and  earth 
is  named. 

f  Acts  ii.  47.  Praising  God,  and 
having  favour  with  all  the  people. 
And  the  Lord  added  to  the  church 
daily  such  as  should  be  saved. 

III.  «t  1  Cor.  xii.  28.  And  God 
hath  set  some  in  the  church;  first, 
apostles;  secondarily,  prophets; 
thirdly,  teachers;  after  that  mi- 
racles; then  gifts  of  healings, 
helps,  governments,  diversities  of 
tongues.  Eph.  iv.  11.  And  he 
gave  some  apostles,  and  some  pro- 
phets, and  some  evangelists,  and 
some  pastors  and  teachers;  Ver. 
12.  For  the  perfecting  of  the  saints, 
for  the  work  of  the  ministry,  for 
the  edifying  of  the  body  of  Christ: 
Ver.  13.  Till  we  all  come  in  the 
unity  of  the  faith,  and  of  the 
knowledge  of  the  Son  of  God, 
unto  a  perfect  man,  unto  the 
measure  of  the  stature  of  the 
fulness  of  Christ.  Mat.  xxviii.  19. 
Go  ye    therefore,  and    teach  all 


Chap.  XXV. 


The  Confession  of  Faith, 


151 


IV.  This  catholic  church  hath  been  sometimes  more, 
sometimes  less  visible.h  And  particular  churches,  which 
are  members  thereof,  are  more  or  less  pure,  according  as 
the  doctrine  of  the  gospel  is  taught  and.  embraced,  ordi- 
nances administered,  and  public  worship  performed  mere 
or  less  purely  in  them.1 

V.  The  purest  churches  under  heaven  are  subject  both 
to  mixture  and  error;*  and  some  have  so  degenerated  as  to 
become  no  churches  of  Christ,  but  synagogues  of  Satan.1 


nations,  baptizing  them  in  the 
name  of  the  Father,  and  of  the 
Son,  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost 
20.  Teaching  them  to  observe  all 
whatsoever  I  have  com- 
manded you:  and,  lo,  I  am  with 
you  a! way,  even  unto  the  end  of 
the  world.  Amen.  Isa.  lix.  21. 
As  for  me  this  is  my  covenant 
with  them,  saith  the  Lord,  .My 
Spirit  that  is  upon  thee,  and  my 
words  which  I  have  put  in  thy 
mouth  shall  not  depart  out  of 
thy  mouth,  nor  out  of  the  mouth 
of  thy  seed,  nor  out  of  the  mouth 
of  thy  seed's  teed,  saith  the  Lord, 
from  henceforth  and  for  ever. 

IV.  *  Rom.  xi.  3.  Lord,  they 
have  killed  thy  prophets,  and 
digged  down  thy  altars;  and 
I  am  left  alone,  and  they 
my  life.  Ver.  4.  But  what  saith 
the  answer  of  God  unto  him]  I 
have  reserved  to  myself  seven 
thousand  men,  who  have  not 
bowed  the  knee  to  the  image  of 
•Baal.  Rev.  xii.  6.  And  the  wo- 
man fled  into  the  wilderness, 
where  she  had  a  place  prepared 
of  God,  that  they  should  feed  her 
there  a  thousand  two  hundred 
and  threescore  days.  Ver.  14. 
And  to  the  woman  were  given 
two  wings  of  a  great  cao;le,  that 
she  might  fly  into  the  wilderness, 
into  her  place :  where  she  is 
nourished  for  a  time,  and  times, 


and  half  a  time,  from  the  face  of 
the  serpent. 

1  [Rev.  Chapters  ii.  a  id  iii. 
throughout.]  1  Cor.  v.  6.  Your 
glorying  is  not  good.  Know  ye 
not  that  a  little  leaven  leaveneth 
the  whole  lump]  Ver.  7.  Purge 
out  therefore  the  old  Jeaven,  that 
ye  may  be  a  new  lump,  as  ye  are 
unleavened.  For  even  Christ  our 
Passover  is  sacrificed  for  us. 

V.  :":  1  Cor.  xiii.  12.  For  now  we 
see  through  a  glass,  darkly  ;  but 
then  face  to  face :  now  I  know  in 
part;  but  then  shall  I  know  even 
as  also  I  am  known.  [Rev.  Chap- 
ters  ii.  and  iii.]  Mat.  xiii.  24 — 30. 
her  parable  put  he  forth  unto 
them,  saying.  The  kingdom  of  hea- 
ven is  likened  unto  a  man  which 
sowed  good  seed  in  his  field  ;  but 
while  men  slept  his  enemy  came 
and  sowed  tares  among  the  wheat, 
and  went  his  way.  But  when  the 
blade  was  sprung  up,  and  brought 
forth  fruit,  then  appeared  the  tares 
also,  &c.  Ver.  47.  Again,  the  king- 
dom of  heaven  is  like  unto  a  net 
that  was  cast  into  the  sea,  and 
gathered  of  every  kind. 

1  Rev.  xviii.  2.  And  lie  cried 
mightily  with  a  strong  voice, 
ing,  Babylon  the  great  is  fallen, "is 
fallen,  and  is  become  the  habita- 
tion of  devils,  and  the  hold  of 
every  foul  spirit,  and  a  cage  of 
everv  unclean  and   hateful  bird. 


152 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


Chap.  XXV. 


Nevertheless,  there  shall  be  always  a  church  on  earth  to 
worship  God  according  to  his  will.m 

VI.  There  is  no  other  head  of  the  church  but  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ : n  nor  can  the  Pope  of  Rome  in  any  sense  be 
head  thereof;  but  is  that  antichrist,  that  man  of  sin,  and  son 
of  perdition,  that  exalteth  himself  in  the  church  against 
Christ,  and  all  that  is  called  God.0 


Rom.  xi.  18.  Boast  not  against  the 
branches:  but  if  thou  boast,  thou 
bearest  not  the  root,  but  the  root 
thee.  Ver.  19.  Thou  wilt  say 
then,  The  branches  were  broken 
off,  that  I  might  be  grafted  in. 
Ver.  20.  Well;  because  of  unbelief 
they  were  broken  off,  and  thou 
standest  by  faith.  Be  not  high- 
minded,  but  fear.  Ver.  21.  For 
if  God  spared  not  the  natural 
branches,  take  heed  lest  he  also 
spare  not  thee.  Ver.  22.  Behold 
therefore  the  goodness  and  seve- 
rity of  God:  on  them  which  fell, 
severity ;  but  toward  thee,  good- 
ness, if  thou  continue  in  his  good- 
ness;  otherwise  thou  also  shalt  be 
cut  off. 

m  Mat.  xvi.  18.  And  I  say  also 
unto  thee,  That  thou  art  Peter; 
and  upon  this  rock  I  will  build 
my  church;  and  the  gates  of  hell 
shall  not  prevail  against  it.  Psal. 
lxxii.  17.  His  name  shall  endure 
for  ever:  his  name  shall  be  con- 
tinued as  long  as  the  sun :  and 
men  shall  be  blessed  in  him;  all 
nations  shall  call  him  blessed. 
Psal.  cii.  28.  The  children  of  thy 
servants  shall  continue,  and  their 
seed  shall  be  established  before 
thee.  Mat.  xxviii.  19,  20.  [See  in 
letter  K] 

VI.  n  Col.  i.  18.  And  he  is  the 
headi  of  the  body,  the  church; 
who  is  the  beginning,  the  first- 
born from   the  dead;    that  in  all 


things  he  might  have  the  pre- 
eminence. Eph.  i.  22.  And  hath 
put  all  things  under  his  feet,  and 
gave  him  to  be  the  head  over  all 
things  to  the  church. 

0  Mat.  xxiii.  8.  But  be  not  ye 
called  Rabbi:  for  one  is  your 
Master,  even  Christ,  and  all  ye 
are  brethren.  Ver.  9.  And  call  no 
man  your  father  upon  earth: 
for  one  is  your  Father,  which  is 
in  heaven.  Ver.  10.  Neither  be  ye 
called  masters,  for  one  is  your 
Master,  even  Christ.  2  Thess.  ii.  3. 
Let  no  man  deceive  you  by  any 
means :  for  that  day  shall  not 
come  except  there  come  a  falling 
away  first,  and  that  man  of  sin 
be  revealed,  the  son  of  perdition: 
Ver-  4.  Who  opposeth  and  exalt- 
eth himself  above  all  that  is  call- 
ed God,  or  that  is  worshipped; 
so  that  he,  as  God,  sitteth  in  the 
temple  of  God,  showing  himself 
that  he  is  God.  Ver.  8.  And  then 
shall  that  wicked  be  revealed, 
whom  the  Lord  shall  consume 
with  the  Spirit  of  his  mouth,  and 
shall  destroy  with  the  brightness 
of  his  coming:  Ver.  9.  Even  him, 
whose  coming  is  after  the  work- 
ing of  Satan,  with  all  power, 
and  signs,  and  lying  wonders. 
R,ev.  xiii.  6.  And  he  opened  his 
mouth  in  blasphemy  against  God, 
to  blaspheme  his  name,  and  his  ta- 
bernacle, and  them  that  dwell  ii 
heaven. 


Chap.  XXVI. 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


15, 


CHAPTER  XXVI.      Of  Communion  of  Saints. 

All  saints  that  are  united  to  Jesus  Christ  their  head  by 
his  Spirit,  and  by  faith,  have  fellowship  with  him  in  his 
graces,  sufferings,  death,  resurrection,  and  glory.*  And 
being  united  to  one  another  in  love,  they  have  communion 
in  each  other's  gifts  and  graces ; b  and  are  obliged  to  the 
performance  of  such  duties,  public  and  private,  as  do  con- 
duce to  their  mutual  good,  both  in  the  inward  and  outward 
man.0 


I.  a  1  John  i.  3.  That  which  we 
ive  seen  and  heard  declare  we 
lto  you,  that  ye  also  may  have 
llowship  with  us:  and  truly  our 
llowship  is  with  the  Father,  and 
itJi  his  Son  Jesus  Christ.  Eph. 
•  16.  That  he  would  grant  you, 
cording  to  the  riches  ofhis  glory, 
be  strengthened  with  might  by 
3  Spirit  in  the  inner  man ;  Ver. 
'.  That  Christ  may  dwell  in  your 
arts  by  faith;  that  ye,  being 
Dted  and  grounded  in  love,  Ver. 
be  able  to  comprehend 
saints,  what  is  the  breadth, 
d  length,  and  depth,  and  height; 
tt.  19.  And  to  know  the  love  of 
irist,  which  passeth  knowledge, 
at  ye  might  be  filled  with  all  the 
Iness  of  God.  John  i.  16.  And  of 
3  fulness  have  all  we  received, 
d  grace  for  grace.  Eph.  ii.  5. 
en  when  we  were  dead  in  sins, 
th  quickened  us  together  with 
irist,  (by  grace^ye  are  saved,) 
ir.  6.  And  hatirraised  us  up  to- 
ther,  and  made  us  sit  together 
heavenly  places  in  Christ  "Jesus. 
lil.  iii.  10.  That  I  may  know  him, 
d  the  power  of  his  resurrection, 
fellowship  of  his  suffer- 
rs,  being  made  conformable  un- 
his  death.  Rom.  vi.  5.  For  if 
)  have  been  planted  together  in 
e  likeness  of  his  death,  we  shall 
also  in  the  likeness  ofhis  resur- 


rection: Ver.  6.  Knowing  this,  that 
our  old  man  is  crucified  with  him, 
that  the  body  of  sin  might  be  de- 
stroyed, that  henceforth  we  should 
not  serve  sin.  2  Tim.  ii.  12.  If 
we  suffer,  we  shall  also  reign  with 
him  :  if  we  deny  him,  he  also  will 
deny  us. 

b  Eph-  iv.  15.  But  speaking  the 
truth  in  love,  may  grow  up  into 
him  in  all  things,  which  is  the 
head,  even  Christ.  Ver.  16.  From 
whom  the  whole  body  fitly  joined 
together,  and  compacted  by  that 
which  every  joint  supplietb,  ac- 
cording to  the  effectual  working  in 
the  measure  of  every  part,  maketh 
increase  of  the  body,  unto  the  edi- 
fying of  itself  in  love.  1  Cor.  xii. 
?•  But  the  manifestation  of  the  Spi- 
rit is  given  to  every7  man  to  profit 
withal.  1  Cor.  iii  21.  Therefore 
let  no  man  glory  in  men :  for  all 
things  are  yours":  Ver.  22.  Whe- 
ther Paul,  or  A  polios,  or  Ce; 
or  the  world,  or  life,  or  death,  or 
things  present,  or  things  to  come; 
all  are  yours;  Ver.  2:3.  And  ye  are 
Christ's";  and  Christ  is  G<  d's*.  Col. 
ii.  19.  And  not  holding  the  head, 
from  which  all  the  body  by  joints 
and  bands  having  nourishment 
ministered,  and  knit  together,  in- 
creassth  with  the  increase  of  God. 

c  1   These,   v.    11.     Wherefore 
comfort  vourselves   together,  and 


154 


The  Confession  of  Faith.  Chap.  XXVI; 


II.  Saints,  by  profession,  are  bound  to  maintain  a  holy 
fellowship  and  communion  in  the  worship  of  God,  and  in  j 
performing  such  other  spiritual  services  as  tend  to  their 
mutual  edification;*1  as  also  in  relieving  each  other  in  out- 
ward things,  according  to  their  several  abilities  and  neces- 
sities. Which  communion,  as  God  offereth  opportunity, 
is  to  be  extended  unto  all  those  who  in  every  place  call 
upon  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus.6 

III.  This  communion  which  the  saints  have  with  Christ, 


edify  one  another,  even  as  also  ye 
do.  Ver.  14.  Now  we  exhort  you, 
brethren,  warn  them  that  are  un- 
ruly, comfort  the  feeble-minded, 
support  the  weak,  be  patient  to- 
ward all  men.  Rom.  i.  11.  For  I 
long  to  see  yon,  that  I  may  impart 
unto  you  some  spiritual  gift,  to  the 
end  ye  may  be  established ;  Ver.  12. 
That  is,  that  I  may  be  comforted 
together  with  you,  by  the  mutual 
faith  both  of  you  and  me.  Ver.  14. 
I  am  debtor  both  to  the  Greeks 
and  to  the  Barbarians:  both  to  the 
wise  and  to  the  unwise-  1  John 
iii.  16.  Hereby  perceive  we  the  love 
of  God,  because  he  laid  down  his 
life  for  us:  and  we  ought  to  lay 
down  our  lives  for  the  brethren. 
Ver.  17.  But  whoso  hath  this 
world's  good,  and  seeth  his  bro- 
ther have  need,  and  shutteth  up 
his  bowels  of  compassion  from  him, 
how  dwelleth  the  love  of  God  in 
him?  Ver.  18.  My  little  children, 
let  us  not  love  in  word,  neither  in 
tongue,  but  in  deed,  and  in  truth. 
Gal.  vi.  10.  As  we  have  therefore 
opportunity,  let  us  do  good  unto 
all  men,  especially  unto  them  who 
are  of  the  household  of  faith. 

II.  d  Heb.  x.  24.  And  let  us  con- 
sider one  another,  to  provoke  unto 
love  and  to  good  works:  Ver-  25. 
Not  forsaking  the  assembling  of 
ourselves  together,  as  the  manner 
of  some  is ;  but  exhorting  one  an- 


other :  and  so  much  the  more,  as  ye 
see  the  day  approaching.  Acts  ii. 
42.  And  they  continued  steadfastly 
in  the  apostles'  doctrine  and  fel- 
lowship, and  in  breaking  of  bree 
and  in  prayer.  Ver.  46.  And  the 
continuing  daily  with  one  accor 
in  the  temple,  and  breaking 
bread  from  house  to  house,  die 
eat  their  meat  with  gladness  and 
singleness  of  heart.  Isa.  ii.  3.  And 
many  people  shall  go  and  say, 
Come  ye,  and  let  us  go  up  to  the 
mountain  of  the  Lord,  to  the  house 
of  the  God  of  Jacob,  and  he  will 
teach  us  of  his  ways,  and  we  will 
walk  in  his  paths;  for  out  of  Zion 
shall  go  forth  the  law,  and  the 
word  of  the  Lord  from  Jerusalem. 
1  Cor.  xi.  20.  When  ye  come  to- 
gether therefore  into  one  place, 
this  is  not  to  eat  the  Lord's  supper. 

6  Acts  ii.  44.  And  all  that  be-  ji 
lieved  were  together,  and  had  all 
things  common  ;  Ver.  45.  And  sold 
their  possessions  and  goods,  and 
parted  them  to  all  men,  as  every 
man  had  need.  1  John  iii.  17. 
[See  in  letter0.  2  Cor.  Chapters 
viii.  and  ix.]  Acts  xi.  29.  Then| 
the  disciples,  every  man  according 
to  his  ability,  determined  to  send 
relief  unto  the  brethren  which 
dwelt  in  Judea:  Ver.  30.  Which 
also  they  did,  and  sent  it  to  the 
elders  by  the  hands  of  Barnabas 
and  Saul. 


Chap.  XXVII.  The  Confession  of  Faith.  155 

doth  not  make  them  in  any  wise  partakers  of  the  substance 
of  his  Godhead,  or  to  be  equal  with  Christ  in  any  respect : 
either  of  which  to  affirm  is  impious  and  blasphemous/ 
doth  their  communion  one  with  another,  as  saints, 
take  away  or  infringe  the -title  or  property  which  each  man 
hath  in  his  goods  and  possessions.5 


CHAPTER  XXVII.     Of  the  Sacraments. 

Sacramexts  are  holy  signs  and  seals  of  the  covenant 
of  grace,*  immediately  instituted  by  God,b  to   represent 


III.  f  Col.  i.  IS.  And  he  is  the 
head  of  the  body,  the  church;  who 
is  the  beginning,  the  first-born 
from  the  dead;  that  in  all  things 
he  mijrht  have  the  pre-eminence. 
Ver.  19.  For  it  pleased  the  Father 
that  in  him  should  all  fulness  dwell. 
1  Cor.  viii.  6.  But  to  us  there  is 
but  one  God,  the  Father,  of  whom 
are  all  things,  and  we  in  him; 
and  one  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  by 
whom  are  all  things,  and  we  by 
him.  Isa.  xlii.  8.  I  am  the  Lord, 
that  is  rny  name;  and  my  glory 
will  I  not  give  to  another,  neither 
my  praise  to  graven  images.  1  Tim. 
vi.  15.  Which  in  his  times  he  shall 
show,  who  is  the  blessed  and  only 
Potentate,  the  King  of  kings,  and 
Lord  of  lords;  Ver.  16.  Who  only 
hath  immortality,  dwelling  in  the 
light  which  no  man  can  approach 
unto;  whom  no  man  hath  seen, 
nor  can  see :  to  whom  be  honour 
and    power    everlasting.      Amen. 

I.  xlv.  7.  Thou  lovestrighteous- 

--,  and  hatest  wickedness:  there- 

3  God,  thy  God,  hath  anointed 

thee  with  the  oil  of  gladness  above 

fellows.     With  Heb.  i.  8.    But 

unto  the  Son  he  saith,  Thy  throne, 

0   God,  is  for  ever  and  ever;   a 

,  Fceptre   of  righteousness    is   the 

Xtq  of  thy  kingdom :   Ver.  9. 


Thou  hnst  loved  righteousness, 
and  hated  iniquity ;  therefore  God, 
even  thy  God,  hath  anointed  thee 
with  the  oil  of  gladness  above  thy 
fellows. 

*  Exod.  xx.  15.  Thou  shalt  not 
steal.  Eph.  iv.  28.  Let  him  that 
stole  steal  no  more:  but  rather  let 
him  labour,  working  with  his  hands 
the  thing  which  is  good,  that  he 
may  have  to  give  to  him  that  need- 
eth.  Acts  v.  4.  Whiles  it  remained, 
was  it  not  thine  own  1  and  after  it 
was  sold,  was  it  not  in  thine  own 
power )  why  hast  thou  conceived 
this  thing  in  thine  heart]  thou  hast 
not  lied  unto  men,  but  unto  God. 

I.  *Rom.  iv.  11.  And  he  received 
the  sign  of  circumcision,  a  seal  of 
the  righteousness  of  the  faith 
which  he  had,  yet  being  uncir- 
cumcised:  that  he  might  be  the 
father  of  all  them  that  believe, 
though  they  be  not  circumcised; 
that  righteousness  might  be  im-' 
puted  unto  them  also.  Gen.  xvii. 
7.  And  I  will  establish  my  cove- 
nant between  me  and  thee,  and 
thy  seed  after  thee,  in  their  gene- 
rations, for  an  everlasting  cove- 
nant ;  to  be  a  God  unto  thee,  and 
to  thy  seed  after  thee.  Ver.  10. 
[See  "below  in  letter f.] 

b  Mat.  xxviii.  19.  Go  ye  there- 


156 


The  Confession  of  Faith.  Chap.  XXVII. 


Christ  and  his  benefits,  and  to  confirm  our  interest  in 
him ; c  as  also  to  put  a  visible  difference  between  those  that 
belong  unto  the  church  and  the  rest  of  the  world ; d  and 
solemnly  to  engage  them  to  the  service  of  God  in  Christ, 
according  to  his  word.6 

II.  There  is  in  every  sacrament  a  spiritual  relation,  or  sa- 
cramental union,  between  the  sign  and  the  thing  signified; 
whence  it  comes  to  pass,  that  the  names  and  effects  of  the 
one  are  attributed  to  the  other/ 


fore  and  teach  all  nations,  bap- 
tizing them  in  the  name  of  the  Fa- 
ther, and  of  the  Son,  and  of  the 
Holy  Ghost.  1  Cor.  xi.  23.  For  I 
have  received  of  the  Lord  that 
which  also  I  delivered  unto  you, 
That  the  Lord  Jesus,  the  same 
night  in  which  he  was  betrayed, 
took  bread. 

c  1  Cor.  x.  16.  The  cup  of  bless- 
ing which  we  bless,  is  it  not  the 
communion  of  the  blood  of  Christ? 
the  bread  which  we  break,  is  it  not 
the  communion  of  the  body  of 
Christ?  1  Cor.  xi.  25.  After  the 
same  manner  also  he  took  the  cup, 
when  he  had  supped,  saying,  This 
cup  is  the  new  testament  in  my 
blood:  this  do  ye,  as  oft  as  ye 
drink  it,  in  remembrance  of  me. 
Ver,  26.  For  as  often  as  ye  eat  this 
bread,  and  drink  this  cup,  ye  do 
show  the  Lord's  death  till  he  come. 
*  Gal.  iii.  27.  For  as  many  of  you 
as  have  been  baptized  into  Christ, 
have  put  on  Christ.  Gal.  iii.  17. 
And  this  I  say,  that  the  covenant, 
that  was  confirmed  before  of  God 
in  Christ,  the  law,  which  was  four 
hundred  and  thirty  years  after, 
cannot  disannul,  that  it  should 
make  the  promise  of  none  effect. 

d  Rom.  xv.  8.  Now  I  say,  that 
Jesus  Christ  was  a  minister  of  the 
circumcision  for  the  truth  of  God, 
to  confirm  the  promises  made  unto 
the  fathers.     Exod.  xii.  48.   And 


when  a  stranger  shall  sojourn  with 
thee,  and  will  keep  the  passover 
to  the  Lord,  let  all  his  males  be 
circumcised,  and  then  let  him  come 
near  and  keep  it;  and  he  shall  be 
as  one  that  is  born  in  the  land:  for 
no  uncircumcised  person  shall  eat 
thereof.  Gen.  xxxiv.  14.  And  they 
said  unto  them,  We  cannot  do  this 
thing,  to  give  our  sister  to  one  that 
is  uncircumcised  ;  for  that  were  a 
reproach  unto  us. 

e  Rom.  vi.  3.  Know  ye  not,  that 
so  many  of  us  as  were  baptized 
into  Jesus  Christ  were  baptized 
into  his  death?  Ver.  4.  Therefore 
we  are  buried  with  him  by  bap- 
tism into  death:  that  like  as  Christ 
was  raised  up  from  the  dead  by  tin 
glory  of  the  Father,  even  so  we 
also  should  walk  in  newness  of 
life.  1  Cor.  x.  16.  [See  in  let- 
ter0.] Ver.  21.  Ye  cannot  drink 
the  cup  of  the  Lord,  and  the  cup 
of  devils;  ye  cannot  be  partakers 
of  the  Lord's  table,  and  of  the 
table  of  devils. 

II.  f  Gen.  xvii.  10.  This  is  my 
covenant,  which  ye  shall  keep  be- 
tween me  and  you,  and  thy  seed 
after  thee:  Every  man-child 
among  you  shall  be  circumcised. 
Mat.  xxvi.  27.  And  he  took  the 
cup,  and  gave  thanks,  and  gave  it 
to  them,  saying,  Drink  ye  all  of 
it:  Ver.  28.  For  this  is  my  blood  of 
the  new  testament,  which  is  shed 


Chap.  XXVII. 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


157 


III.  The  grace  which  is  exhibited  in  or  by  the  sacra- 
ments, rightly  used,  is  not  conferred  by  any  power  in  them; 
neither  doth  the  efficacy  of  a  sacrament  depend  upon  the 
piety  or  intention  of  him  that  doth  administer  it,6  but  upon 
the  work  of  the  Spirit,h  and  the  word  of  institution;  which 
contains,  together  with  a  precept  authorizing  the  use  there- 
of, a  promise  of  benefit  to  worthy  receivers.1 

IV.  There  be  only  two  sacraments  ordained  by  Christ 
our  Lord  in  the  gospel,  that  is  to  say,  Baptism,  and  the 
Supper  of  the  Lord;  neither  of  which  may  be  dispensed  by 
any  but  by  a  minister  of  the  word,  lawfully  ordained.* 

V.  The"  sacraments  of  the  Old  Testament,  in  regard  of 
the  spiritual  things  thereby  signified  and  exhibited,  were, 
for  substance,  the  same  with  those  of  the  New.1 


for  many,  for  the  remission  of  sins. 
Tit.  iii.  5.  Not  by  works  of  righte- 
ousness which  we  have  done,  but 
according  to  his  mercy  he  saved 
us,  by  the  washing  of  regeneration, 
and  renewing  of  the  Holv  Ghost. 

III.  6  Rom.  ii.  28.  For"  he  is  not 
a  Jew,  which  is  one  outward- 
ly; neither  is  that  circumcision, 
which  is  outward  in  the  flesh ; 
Ver.  29.  But  he  is  a  Jew,  which  i3 
one  inwardly;  and  circumcision 
19  that  of  the  heart,  in  the  spirit, 
and  not  in  the  letter,  whose  praise 
is  not  of  men,  but  of  God.  1  Pet. 
iii.  21.  The  like  figure  whereun- 
to,  even  baptism,  doth  also  now 
save  us,  (not  the  putting  away 
of  the  filth  of  the  flesh,  but  the 
answer  of  a  good  conscience  to- 
wards God,)  by  the  resurrection  of 
Jesus  Christ. 

h  Mat.  iii.  11.  I  indeed  baptize 
you  with  water  unto  repentance; 
but  he  that  cometh  after  me  is 
mightier  than  I,  whose  shoes  I  am 
not  worthy  to  bear:  he  shall  bap- 
tize you  with  the  Holy  Ghost,  and 
with  fire.  1  Cor.  xii.  13.  For  by 
one  Spirit  are  we  all  baptized  into 
one  body,  whether  we  be  Jews  or 
14 


Gentiles,  whether  we  be  bond  or 
free;  and  have  been  all  made  to 
drink  into  one  Spirit. 

*  Mat.  xxvi.  27,  28.  [See  in  let- 
ter ']  Mat.  xxviii.  19.  [See  in  let- 
ter b.]  Ver.  20.  Teaching  them  to 
observe  all  things  whatsoever  I 
have  commanded  you  :  and,  lo,  I 
am  with  you  alway,  even  unto  the 
end  of  the  world.     Amen. 

IV.  k  Mat.  xxviii.  19.  Go  ye 
therefore,  and  teach  all  nations, 
baptizing  them  in  the  name  of  the 
Father,  and  of  the  Son,  and  of  the 
Holy  Ghost.  1  Cor.  xi.  20.  When 
ye  come  together  therefore  into 
one  place,  this  is  not  to  eat  the 
Lord's  supper.  Ver.  23.  For  I  have 
received  of  the  Lord  that  which 
also  I  delivered  unto  you,  That  the 
Lord  Jesus,  the  same  night  in 
which  he  was  betrayed,  took  bread. 
1  Cor.  iv.  1.  Let  a  man  so  account 
of  us  as  of  the  ministers  of  Christ, 
and  stewards  of  the  mysteries  of 
God.  Heb.  v.  4.  And  no  man 
taketh  this  honour  unto  himself, 
but  he  that  is  called  of  God,~  as 
was  Aaron. 

V.  '  1  Cor.  x.  1.  Moreover,  bre- 
thren, 1  would  not  that  yc  should 


158  The  Confession  of  Faith.        Chap.  XXVII  [. 

CHAPTER  XXVIII.     Of  Baptism. 

Baptism  is  a  sacrament  of  the  New  Testament,  ordained 
by  Jesus  Christ/  not  only  for  the  solemn  admission  of  the 
party  baptized  into  the  visible  church,b  but  also  to  be  unto 
him  a  sign  and  seal  of  the  covenant  of  grace,0  of  his  ingraft- 
ing into  Christ/  of  regeneration,6  of  remission  of  sins/  and 
of  his  giving  up  unto  God  through  Jesus  Christ,  to  walk  in 
newness  of  life  :g  which  sacrament  is,  by  Christ's  own  ap- 
pointment, to  be  continued  in  his  church  until  the  end  of 
the  world.h 


be  ignorant,  how  that  all  our  fa- 
thers were  under  the  cloud,  and  all 
passed  through  the  sea;  Ver.  2. 
And  were  all  baptized  unto  Moses 
in  the  cloud,  and  in  the  sea;  Ver. 
3.  And  did  all  eat  the  same  spiri- 
tual meat;  Ver.  4.  And  did  all 
drink  the  same  spiritual  drink: 
(for  they  drank  of  that  spiritual 
Rock  that  followed  them;  and 
that  Rock  was  Christ.) 

I.  a  Mat.  xxviii.  19.  [See  letter  k 
of  the  foregoing  Chapter.] 

h  1  Cor.  xii.  13.  For  by  one  Spi- 
rit are  we  all  baptized  into  one 
body,  whether  we  be  Jews  or 
Gentiles,  whether  we  be  bond  or 
free;  and  have  been  all  made  to 
drink  into  one  Spirit. 

c  Rom.  iv.  11.  And  he  received 
the  sign  of  circumcision,  a  seal  of 
the  righteousness  of  the  faith  which 
he  had  yet  being  uncircumcised; 
that  he  might  be  the  father  of  all 
them  that  believe,  though  they  be 
not  circumcised ;  that  righteous- 
ness might  be  imputed  unto  them 
also.  With  Col.  ii.  11.  In  whom 
also  ye  are  circumcised  with  the 
circumcision  made  without  hands, 
in  putting  off  the  body  of  the  sins 
of  the  flesh  by  the  circumcision  of 
Christ:  Ver.  12.  Buried  with  him 
in  baptism,  wherein  also  ye  are 
risen  with  him,  through  the  faith 


of  the  oj^ration  of  God  who  hath 
raised  him  from  the  dead. 

d  Gal.  iii.  27.  For  as  many  of 
you  as  have  been  baptized  into 
Christ,  have  put  on  Christ.  Rom. 
vi.  5.  For  if  we  have  been  planted 
together  in  the  likeness  of  his 
death,  we  shall  be  also  in  the  like- 
ness of  his  resurrection. 

e  Tit.  iii.  5.  Not  by  wTorks  of 
righteousness  which  we  have  done, 
but  according  to  his  mercy  he 
saved  us,  by  the  washing  of  rege- 
neration, and  renewing  of  the  Holy 
Ghost. 

f  Mark  i.  4-  John  did  baptize  in 
the  wilderness,  and  preach  the 
baptism  of  repentance  for  the  re- 
mission of  sins. 

&  Rom.  vi.  3.  Know  ye  not,  that 
so  many  of  us  as  were  baptized 
into  Jesus  Christ,  were  baptized 
into  his  death?  Ver.  4.  Therefore 
we  are  buried  with  him  by  baptism 
into  death  :  that  like  as  Christ  was 
raised  up  from  the  dead  by  the 
glory  of  the  Father,  even  so  we  also 
should  walk  in  newness  of  life. 

h  Mat.  xxviii.  19.  [See  in  let- 
ter k  foregoing  Chapter.]  Ver.  20. 
Teaching  them  to  observe  all 
things  whatsoever  I  have  com- 
manded you:  and,  lo,  I  am  with 
you  alway,  even  unto  the  end  of 
the  world.     Amen. 


Chap.  XXVIII.  The  Confession  of  Faith.  159 

II.  The  outward  element  to  be  used  in  this  sacrament  is 
water,  wherewith  the  party  is  to  be  baptized  in  the  name 
of  the  Father,  and  of  the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  by 
a  minister  of  the  gospel,  lawfully  called  thereunto.1 

III.  Dipping  of  the  person  into  the  water  is  not  neces- 
sary; but  baptism  is  rightly  administered  by  pouring  or 
sprinkling  water  upon  the  person.k 

IV.  Not  only  those  that  do  actually  profess  faith  in  and 
obedience  unto  Christ,1  but  also  the  infants  of  one  or  both 
believing  parents  are  to  be  baptized.™ 


II.  ■  Mat.  iii.  11.  I  indeed  bap- 
tize you  with  water  unto  repent- 
ance; but  he  that  coraeth  after  me 
is  mightier  than  I,  whose  shoes  I 
am  not  worthy  to  bear:  he  shall 
baptize  you  with  the  Holy  Ghost, 
and  with  fire.  John  i.  33.  And  I 
knew  him  not:  but  he  that  sent 
me  to  baptize  with  water,  the 
same  said  unto  me,  Upon  whom 
thou  shalt  see  the  Spirit  descend- 
ing, and  remaining  on  him,  the 
same  is  he  which  baptizeth  with 
the  Holy  Ghost.  Mat.  xxviii.  19. 
[See  in  letter*  foregoing  Chap- 
ter.] Ver.  20.  [See  in  letter  \] 

III.  kHcb.   ix.   10,  19,  2 

22.  Acts  ii.  41.  Then  they  that 
gladly  received  his  word  were 
baptized:  and  the  same  day  there 
were  added  unto  them  about  three 
thousand  souls.  Acts  xvi.  33. 
And  he  took  them  the  same  hour 
of  the  night,  and  washed  their 
stripes ;  and  was  baptized,  he  and 
all  his,  straightway.  Mark  vii.  4. 
And  when  they  come  from  the 
market,  except  they  wash,  they 
eat  not.  And  many  other  things 
there  be  which  they  have  received 
to  hold,  as  the  washing  of  cups 
and  pots,  brasen  vessels,  and  of 
tables. 

IV. '  Mark  xvi.  15.  And  he  said 
unto  them,  Go  ye  into  all  the 
world,  and  preach  the  gospel  to 


every  creature.  Ver.  16.  He  that 
belie veth  and  is  baptized  shall  be 
saved;  but  he  that  believeth  not 
shall  be  damned.  Acts  viii.  37. 
And  Philip  said,  If  thou  belie  vest 
with  all  thine  heart,  thou  mayest. 
And  he  answered  and  said,  1  be- 
lieve that  Jesus  Christ  is  the  Son 
of  God.-  Ver.  38.  And  he  com- 
manded the  chariot  to  stand  still: 
and  they  went  down  both  into  the 
water,  both  Philip  and  the  eunuch  ; 
and  he  baptized  him. 

m  Gen.  xvii.  7.  And  I  w; 
blish  my  covenant  between  me 
and  thee,  and  thy  seed  after  thee, 
in  their  generations,  for  an  ever- 
lasting covenant,  to  be  a  God  unto 
thee,  and  to  thy  seed  afte: 
Ver.  9.  And  God  said  unto  Abra- 
ham, Thou  shalt  keep  my  cove- 
nant therefore,  thou,  and  thy  seed 
after  thee,  in  their  generations. 
With  Gr.l.  iii.  9.  So  then  they 
which  be  of  faith  are  blessed  with 
faithful  Abraham.  Ver.  14.  That 
the  blessing  of  Abraham  might 
come  on  the  Gentiles  through  Je- 
sus Christ;  that  we  might  receive 
the  promise  of  the  Spirit  through 
faith.  And  Col.  ii.  11.  In  whom 
also  ye  are  circumcised  with  the 
circumcision  made  without  hands, 
in  putting  oft  the  body  of  the 
sins  of  the  flesh,  bv  the  circum- 
cision of  Christ:    Ver.   12.     Bu- 


160  The  Confession  of  Faith.         Chap.  XXVIII.'. 

V.  Although  it  be  a  great  sin  to  contemn  or  neglect  this 
ordinance,"  yet  grace  and  salvation  are  not  so  inseparably 
annexed  unto  it,  as  that  no  person  can  be  regenerated  or 
saved  without  it,0  or  that  all  that  are  baptized  are  undoubt- 
edly regenerated. p 


ried  with  him  in  baptism,  where- 
in also  ye  are  risen  with  him 
through  the  faith  of  the  operation 
of  God,  who  hath  raised  him  from 
the  dead.  And  Acts  ii.  38.  Then 
Peter  said  unto  them,  Repent,  and 
be  baptized  every  one  of  you  in  the 
name  of  Jesus  Christ,  for  the  re- 
mission of  sins,  and  ye  shall  receive 
the  gift  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  Ver. 
39.  For  the  promise  is  unto  you, 
and  to  your  children,  and  to  all 
that  are  afar  off,  even  as  many  as 
the  Lord  our  God  shall  call.  And 
Rom.  iv.  11.  And  he  received  the 
sign  of  circumcision,  a  seal  of  the 
righteousness  of  the  faith  which 
he  had  yet  being  unchrcumcised  ; 
that  he  might  be  the  father  of  all 
them  that  believe,  though  they  be 
not  circumcised;  that  righteous- 
ness might  be  imputed  unto  them 
also:  Ver.  12.  And  the  father  of 
circumcision  to  them  who  are  not 
of  the  circumcision  only,  but  who 
also  walk  in  the  steps  of  that  faith 
of  our  father  Abraham,  which  he 
had,  being  yet  uncircumcised.  1 
Cor.  vii.  14.  For  the  unbelieving 
husband  is  sanctified  by  the  wife, 
and  the  unbelieving  wife  is  sanc- 
tified by  the  husband;  else  were 
your  children  unclean,  but  now 
are  they  holy.  Mat.  xxviii.  19. 
Go  ye  therefore,  and  teach  all  na- 
tions, baptizing  them  in  the  name 
of  the  Father,  and  of  the  Son,  and 
of  the  Holy  Ghost.  Mark  x.  13. 
And  they  brought  young  children 
to  him,  that  he  should  touch  them; 
and  his  disciples  rebuked  those  that 


brought  them.  Ver.  14.  But  when 
Jesus  saw  it,  he  was  much  dis- 
pleased, and  said  unto  them,  Suf- 
fer the  little  children  to  $omc  unto 
me,  and  forbid  them  not:  for  of 
such  is  the  kingdom  of  God.  Ver. 
15.  Verily  I  say  unto  you,  Whoso- 
ever shall  not  receive,  the  kingdom 
of  God  as  a  little  child,  he  shall  not 
enter  therein.  Ver.  16-  And  he 
took  them  up  in  his  arms,  put  his 
hands  upon  them,  and  blessed 
them.  Luke  xviii.  15.  And  they 
brought  unto  him  also  infants,  that 
he  would  touch  them :  but  when  his 
disciples  saw  it,  they  rebuked  them. 

V.  »  Luke  vii.  30.  But  the  Pha- 
risees and  lawyers  rejected  the 
counsel  of  God  against  themselves, 
being  not  baptized  of  him.  With 
Exod.  iv.  24.  And  it  came  to  pass 
by  the  way  in  the  inn,  that  the 
Lord  met  him,  and  sought  to  kill 
him.  Ver.  25.  Then  Zipporah  took 
a  sharp  stone,  and  cut  off  the  fore- 
skin of  her  son,  and  cast  it  at  his 
feet,  and  said,  Surely  a  bloody  hus- 
band art  thou  to  me.  Ver.  26. 
So  he  let  him  go:  then  she  said, 
A  bloody  husband  thou  art,  because 
of  the  circumcision. 

0  Rom.  iv.  11.  [See  in  letter™.] 
Actsx.  2,  4,  22,31,  45,  47. 

p  Acts  viii.  13.  Then  Simon  him- 
self believed  also:  and  when  he  was 
baptized,  he  continued  with  Philip, 
and  wondered,  beholding  the  mira- 
cles and  signs  which  were  done. 
Ver.  23.  For  I  perceive  that  thou 
art  in  the  gall  of  bitterness,  and  in 
the  bond  of  iniquity. 


Chap.  XXIX. 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


161 


VI.  The  efficacy  of  baptism  is  not  tied  to  that  moment 
of  time  wherein  it  is  administered ; q  yet  notwithstanding, 
by  the  right  use  of  this  ordinance,  the  grace  promised  is  not 
only  offered,  but  really  exhibited  and  conferred  by  the  Holy 
Ghost,  to  such  (whether  of  age  or  infants)  as  that  grace  be- 
longeth  unto,  according  to  the  counsel  of  God's  own  will, 
in  his  appointed  time.r 

VJI.  The  sacrament  of  baptism  is  but  once  to  be  admi- 
nistered to  any  person,3 


CHAPTER  XXIX.     Of  the  Lord's  Supper. 

Our  Lord  Jesus,  in  the  night  wherein  he  was  betrayed, 
instituted  the  sacrament  of  his  body  and  blood,  called  the 
Lord's  Supper,  to  be  observed  in  his  church  unto  the  end 
of  the  world,  for  the  perpetual  remembrance  of  the  sacri- 
fice of  himself  in  his  death,  the  sealing  all  benefits  thereof 
unto  true  believers,  their  spiritual  nourishment  and  growth 
in  him,  their  farther  engagement  in  and  to  all  duties 
which  they  owe  unto  him,  and  to  be  a  bond  and  pledge  of 
their  communion  with  him,  and  with  each  other,  as  mem. 
bers  of  his  mystical  body,a 


VI.  i  John  iii,  5-  Jesus  answered, 
Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  thee,  Ex- 
cept a  man  be  born  of  water,  and 
of  the  Spirit,  he  cannot  enter  into 
the  kingdom  of  God.  Ver.  3.  The 
wind  bloweth  where  it  listeth,  and 
thou  nearest  the  sound  thereof,  but 
canst  not  tell  whence  it  cometh, 
and  whither  it  goeth :  so  is  every 
one  that  is  born  "of  the  Spirit. 

r  Gal.  iii.  27.  For  as  many  of  you 
as  have  been  baptized  into' Christ, 
have  put  on  Christ.  Tit.  iii.  5. 
Not  by  works  of  righteousness 
which  we  have  done,  but  accord- 
ing to  his  mercy  he  saved  us  by 
the  washing  of  regeneration,  and 
renewing  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  Eph. 
v.  25.  Husbands,  love  your  wives, 
even  as  Christ  also  loved  the 
14* 


church  and  gave  himself  for  it; 
Ver.  26.  That  he  might  sanctify 
and  cleanse  it  with  the  washing  of 
water  by  the  word.  Acts  ii.  38. 
Then  Peter  said  unto  them,  Re- 
pent and  be  baptized  every  one  of 
you  in  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ,  for 
the  remission  of  sins,  and  ye  shall 
receive  the  gift  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 
Ver.  41.  Then  they  that  gladly  re- 
ceived his  word  were  baptized: 
and  the  same  day  there  were  added 
unto  them  about  three  thousand 
souls. 

VI r.  s  Tit.  iii.  5.  [See  in  letter'] 
I.  ■  1  Cor.  xi.  23.  For  I  have 
received  of  the  Lord  that  which 
also  I  delivered  unto  you,  That 
the  Lord  Jesus,  the  same  night  in 
which     he    was     betrayed,    took. 


162 


The  Confession  of  Faith.  Chap.  XXIX. 


II.  In  this  sacrament  Christ  is  not  offered  up  to  his  Father, 
nor  any  real  sacrifice  made  at  all  for  remission  of  sins  of  the 
quick  or  dead;b  but  only  a  commemoration  of  that  one 
offering  up  of  himself,  by  himself,  upon  the  cross,  once  for 
all,  and  a  spiritual  oblation  of  all  possible  praise  unto  God  for 
the  same;^  so  that  the  Popish  sacrifice  of  the  mass,  as  they 
call  it,  is  most  abominably  injurious  to  Christ's  one  only  sa- 
crifice, the  alone  propitiation  for  all  the  sins  of  the  elect. d 


bread  :  Ver  24-  And  when  he  had 
given  thanks,  lie  brake  it,  and  said, 
Take,  eat;  this  is  my  body,  which 
is  broken  for  you:  this  do  in  re- 
membrance of  me.  Ver  25.  After 
the  same  manner  also  he  took  the 
cup,  when  he  had  supped,  saying, 
This  cup  is  the  new  testament  in 
my  hlood:  this  do  ye,  as  oft  as  ye 
drink  it,  in  remembrance  of  me. 
Ver.  26.  For  as  often  as  ye  eat  this 
bread,  and  drink  this  cup,  ye  do 
show  the  Lord's  death  till  he  come. 
1  Cor.  x.  16.  The  cup  of  blessing 
which  we  bless,  is  it  not  the  com- 
munion of  the  blood  of  Christ  1 
the  bread  which  we  break,  is  it 
not  the  communion  of  the  body 
of  Christ?  Ver.  17.  For  we  being 
many,  are  one  bread  and  one 
body:  for  we  are  all  partakers  of 
that  one  bread.  Ver.  21.  Ye  can- 
not drink  the  cup  of  the  Lord, 
and  the  cup  of  devils;  ye  cannot 
be  partakers  of  the  Lord's  table, 
and  of  the  table  of  devils.  1  Cor. 
xii.  13.  For  by  one  Spirit  are  we 
all  baptized  into  one  body,  whe- 
ther we  be  Jews  or  Gentiles,  whe- 
ther we  be  bond  or  free;  and  have 
been  all  made  to  drink  into  one 
Spirit. 

II.  b  Heb.  ix.  22.  And  almost 
all  things  are  by  the  law  purged 
with  blood;  and  without  shedding 
of  blood  is  no  remission.  Ver.  25. 
Nor  yet  that  he  should  offer  him- 
self often,  as  the  high  priest  en- 


tereth  into  the  holy  place  every 
year  with  blood  of  others;  Ver.  26. 
(For  then  must  he  often  have  suf- 
fered since  the  foundation  of  the 
world ;)  but  now  once  in  the  end 
of  the  world  hath  he  appeared  to 
put  away  sin  by  the  sacrifice  of 
himself.  Ver.  28.  So  Christ  was 
once  offered  to  bear  the  sins  of 
many ;  and  unto  those  that  look 
for  him  shall  he  appear  the  second 
time,  without  sin,  unto  salvation. 

c  1  Cor.  xi.  24,  25,  26.  [See 
them  in  letter  *.]  Mat.  xxvi.  26. 
And  as  they  were  eating,  Jesus 
took  bread,  and  blessed  it,  and 
brake  it,  and  gave  it  to  the  dis- 
ciples, and  said,  Take,  eat;  this  is 
my  body.  Ver.  27.  And  he  took 
the  cup,  and  gave  thanks,  and 
gave  it  to  them,  saying,  Drink 
ye  all  of  it. 

d  Heb.  vii.  23.  And  they  truly 
were  many  priests,  because  they 
were  not  suffered  to  continue  by 
reason  of  death:  Ver.  24-  But  this 
man,  because  he  continueth  ever, 
hath  an  unchangeable  priesthood. 
Ver.  27.  Who  needeth  not  daily,  as. 
those  high  priests,  to  offer  up  sa- 
crifice, first  for  his  own  sins,  and 
then  for  the  people's:  for  this  he 
did  once,  when  he  offered  up  him- 
self. Heb.  x.  11.  And  every  priest 
standeth  daily  ministering  and  of- 
fering oftentimes  the  same  sacri- 
fices, which  can  never  take  away 
sins:  Ver.  12.  But  this  man,  after 


^hap.  XXIX.  The  Confession  of  Faith. 


163 


III.  The  Lord  Jesus  hath,  in  this  ordinance,  appointed 
his  ministers  to  declare  his  word  of  institution  to  the  peo- 
ple, to  pray,  and  bless  the  elements  of  bread  and  wine,  and 
thereby  toset  them  apart  from  a  common  to  a  holy  use; 
and  to  take  and  break  the  bread,  to  take  the  cup,  and  (they 
communicating  also  themselves)  to  give  both  to  the  com- 
municants ; e  but  to  none  who  are  not  then  present  in  the 
congregation/ 

IV.  Private  masses,  or  receiving  this  sacrament  by  a  priest, 
or  any  other,  alone; s  as  likewise  the  denial  of  the  cup  to  the 
people ; h  worshipping  the  elements,  the  lifting  them  up,  or 
carrying  them  about  for  adoration,  and  the  reserving  them 
tor  any  pretended  religious  use;  are  all  contrary  to  the  na- 
ture of  this  sacrament,  and  to  the  institution  of  Christ.1 


he  had  offered  one  sacrifice  for  sins, 
for  ever  sat  down  on  the  right  hand 
of  God.  Ver.  14.  For  by  one  offer- 
ing he  hath  perfected  for  ever  them 
that  are  sanctified.  Ver.  18.  Now, 
where  remission  of  these  is,  there 
is  no  more  offering  for  sin. 

IH.  e  Mat.  xxvi.  26,  27.  [See 
in  letter".]  Ver.  28.  For  this  is 
my  blood  of  the  new  testament, 
which  is  shed  for  many  for  the 
remission  of  sins.  And  Mark 
xiv.  22.  And  as  they  did  eat,  Je- 
sus took  bread,  and  blessed,  and 
brake  it,  and  gave  to  them,  and 
said,  Take,  eat;  this  is  my  body, 
Ver.  23.  And  he  took  the  cup;  and 
when  he  had  given  thanks,  he 
gave  it  to  them:  and  they  all 
drank  of  it.  Ver.  24.  And  he  said 
unto  them,  This  is  my  blood  of 
the  new  testament,  which  is  shed 
for  many.  And  Luke  xxii.  19. 
And  he  took  bread,  and  gave 
thanks,  and  brake  it,  and  gave 
unto  them,  saying,  This  is  my 
body,  which  is  given  for  you : 
this  do  in  remembrance  of  me. 
Ver.  20.  Likewise  also  the  cup  after 
supper  saying,  This  cup  is  the 
new  testament  in  my  blood,  which 


is  shed  for  you.  With  1  Cor.  xi. 
23—26.  [See  all  in  letter  \] 

1  xVcts  xx.  7.  And  upon  the  first 
day  of  the  week,  when  the  disciples 
came  together  to  break  bread, 
Paul  preached  unto  them,  ready  to 
depart  on  the  morrow,  and  con- 
tinued his  speech  until  midnight. 
1  Cor.  xi.  20.  When  ye  come  to- 
gether therefore  into  one  place,  this 
is  not  to  eat  the  Lord's  supper. 

IV.  e  1  Cor.  x.  6.  Now  these 
things  were  our  examples,  to  the 
intent  we  should  not  lust  after 
evil  things,  as  they  also  lusted. 

h  Mark  xiv.  23.  [See  in  letter0.} 
1  Cor.  xi.  25,  26.  [See  in  letter*] 
Ver.  27.  Wherefore,  whosoever 
shall  eat  this  bread,  and  drink  this 
cup  of  the  Lord,  unworthily,  shall 
be  guilty  of  the  body  and  blood  of 
the  Lord.  Ver.  23.  But  let  a  man 
examine  himself,  and  so  let  him  eat 
of  that  bread,  and  drink  of  that  cup. 
Ver.  29.  For  he  that  eateth  and 
drinketh  unworthily,  eateth  and 
drinketh  damnation  to  himself,  not 
discerning  the  Lord's  body. 

1  Mat.  xv.  9.  But  in  vain  they 
do  worship  me,  teaching  for  doc- 
trines the  commandments  of  men. 


164 


The  Confession  of  Failh.  Chap.  XXIX. 


V.  The  outward  elements  in  this  sacrament,  duly  set 
apart  to  the  uses  ordained  by  Christ,  have  such  relation  to 
him  crucified,  as  that  truly,  yet  sacramentally  only,  they 
are  sometimes  called  by  the  name  of  the  things  they  repre- 
sent, to  wit,  the  body  and  blood  of  Christ ; k  albeit,  in  sub- 
stance and  nature,  they  still  remain  truly  and  only  bread 
and  wine,  as  they  were  before.1 

VI.  That  doctrine  which  maintains  a  change  of  the  sub- 
stance of  bread  and  wine  into  the  substance  of  Christ's  body 
and  blood  (commonly  called  Transubstantiation)  by  conse- 
cration of  a  priest,  or  by  any  other  way,  is  repugnant  not 
to  scripture  alone,  but  even  to  common  sense  and  reason  j 
overthroweth  the  nature  of  the  sacrament;  and  hath  been 
and  is  the  cause  of  manifold  superstitions,  yea,  of  gross 
idolatries."1 

VII.  Worthy  receivers,  outwardly  partaking  of  the  visible 
elements  in  this  sacrament,"  do  then  also  inwardly  by  faith* 


V.  k  Mat.  xxvi.  26.  And  as  they 
were  eating-,  Jesus  took  bread,  and 
blessed  it,  and  brake  it,  and  gave 
it  to  the  disciples,  and  said,  Take, 
eat;  this  is  my  body.  Ver.  27. 
And  he  took  the  cup,  and  gave 
thanks,  and  gave  it  to  them,  say- 
ing, Drink  ye  all  of  it:  Ver.  28. 
For  this  is  my  blood  of  the  new 
testament,  which  is  shed  for  many 
for  the  remission  of  sins. 

1  1  Cor.  xi.  26.  For  as  often  as 
ye  eat  this  bread,  and  drink  this 
cup,  ye  do  show  the  Lord's  death 
till  he  come.  Ver.  27.  Wherefore, 
whosoever  shall  eat  this  bread,  and 
drink  this  cup  of  the  Lord,  un- 
worthily, shall  be  guilty  of  the 
body  and  blood  of  the  Lord. 
Ver-  28-  But  let  a  man  examine 
himself,  and  so  let  him  eat  of  that 
bread,  and  drink  of  that  cup. 
Mat.  xxvi.  29.  But  I  say  unto  you, 
I  will  not  drink  henceforth  of 
this  fruit  of  the  vine,  until  that 
day  when  I  drink  it  new  with 
you  in  my  Father's  kingdom. 


VI.  m  Acts  iii.  21.   Whom  the 
heaven    must    receive,   until   the 
times  of  restitution  of  all  things, 
which    God   hath  spoken    by  the 
mouth   of    all    his   holy   prophets 
since    the    world     began.      With 
1  Cor.  xi.  24.     And  when  he  had 
given    thanks,  he   brake    it,   and 
said,  Take,  eat;    this  is  my  body,, 
which  is  broken  for  you:  this  do 
in  remembrance  of  me.     Ver.  25. 
After  the    same  manner  also  he 
took  the  cup,  when  he  had  supped 
saying,  This  cup  is  the  new  tes- 
tament in   my  blood:    this  do  ye, 
as  oft  as  ye  drink  it,  in  remem 
brance  of  me.     Ver.  26.    [See  in 
letter1-]  Luke  xxiv.  6-  He  is  not 
here,  but  is  risen:  remember  how 
he  spake  unto  you  when   he  wa 
yet  in  Galilee.    Ver.  39-   Behol 
my  hands  and  my  feet,  that  it  ia 
I  myself:  handle  me,  and  see ;  for 
a  spirit  hath  not  flesh  and  bones, 
as  ye  see  me  have. 

VII.  D  1   Cor.  xi.  28.   [See  in 
letter1.] 


__ 


Chap.  XXIX. 


77ie  Confession  of  Faith. 


165' 


really  and  indeed,  yet  not  carnally  and  corporally,  but  spi- 
ritually, receive  and  feed  upon  Christ  crucified,  and  all  be- 
nefits of  his  death  ;  the  body  and  blood  of  Christ  being  then 
not  corporally  or  carnally  in,  with,  or  under  the  bread  and 
wine;  yet  as  really,  but  spiritually,  present  to  the  faith  of 
believers  in  that  ordinance,  as  the  elements  themselves  are 
to  their  outward  senses.0 

VIII.  Although  ignorant  and  wicked  men  receive  the  out- 
ward elements  in  this  sacrament,  yet  they  receive  not  the 
thing  signified  thereby;  but  by  their  unworthy  coming  there- 
unto are  guilty  of  the  body  and  blood  of  the  Lord,  to  their 
own  damnation.  Wherefore  all  ignorant  and  ungodly  per- 
sons, as  they  are  unfit  to  enjoy  communion  with  him,  so  are 
they  unworthy  of  the  Lord's  table,  and  cannot,  without 
great  sin  against  Christ,  while  they  remain  such,  partake  of 
these  holy  mysteries,?  or  be  admitted  there unto,q 


0  1  Cor.  x.  16.  The  cup  of  bless- 
ing  which  we  bless,  is  it  not  the 
communion  of  the  blood  of  Christ! 
the  bread  which  we  break,  is  it 
not  the  communion  of  the  body 
1  of  Christ! 

VIII.  p  1  Cor.  xi.  27,  28-  [See 
in  letter  l]  Ver.  29.  For  he  that 
eateth  and  drinketh  unworthily, 
cateth  and  drinketh  damnation  to 
himself,  not  discerning  the  Lord's 
body.  2  Cor.  vi.  14.  Be  ye  not 
unequally  yoked  together  with  un- 
believers :  for  what  fellowship 
hath  righteousness  with  unright- 
eousness! and  what  communion 
hath  light  with  darkness!  Ver.  15. 
And  what  concord  hath  Christ 
with  Belial !  or  what  part  hath  he 
thatbelieveth  with  an  infidel!  Ver. 
10.  And  what  agreement  hath  the 
temple  of  God  with  idols!  for  ye 
are  the  temple  of  the  living  God; 

!Jod  hath  said,  I  will  dwell  in 
them,  and  walk  in  them;  and  I 
Kvill  be  their  God,  and  they  shall 
pe  my  people. 

*  1  Cor.  v.  6,  Your  glorying  is 


not  good.    Know  ye  not  that  a 
little  leaven  leaveneth  the  whole 
lump!     Ver.  7.  Purge  out  there- 
fore the  old  leaven,  that  ye  may 
be  a  new  lump,  as  ye  are  unlea- 
vened.    For  even  Christ  our  pass- 
over  is  sacrificed  for  us.     Ver.  13. 
But    them    that  are  without  God 
judgeth.    Therefore  put  away  from 
among  yourselves  that  wicked  per- 
son.   2  Thess.  iii.  6.  Now  we  com- 
mand you,  brethren,  in  the  name 
of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  that  ye 
withdraw  yourselves  from  every 
brother   that    walketh    disorderly, 
and  not  after  the  tradition  which 
he  received  of  us.     Ver.  14.  And 
if  any  man  obey  not  our  word  by 
this  epistle,   note    that    man,   and 
have  no  company  with  him,  that 
he  may  be  ashamed.    Ver.  15.  Yet 
count  him  not  as  an  enemy,  but 
admonish  him  as  a  brother.  "  Mat. 
vii.  6.  Give  not  that  which  is  holy 
unto  the  dogs,  neither  cast  ye  your 
pearls     before    swine,    lest    they 
trample  them  under  their  feet,  and 
turn  again  and  rend  you. 


166 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


Chap.  XXX. 


CHAPTER  XXX.   Of  Church  Censures. 


The  Lord  Jesus,  as  king  and  head  of  his  church,  hath 
therein  appointed  a  government  in  the  hand  of  church-of- 
ficers, distinct  from  the  civil  magistrate.11 

II.  To  these  officers  the  keys  of  the  kingdom  of  heavei 
are  committed,  by  virtue  whereof  they  have  power  re- 
spectively to  retain  and  remit  sins,  to  shut  that  kingdom 
against  the  impenitent,  both  by  the  word  and  censures; 
and  to  open  it  unto  penitent  sinners,  by  the  ministry  of  the 
gospel,  and  by  absolution  from  censures,  as  occasion  shall 
require.1* 


I.  a  Isa,  ix.  6.  For  unto  us  a 
child  is  born,  unto  us  a  son  is  given, 
and  the  government  shall  be  upon 
his  shoulder:  and  his  name  shall 
be  called  Wonderful,  Counsellor, 
The  mighty  God,  The  everlasting 
Father,  The  Prince  of  Peace.  Ver. 
7.  Of  the  increase  of  his  govern- 
ment and  peace  there  shall  be  no 
end,  upon  the  throne  of  David,  and 
upon  his  kingdom,  to  order  it,  and 
to  establish  it  with  judgment  and 
with  justice,  from  henceforth,  even 
for  ever:  the  zeal  of  the  Lord  of 
hosts  will  perform  this.  1  Tim. 
v.  17.  Let  the  elders  that  rule  well 
be  counted  worthy  of  double  ho- 
nour, especially  they  who  labour  in 
the  word  and  doctrine.  1  Thess.  v. 
12.  And  we  beseech  you,  brethren, 
to  know  them  which  labour  among 
you,  and  are  over  you  in  the  Lord, 
and  admonish  you.  Acts  xx.  17. 
And  from  Miletus  he  sent  to  Ephe- 
sus,  and  called  the  elders  of  the 
church.  Ver.  18.  And  when  they 
were  come  to  him,  he  said  unto 
them,  Ye  know,  from  the  first 
day  that  I  came  into  Asia,  after 
what  manner  I  have  been  with  you 
at  all  seasons.  Heb.  xiii.  7.  Re- 
member them  which  have  the  rule 
over  you,  who  have  spoken  unto 


you  the  word  of  God ;  whose  faith 
follow,  considering  the  end  of  their 
conversation.  Ver.  17.  Obey  them 
that  have  the  rule  over  you,  and 
submit  yourselves:  for  they  watch 
for  your  souls,  as  they  that  must 
give  account ;  that  they  may  do  it 
with  joy,  and  not  with  grief:  for 
that  is  unprofitable  for  you.  Ver. 
24.  Salute  all  them  that  have  the 
rule  over  you,  and  all  the  saints. 
They  of  Italy  salute  you.  1  Cor. 
xii.  28.  And  God  hath  set  some  in 
the  church:  first,  apostles;  secon- 
darily, prophets;  thirdly,  teachers; 
after  that,  miracles ;  then  gifts  of 
healings,  helps,  governments,  di- 
versities of  tongues.  Mat.  xxviii. 
18.  And  Jesus  came,  and  spake 
unto  them,  saying,  All  power  is 
given  unto  me  in  heaven  and  in 
earth.  Ver.  19.  Go  ye,  therefore, 
and  teach  all  nations,  baptizing 
them  in  the  name  of  the  Father, 
and  of  the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy 
Ghost:  Ver.  20.  Teaching  them 
to  observe  all  things  whatsoever  I 
have  commanded  you  :  and,  lo,  I 
am  with  you  alway,  even  unto  the 
end  of  the  world.  Amen. 

II.  b  Mat.  xvi.  19.  And  I  will 
give  unto  thee  the  keys  of  the 
kingdom  of  heaven;  and  whatso- 


Clap.  XXX. 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


167 


III.  Church  censures  are  necessary  for  the  reclaiming  and 
raining  of  offending  brethren ;  for  deterring  of  others  from 
the  like  offences;  for  purging  out  of  that  leaven  which 
might  infect  the  whole  lump ;  for  vindicating  the  honour  of 
Christ,  and  the  holy  profession  of  the  gospel ;  and  for  pre- 
venting the  wrath  of  God,  which  might  justly  fall  upon  the 
church,  if  they  should  suffer  his  covenant,  and  the  seals  there- 
of, to  be  profaned  by  notorious  and  obstinate  offenders.0 

IV.  For  the  better  attaining  of  these  ends,  the  officers  of 
the  church  are  to  proceed  by  admonition,  suspension  from 
the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper  for  a  season,  and  by  ex- 
communication from  the  church,  according  to  the  nature 
of  the  crime,  and  demerit  of  the  person. d 


ever  thou  shall  bind  on  earth,  shall 
be  bound  in  heaven;  and  whatso- 
ever thou  shalt  loose  on  earth,  shall 
be  loosed  in  heaven.     Mat.  xviii. 
17.  And  if  he  shall  neglect  to  hear 
them,  tell  it  unto  the  church;    but 
if  he  neglect  to  hear  the  church,  let 
him  be  unto  thee   as  a  heathen 
man,  and    a  publican.     Ver.   18. 
Verily   I   say  unto  you,  Whatso- 
ever ye  shall  bind  on  earth,  shall 
be  bound  in  heaven;  and  whatso- 
ever ye  shall  loose ,011  earth,  shall 
be  loosed  in  heaven.     John  xx.  21. 
Then   said    Jesus  to  them  again, 
Peace  be  unto  you  :  as  my  Father 
hath  sent  me,  even  so  send  I  you. 
Ver.  22.  And  when   he  had  said 
.   he    breathed    on    them,  and 
saith  unto  them,   Receive  ye  the 
Holy  Ghost:  Ver.  23.  Whose  so- 
ever sins  ye  remit,  they  are  remit- 
ted unto  them ;  and  whose  soever 
sins  ye  retain,  they  are  retained. 
2  Cor.  ii    6.  Sufficient  to  such  a 
man  is  this  punishment,  which  was 
inflicted  of  many.     Ver.  7.  So  that 
1   contrariwise,  ye  ought  rather    to 
1    forgive  him,  and  comfort  him,  lest 
,    perhaps   such    a    one    should    be 
j   swallowed  up  with  over-much  sor- 
I   row.   Ver.  8.  Wherefore  I  beseech 


you,  that  ye  would  confirm  your 
love  towards  him. 

III.   c    [1   Cor.  v.  throughout.] 
1  Tim.  v.  20.  Them  that  sin  re- 
buke  before  all,   that  others  also 
may  fear.     Mat.  vii.  6.  Give  not 
that  which  is  holy  unto  the  dogs, 
neither  cast  ye  your  pearls  before 
swine,  lest  they  trample  them  un- 
der their  feet,  and  turn  again  and 
rend  you.     1  Tim.  i.  20.  Of  whom 
is     Hymeneus    and     Alexander: 
whom   I  have  delivered  unto  Sa- 
tan, that    they   may  learn  not  to 
blaspheme.  [1  Cor.  xi.  27.  to  the 
end]     With  Jude,  Ver.  23.  And 
others    save    with     fear,    pulling 
them  out  of  the  fire;  hating  even 
the  garments  spotted  by  the  flesh. 
IV.  d  1  Thess.  v.  12.  And  we  be- 
seech you,  brethren,  to  know  them 
which  labour  among  you,  and  are 
over  you  in  the  Lord,  and  admonish 
you.  2  Thess.  iii.  6.  Now  we  com- 
mand you,  brethren,  in  the  name 
of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  that  ye 
withdraw  yourselves   from   every 
brother    that    walketh    disorderly, 
and  not  afrer  the  tradition  which  he 
received  of  us.  Ver.  14.  And  if  any 
man  obey   not   our   word   by  this 
epistle,  note  that  man,  and  have  no 


168 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


Chap.  XXXI. 


CHAPTER  XXXI.     Of  Synods  and  Councils. 


For  the  better  government,  and  farther  edification  of  the 
church,  there  ought  to  be  such  assemblies  as  are  common- 
ly called  Synods  or  Councils/ 

II.  As  magistrates  may  lawfully  call  a  synod  of  ministers, 
and  other  fit  persons,  to  consult  and  advise  with  about  mat- 
ters of  religion ;b  so  if  magistrates  be  open  enemies  to  the 
church,  the  ministers  of  Christ,  of  themselves,  by  virtue  of 
their  office,  or  they,  with  other  fit  persons  upon  delegation 
from  their  churches,  may  meet  together  in  such  assemblies.0 


company  with  him,  that  he  may  be 
ashamed.  Ver.  15.  Yet  count  him 
not  as  an  enemy,  but  admonish  him 
ae  a  brother.  1  Cor.  v.  4.  In  the 
name  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
when  ye  are  gathered  together,  and 
my  spirit,  wilh  the  power  of  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  Ver.  5.  To  de- 
liver such  a  one  unto  Satan  for 
the  destruction  of  the  flesh,  that 
the  spirit  may  be  saved  in  the  day 
of  the  Lord  Jesus.  Ver.  13.  But 
them  that  are  without  God  judg- 
eth.  Therefore  put  away  from 
among  yourselves  that  wicked  per- 
son. Mat.  xviii.  17.  And  if  he  shall 
neglect  to  hear  them,  tell  it  unto 
the  church:  but  if  he  neglect  to 
hear  the  church,  let  him  be  unto 
thee  as  a  heathen  man,  and  a 
publican.  Tit.  iii.  10.  A  man  that 
is  a  heretic,  after  the  first  and 
second  admonition,  reject. 

I.  a  Acts  xv.  2.  When  therefore 
Paul  and  Barnabas  had  no  small 
dissension  and  disputation  with 
them,  they  determined  that  Paul 
and  Barnabas,  and  certain  other 
of  them,  should  go  up  to  Jerusa- 
lem unto  the  apostles  and  elders 
about  this  question.  Ver.  4.  And 
when  they  were  come  to  Jeru- 
salem, they  were  received  of  the 
church,  and  of  the  apostles  and 
elders,  and  they  declared  all  things 


that  God  had  done  with  them. 
Ver.  6.  And  the  apostles  and  elders 
came  together  for  to  consider  of 
this  matter. 

II.  b  Isa.   xlix.  23.  And    kings 
shall  be   thy  nursing-fathers,  and 
their  queens  thy  nursing-mothers: 
they  shall  bow  down  to  thee  with 
their  face  toward   the   earth,  and 
lick  up  the  dust  of  thy  feet,  and 
thou   shalt    know  that  I  am  the 
Lord:  for  they  shall  not  be  ashamed 
that  wait  for  me.     1  Tim.  ii.  1.  I 
exhort  therefore,  that,  first  of  all, 
supplications,     prayers,    interces- 
sions,  and    giving   of  thanks,    be 
made  for  all  men:  Ver.  2.  For  kings, 
and  for  all  that  are  in  authority; 
that    we   may   lead   a   quiet    and 
peaceable  life  in  all  godliness  and 
honesty.     [2  Chron.  xix.  8.  to  the 
end.     2  Chron.  Chapters  xxix.  and 
xxx.  throughout.]  Mat.  ii.  4.     And 
when  he  had  gathered  all  the  chief 
priests  and  scribes  of  the  people 
together,  he  demanded   of  them 
where  Christ  should  be  born.   Ver. 
5.  And  they   said    unto    him,  In 
Bethlehem  of  Judea:  for  thus  it  is 
written  by  the  prophet.     Prov.  xi. 
14.  Where  no  counsel  is  the  peo- 
ple fall:  but  in  the  multitude  of 
counsellors  there  is  safety. 

c  Acts  xv.  2,  4.  [See  in  letter  \] 
Ver.  22.  Then  pleased  it  the  apostles 


Chap.  XXXI.  The  Confession  of  Faith.  169 

III.  It  belongeth  to  synods  and  councils  ministerially  to 
determine  controversies'of  faith,  and  cases  of  conscience;  to 
set  down  rules  and  directions  for  the  better  ordering  of  the 
public  worship  of  God,  and  government  of  his  church ;  to 
receive  complaints  in  cases  of  mal-administration,  and  au- 
thoritatively to  determine  the  same :  which  decrees  and  de- 
terminations, if  consonant  to  the  word  of  God,  are  to  be  re- 
ceived with  reverence  and  submission,  not  only  for  their 
agreement  with  the  word,  but  also  for  the  power  whereby 
they  are  made,  as  being  an  ordinance  of  God,  appointed 
thereunto  in  his  word.d 

IV.  All  synods  or  councils  since  the  apostles'  times,  whe- 
ther general  or  particular,  may  err,  and  many  have  erred ; 
therefore  they  are  not  to  be  made  the  rule  of  faith  or  prac- 
tice, but  to  be  used  as  a  help  in  both.6 

V.  Svnods  and  councils  are  to  handle  or  conclude  nothing 
but  that  which  is  ecclesiastical;  and  are  not  to  intermeddle 
with  civil  affairs,  which  concern  the  commonwealth,  unless 


and  elders,  with  the  whole  church, 
to  send  chosen  men  of  their  own 
company  to  Antioch,  with  Paul 
and  Barnabas ;  namely,  Judas  sur- 
named  Barsabas,  and  Silas,  chief 
men  among  the  brethren:  Ver.  23. 
and  wrote  letters  by  them  after 
this  manner;  The  apostles,  and 
elders,  and  brethren,  send  greet- 
ing1 unto  the  brethren  which  are 
of  the  Gentiles  in  Antioch,  and 
Syria,  and  Cilicia.  Ver.  25.  It 
seemed  good  unto  us,  being  as- 
sembled with  one  accord,  to  send 
chosen  men  unto  you,  with  our 
beloved  Barnabas  and  Paul. 

III.  '  Acts  xv.  15. 19.  24, 27,  29, 
29,  30,  31.  [See  in  the  Bible.]  Acts 
xvi.  4.  And  as  they  went  through 
the  cities,  they  delivered  them 
the  decrees  for  to  keep,  that  were 
ordained  of  the  apostles  and  elders 
which  were  at  Jerusalem.  Mat 
xviii.  17.  And  if  he  shall  neglect 
to  hear  them,  tell  it  unto  the 
church ;  but  if  he  neglect  to  hear 
15 


the  church,  let  him  be  unto  thee 
as  a  heathen  man,  and  a  pub- 
lican. Ver.  IS.  Verily  I  say  unto 
you,  Whatsoever  ye  shall  bind 
on  earth,  shall  be  bound  in  hea- 
ven ;  and  whatsoever  ye  shall  loose 
on  earth,  shall  be  loosed  in  hea- 
ven. Ver.  19.  Again  I  say  unto 
you,  That  if  two  of  you  shall  agree 
on  earth  as  touching  any  thing  that 
they  shall  ask,  it  shall  be  done  for 
them  of  my  Father  which  is  in 
heaven.  Ver.  20.  For  where  two 
or  three  are  gathered  together  in 
my  name,  there  am  I  in  the  midst 
of  them. 

IV. e  Eph.  ii.  20.  And  are  built 
upon  the  foundation  of  the  apostles 
and  prophets,  Jesus  Christ  himself 
being  the  chief  corner-stone.  Acts 
xvii.  11.  These  were  more  noble 
than  those  in  Thessalonica,  in 
that  they  received  the  word  with 
all  readiness  of  mind,  and  search- 
ed the  scriptures  daily,  whether 
those  things  were  so.     1  Cor.  ii.  5. 


170  The  Confession  of  Faith.         Chap.  XXXII. 

by  way  of  humble  petition,  in  cases  extraordinary ;  or  by 
way  of  advice  for  satisfaction  of  conscience,  if  they  be 
thereunto  required  by  the  civil  magistrate/ 


CHAP.  XXXII.  Of  the  State  of  Men  after  Death,  and  of  the 
Resurrection  of  the  Dead. 
The  bodies  of  men  after  death  return  to  dust,  and  see 
corruption;11  but  their  souls,  (which  neither  die  nor  sleep,) 
having  an  immortal  subsistence,  immediately  return  to 
God  who  gave  them.b  The  souls  of  the  righteous,  being 
then  made  perfect  in  holiness,  are  received  into  the  highest 
heavens,  where  they  behold  the  face  of  God  in  light  and 
glory,  waiting  for  the  full  redemption  of  their  bodies;0  and 


That  your  faith  should  not  stand 
in  the  wisdom  of  men,  but  in  the 
power  of  God.  2  Cor.  i.  24.  Not 
for  that  we  have  dominion  over 
your  faith,  but  are  helpers  of  your 
joy :  for  by  faith  ye  stand. 

V.  fLuke  xii.  13.  And  one  of 
the  company  said  unto  him,  Mas- 
ter, speak  to  my  brother,  that  he 
divide  the  inheritance  with  me. 
Ver.  14.  And  he  said  unto  him, 
Man,  who  made  me  a  judge  or  a 
divider  over  you"?  John  xviii.  36. 
Jesus  answered,  My  kingdom  is 
not  of  this  world  :  if  my  kingdom 
were  of  this  world,  then  would  my 
servants  fight,  that  I  should  not  be 
delivered  to  the  Jews :  but  now  is 
my  kingdom  not  from  hence. 

I.  a  Gen.  iii.  19.  In  the  sweat  of 
thy  face  shalt  thou  eat  bread,  till 
thou  return  unto  the  ground ;  for 
out  of  it  wast  thou  taken  :  for  dust 
thou  art,  and  unto  dust  thou  shalt 
return.  Acts  xiii.  36.  For  David, 
after  he  had  served  his  own  gene- 
ration by  the  will  of  God,  fell  on 
sleep,  and  was  laid  unto  his  fathers, 
and  saw  corruption. 

b  Luke  xxiii.  43.  And  Jesus  said 
unto  him,  Verily  I  say  .unto  thee, 


To-day  shalt  thou  be  with  me  in 
paradise.  Eccl.  xii.  7.  Then  shall 
the  dust  return  to  the  earth  as  it 
was:  and  the  spirit  shall  return 
unto  God  who  gave  it. 

c  Heb.  xii.  23.  To  the  general 
assembly  and  church  of  the  first- 
born, which  are  written  in  hea- 
ven, and  to  God  the  judge  of  all, 
and  to  the  spirits  of  just  men  made 
perfect.  2  Cor.  v.  1.  For  we  know, 
that  if  our  earthly  house  of  this  ta- 
bernacle were  dissolved,  we  have 
a  building  of  God,  a  house  not 
made  with  hands,  eternal  in  the 
heavens.  Ver.  6.  Therefore  we  are 
always  confident,  knowing  that 
whilst  we  are  at  home  in  the  body, 
we  are  absent  from  the  Lord:  Ver. 
8.  We  are  confident,  I  say,  and 
willing  rather  to  be  absent  from 
the  body,  and  to  be  present  with 
the  Lord.  Phil.  i.  23.  For  I  am 
in  a  strait  betwixt  two,  having  a 
desire  to  depart,  and  to  be  with 
Christ ;  which  is  far  better.  With 
Acts  iii.  21.  Whom  the  heaven 
must  receive,  until  the  times  of 
restitution  of  all  things,  which 
God  hath  spoken  by  the  mouth 
of  all  his  holy  prophets  since  the 


Chap.  XXXII. 


The  Confession  of  Faith. 


171 


the  souls  of  the  wicked  are  cast  into  hell,  where  they  re- 
main in  torments  and  utter  darkness,  reserved  to  the  judg- 
ment of  the  great  day.d  Besides  these  two  places  for  souls 
separated  from  their  bodies,  the  ^scripture  acknowledgeth 
none. 

II.  At  the  last  day,  such  as  are  found  alive  shall  not  die,  but 
be  changed: e  and  all  the  dead  shall  be  raised  up  with  the  self- 
same bodies,  and  none  other,  although  with  different  quali- 
ties, which  shall  be  united  again  to  their  souls  for  ever/ 

III.  The  bodies  of  the  unjust  shall,  by  the  power  of 
Christ,  be  raised  to  dishonour;  the  bodies  of  the  just,  by 
his  Spirit,  unto  honour,  and  be  made  conformable  to  his 
own  glorious  body.5 


world  began.  And  Eph.  iv.  10.  He 
that  descended  is  the  same  also  that 
ascended  up  far  above  all  heavens, 
that  he  might  fill  all  things. 

d  Luke  xvi.  23.  And  in  hell  he 
lifted  up  his  eyes,  being  in  tor- 
ments, and  seeth  Abraham  afar  off, 
and  Lazarus  in  his  bosom.  Ver.  24. 
And  he  cried,  and  said,  Father 
Abraham,  have  mercy  on  me,  and 
send  Lazarus,  that  he  may  dip  the 
tip  of  his  finger  in  water,  and  cool 
my  tongue;  for  I  am  tormented 
in  this  flame.  Acts  i.  25.  That  he 
may  take  part  of  this  ministry  and 
apostleship,  from  which  Judas  by 
transgression  fell,  that  he  might  go 
to  his  own  place.  Jude,  Ver.  6. 
And  the  angels  which  kept  not  their 
first  estate,  but  left  their  own  habi- 
tation, he  hath  reserved  in  ever- 
lasting chains  under  darkness,  un- 
to the  judgment  of  the  great  day. 
Ver.  7.  Even  as  Sodom  and  Go- 
morrha,  and  the  cities  about  them, 
in  like  manner  giving  themselves 
over  to  fornication,  and  going  after 
strange  flesh,  are  set  forth  for  an 
example,  suffering  the  vengeance 
of  eternal  fire.  1  Pet.  iii.  19.  By 
which  also  he  went  and  preached 
unto  the  spirits  in  prison, 
15* 


II.  e  1  Thess.  iv.  17.  Then  we 
which  are  alive  and  remain  shall  be 
caught  up  together  with  them  in 
the  clouds,  to  meet  the  Lord  in  the 
air:  and  so  shall  we  ever  be  with 
the  Lrrd.  1  Cor.  xv.  51.  Behold,  I 
show  you  a  mystery;  we  shall  not  all 
sleep,  but  we  shall  all  be  changed, 
Ver.  52.  In  a  moment,  in  the  twink- 
ling of  an  eye,  at  the  last  trump: 
for  the  trumpet  shall  sound,  and  the 
dead  shall  be  raised  incorruptible, 
and  we  shall  be  changed. 

f  Job  xix.  26.  And  though  after 
my  skin  worms  destroy  this  body, 
yet  in  my  flesh  shall  I  sec  God; 
Ver.  27.  Whom  I  shall  see  for  my- 
self, and  mine  eyes  shall  behold, 
and  not  another,  though  my  reins 
be  consumed  within  me.  1  Cor. 
xv.  42.  So  also  is  the  resurrection 
of  the  dead.  It  is  sown  in  cor- 
ruption, it  is  raised  in  incorrup- 
tion:  Ver.  43.  It  is  sown  in  dis- 
honour, it  is  raised  in  glory:  it  is 
sown  in  weakness,  it  is  raised  in 
power:  Ver.  44.  It  is  sown  a  na- 
tural bnrly,  it  is  raised  a  spiritual 
body.  There  is  a  natural  body, 
and  there  is  a  spiritual  body. 

III.  *  Acts  xxiv.  15.  And  have 
hope  towards    God,   which    they 


172  The  Confession  of  Faith.        Chap.  XXXllL 

CHAPTER  XXXIII.    Of  the  Last  Judgment. 

God  hath  appointed  a  day  wherein  he  will  judge  the 
world  in  righteousness  by  Jesus  Christ,a  to  whom  all  power 
and  judgment  is  given  of  the  Father. b  In  which  day,  not 
only  the  apostate  angels  shall  be  judged,0  but  likewise  all 
persons  that  have  lived  upon  earth  shall  appear  before  the 
tribunal  of  Christ,  to  give  an  account  of  their  thoughts, 
words,  and  deeds,  and  to  receive  according  to  what  they 
have  done  in  the  body,  whether  good  or  evil.d 

II.  The  end  of  God's  appointing  this  day  is  for  the  mani- 
festation of  the  glory  of  his  mercy  in  the  eternal  salvation  of 


themselves  also  allow,  that  there 
shall  be  a  resurrection  of  the  dead, 
both  of  the  just  and  unjust.  John 
v.  28.  Marvel  not  at  this:  for  the 
hour  is  coming-,  in  the  which  all 
that  are  in  the  graves  shall  hear 
his  voice,  Ver.  29.  And  shall  come 
forth:  they  that  have  done  good, 
unto  the  resurrection  of  life,  and 
they  that  have  done  evil,  unto  the 
resurrection  of  damnation.  1  Cor. 
xv.  43.  [See  in  letter1.]  Philip, 
iii.  21.  Who  shall  change  our  vile 
body,  that  it  may  be  fashioned  like 
unto  his  glorious  body,  according 
to  the  working  whereby  he  is  able 
even  to  subdue  all  things  unto  him- 
self. 

I.  a  Acts  xvii.  31.  Because  he 
hath  appointed  a  day  in  the  which 
he  will  judge  the  world  in  righte- 
ousness by  that  man  whom  he  hath 
ordained ;  whereof  he  hath  given 
assurance  unto  all  men,  in  that  he 
hath  raised  him  from  the  dead. 

b  John  v.  22.  For  the  Father 
judgeth  no  man;  but  hath  com- 
mitted all  judgme-nt  unto  the  Son: 
Ver.  27.  And  hath  given  him  au- 
thority to  execute  judgment  also, 
because  he  is  the  Son  of  man. 

c  1  Cor.  vi.  3.  Know  ye  not  that 
we  shall  judge  angels?  how  much 
more  things  that  pertain  to  this 


life?  Jude,  Ver.  6.  [See  letter d 
Chapter  foregoing.]  2  Pet.  ii.  4. 
For  if  God  spared  not  the  angels 
that  sinned,  but  cast  them  down 
to  hell,  and  delivered  them  into 
chains  of  darkness,  to  be  reserved 
unto  judgment. 

d  2  Cor.  v.  10.  For  we  must  all 
appear  before  the  judgment-seat 
of  Christ,  that  every  one  may  re- 
ceive the  things  done  in  his  body, 
according  to  that  he  hath  done, 
whether  it  be  good  or  bad.  Eccl. 
xii.  14.  For  God  shall  bring  every 
work  into  judgment,  with  every 
secret  thing,  whether  it  be  good, 
or  whether  it  be  evil.  Rom.  ii.  16. 
In  the  day  when  God  shall  judge 
the  secrets  of  men  by  Jesus  Christ, 
according  to  my  gospel.  Rom. 
xiv.  10.  But  why  dost  thou  judge 
thy  brother?  or  why  dost  thou  set 
at  nought  thy  brother?  for  we 
shall  all  stand  before  the  judg- 
ment-seat of  Christ.  Ver.  12.  So 
then,  every  one  of  us  shall  give 
account  of  himself  to  God.  Mat. 
xii.  36.  But  I  say  unto  you,  That 
every  idle  word  that  men  shall 
speak,  they  shall  give  account 
thereof  in  the  day  of  judgment. 
Ver.  37.  For  by  thy  words  thou 
shalt  be  justified,  and  by  thy 
words  thou  shalt  be   condemned. 


Chap.  XXXIII.  TJie  Confession  of  Faith.  173 

the  elect,  and  of  his  justice  in  the  damnation  of  the  repro- 
bate, who  are  wicked  and  disobedient.  For  then  shall  the 
righteous  go  into  everlasting  life,  and  receive  that  fulness 
of  joy  and  refreshing  which  shall  come  from  the  presence  of 
the  Lord ;  but  the  wicked,  who  know  not  God,  and  obey- 
not  the  gospel  of  Jesus  Christ,  shall  be  cast  into  eternal  tor- 
ments, and  be  punished  with  everlasting  destruction  from  the 
presence  of  the  Lord,  and  from  the  glory  of  his  power.6 

III.  As  Christ  would  have  us  to  be  certainly  persuaded 
that  there  shall  be  a  day  of  judgment,  both  to  deter  all 
men  from  sin,  and  for  the  greater  consolation  of  the  godly 
in  their  adversity/  so  will  he  have  that  day  unknown  to 


II.  e  [Mat.  xxv.  31.  to  the  end.] 
Rom.  ii.  5.  But  after  thy  hardness 
and  impenitent  heart,  treasurest  up 
unto  thyself  wrath  against  the  day 
of  wrath,  and  revelation  of  the 
righteous  judgment  of  God  ;  Ver. 
6.  Who  will  render  to  every  man 
according  to  his  deeds.  Rom-  ix. 
22.  What  if  God,  willing  to  show 
his  wrath,  and  to  make  his  power 
known,  endured  with  much  long- 
suffering  the  vessels  of  wrath  fitted 
to  destruction :  Ver.  23.  And  that 
he  might  make  known  the  riches 
of  his  glory  on  the  vessels  of  mercy, 
which  he  hath  afore  prepared  unto 
glory?  Mat.  xxv.  21.  His  lord 
said  unto  him,  Well  done,  thou 
good  and  faithful  servant;  thou 
hast  been  faithful  over  a  few  things, 
I  will  make  thee  ruler  over  many 
things:  enter  thou  into  the  joy  of 
thy  lord.  Acts  iii.  19.  Repent  ye 
therefore,  and  be  converted,  that 
your  sins  may  be  blotted  out, 
when  the  times  of  refreshing  shall 
come  from  the  presence  of  the 
Lord.  2  Thess.  i.  7—10.  [See  in 
the  Bible.] 

III.  '  2  Pet.  iii.  11.  Seeing  then 
that  all  these  things  shall  be  dis- 
solved, what  manner  of  persons 
ought  ye  to  be  in  all  holy  con- 

15t 


versationand  godliness1?  Ver.  14. 
Wherefore,  beloved,  seeing  that 
ye  look  for  such  things,  be  diligent 
that  ye  may  be  found  of  him  in 
peace,  without  spot,  and  blame- 
less. 2  Cor.  v.  10.  [See  letter  d.] 
Ver.  11.  Knowing  therefore  the 
terror  of  the  Lord,  we  persuade 
men;  but  we  are  made  manifest 
unto  God,  and  I  trust  also  are 
made  manifest  in  your  consciences. 
2  Thess.  i.  5.  Which  is  a  manifest 
token  of  the  righteous  judgment 
of  God,  that  ye  may  be  counted 
worthy  of  the  kingdom  of  God,  for 
which  ye  also  suffer.  Ver.  6.  See- 
ing it  is  a  righteous  thing  with 
God  to  recompense  tribulation  to 
them  that  trouble  you ;  Ver.  7. 
And  to  you  who  are  troubled,  rest 
with  us,  when  the  Lord  Jesus  shall 
be  revealed  from  heaven  with  his 
mighty  angels.  Luke  xxi.  27.  And 
then  shall  they  see  the  Son  of  man 
coming  in  a  cloud,  with  power  and 
great  glory.  Ver.  28.  And  when 
these  things  begin  to  come  to  pass, 
then  look  up,  and  lift  up  your 
heads;  for  your  redemption  draw- 
eth  nigh.  Rom.  viii.  23.  And  not 
only  they, but  ourselves  also,  which 
have  the  first-fruits  of  the  Spirit, 
even  we  ourselves   groan  within 


174 


The  Confession  of  Faith.      Chap.  XXXIII. 


men,  that  they  may  shake  off  all  carnal  security,  and  be 
always  watchful,  because  they  know  not  at  what  hour  the 
Lord  will  come ;  and  may  be  ever  prepared  to  say,  Come, 
Lord  Jesus,  come  quickly.     Amen.g 


ourselves,  waiting  for  the  adop- 
tion, to  wit,  the  redemption  of 
our  body.  Ver.  24.  For  we  are 
saved  by  hope:  but  hope  that  is 
seen  is  not  hope :  for  what  a  man 
seeth,  why  doth  he  yet  hope  for? 
Ver.  25.  But  if  we  hope  for  that 
we  see  not,  then  do  we  with  pa- 
tience wait  for  it. 

e  Mat.  xxiv.  36,  42,  43,  44. 
[See  in  the  Bible.]  Mark  xiii.  35. 
Watch  ye  therefore,  for  ye  know- 
not  when  the  master  of  the  house 
cometh ;  at  even,  or  at  midnight, 
or  at  the  cock-crowing,  or  in  the 


morning;  Ver.  36.  Lest  coming 
suddenly,  he  find  you  sleeping. 
Ver.  37.  And  what  I  say  unto  you, 
I  say  unto  all,  Watch.  Luke  xii. 
35.  Let  your  loins  be  girded  about, 
and  your  lights  burning;  Ver.  36. 
And  ye  yourselves  like  unto  men 
that  wait  for  their  lord,  when  he 
will  return  from  the  wedding, 
that,  when  he  cometh  and  knock- 
eth,  they  may  open  unto  him  im- 
mediately. Rev.  xxii.  20.  He 
which  testifieth  these  things  saith, 
Surely  I  come  quickly;  Amen. 
Even  so,  come,  Lord  Jesus. 


FINIS. 


LARGER    CATECHISM. 

AGB.EED  UPON  BY 

THE    ASSEMBLY    OF    DIVINES 

AT  WESTMINISTER, 

WITH  THE 

ASSISTANCE   OF   COMMISSIONERS 

FHOM  THE 

CHURCH  OF  SCOTLAND, 


A  Part  of  the  Covenanted  Uniformity  in  Religion  betwixt  the  Churches  of 
C heist  in  the  Kingdoms  of  Scotland,  England,  and  Ireland. 


Approved  dnno  1648,  by  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Church  of  Scot- 
land, to  be  a  Director}-  for  catechising  such  as  have  made  some 
proficiency  in  the  Knowledge  of  the  Grounds  of  Religion. 

WITH  THE 

PROOFS  FROM  THE  SCRIPTURE. 


Assembly  at  Edinburgh,  July  2,  1648.  Sess.  10. 

Act  approving  the  Larger  Catechism. 

The  General  Assembly  having  exactly  examined  and 
seriously  considered  the  Larger  Catechism,  agreed  upon  by 
the  Assembly  of  Divines  sitting  at  Westminster,  with  assis- 
tance of  Commissioners  from  this  Kirk,  copies  thereof  be- 
ing printed,  and  sent  to  Presbyteries,  for  the  more  exact  trial 
thereof;  and  public  intimation  being  frequently  made  in  this 
Assembly,  that  every  one  that  had  any  doubts  or  objections 
upon  it  might  put  them  in ;  do  find,  upon  due  examination 
thereof,  That  the  said  Catechism  is  agreeable  to  the  word 
of  God,  and  in  nothing  contrary  to  the  received  doctrine, 
worship,  discipline,  and  government  of  this  Kirk ;  a  neces- 
sary part  of  the  intended  uniformity  in  religion,  and  a  rich 
treasure  for  increasing  knowledge  among  the  people  of 
God :  and  therefore  the  Assembly,  as  they  bless  the  Lord 
that  so  excellent  a  Catechism  is  prepared,  so  they  approve 
the  same,  as  a  part  of  uniformity ;  agreeing,  for  their  part, 
that  it  be  a  common  Catechism  for  the  three  kingdoms,  and 
a  Directory  for  catechising  such  as  have  made  some  profi- 
ciency in  the  knowledge  of  the  grounds  of  religion. 


the 
LARGER    CATECHISM. 

Quest.  1.    What  is  the  chief  and  highest  end  of  man  ? 
A?is.  Man's  chief  and  highest  end  is  to  glorify  God,a  and 
fully  to  enjoy  him  for  ever.b 

1.  *  Rom.  xi.  36.  For  of  him,  whatsoever  ye  do,  do  all   to   the 

and  through  him,  and  to  him,  are  glory  of  God. 

all  things:  to  whom  be  glory  for  b  Psal.   lxxiii.  24-    Thou    shalt 

ever.  Amen.     1  Cor.  x.  31.  Who-  guide   me   with  thy  counsel,  and 

ther  therefore  ye  eat  or  drink,  or  afterwards   receive   me   to  glory. 


178 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


Q.  2.  How  doth  it  appear  that  there  is  a  God? 

A.  The  very  light  of  nature  in  man,  and  the  works  of 
God,  declare  plainly  that  there  is  a  God ; c  but  his  word 
and  Spirit  only  do  sufficiently  and  effectually  reveal  him 
unto  men  for  their  salvation/ 

Q.  3.  What  is  the  ivord  of  God? 

A.  The  holy  scriptures  of  the  Old  and  New  Testament 


Ver.  25.  Whom  have  I  in  heaven 
but  thee)  and  there  is  none  up- 
on earth  that  I  desire  besides 
thee.  Ver.  26.  My  flesh  and  my 
heart  faileth:  but  God  is  the 
strength  of  my  heart  and  my  por- 
tion for  ever.  Ver.  27.  For,  Jo, 
they  that  are  far  from  thee  shall 
perish:  thou  has  destroyed  all 
them  that  go  a  whoring  from 
thee.  Ver.  28.  But  it  is  good  for 
me  to  draw  near  to  God:  I  have 
put  my  trust  in  the  Lord  God, 
that  I  may  declare  all  thy  works. 
John  xvii.  21.  That  they  all  may 
be  one,  as  thou,  Father,  art  in 
me/and  I  in  thee ;  that  they  also 
may  be  one  in  us:  that  the  world 
may  believe  that  thou  hast  sent 
me.  Ver.  22.  And  the  glory  which 
thou  gavest  me  I  have  given  them : 
that  they  may  be  one,  even  as 
we  are  one.  Ver.  23.  I  in  them, 
and  thou  in  me,  that  they  may 
be  made  perfect  in  one,  and  that 
the  world  may  know  that  thou  hast 
sent  me,  and*  hast  loved  them,  as 
thou  hast  loved  me. 

2.  c  Rom.  i.  19.  Because  that 
which  may  be  known  of  God  is 
manifest  in  them.  Ver.  20.  For 
the  invisible  things  of  him  from 
the  creation  of  the  world  are 
clearly  seen,  being  understood  by 
the  things  that  are  made,  even 
his  eternal  power  and  Godhead; 
so  that  they  arc  without  excuse. 
Psal.  xix.  1.  The  heavens  declare 
the  glory  of  God ;  and  the  firma- 


ment showeth  his  handiwork. 
Ver.  2.  Day  unto  day  uttereth 
speech,  and  night  unto  night  show- 
eth knowledge.  Ver.  3.  There  is 
no  speech  nor  language  where 
their  voice  is  not  heard.  Acts 
xvii.  2S.  For  in  him  we  live,  and 
move,  and  have  our  being. 

d  1  Cor.  ii.  9.  But  as  it  is  writ- 
ten, Eye  hath  not  seen,  nor  ear 
heard,  neither  have  entered  in- 
to the  heart  of  man,  the  things 
which  God  hath  prepared  for 
them  that  love  him.  Ver.  10.  But 
God  hath  revealed  them  unto  us 
by  his  Spirit:  for  the  Spirit 
searcheth  all  things,  yea,  the  deep 
things  of  God.  2  Tim.  iii.  15. 
And  that  from  a  child  thou  hast, 
known  the  holy  scriptures,  which 
are  able  to  make  thee  wise  unto 
salvation,  through  faith  which  is 
in  Christ  Jesus.  Ver.  16.  All 
scripture  is  given  by  inspiration 
of  God,  and  is  profitable  for  doc- 
trine, for  reproof,  for  correction, 
for  instruction  in  righteousness: 
Ver.  17.  That  the  man  of  God 
may  be  perfect,  thoroughly  fur 
nished  unto  all  good  works, 
lix.  21.  As  for  me,  this  is  m 
covenant  with  them,  saith  th 
Lord,  My  Spirit  that  is  upon 
thee,  and  my  words  which  I  have 
put  in  thy  mouth,  shall  not  depart 
out  of  thy  mouth,  nor  out  of  the 
mouth  of  thy  seed,  nor  out  of  the 
mouth  of  thy  seed's  seed,  saith  the 
Lord,  from  henceforth  and  for  ever. 


r- 

I 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


179 


are  the  word  of  God,e  the  only  rule  of  faith  and  obe- 
dience/ 

Q.  4.  How  doth  it  appear  that  the  scriptures  are  the  word  of 
God? 

A.  The  scriptures  manifest  themselves  to  be  the  word  of 
God,  by  their  majesty6  and  purity ;h  by  the  consent  of  all 


3.  e  2  Tim.  iii.  16.  All  scripture 
is  given  by  inspiration  of  God. 
2  Pet.  i.  19.  We  have  also  a  more 
sure  word  of  prophecy ;  where- 
unto  ye  do  well  that  ye  take 
heed,  as  unto  a  light  that  shineth 
in  a  dark  place,  until  the  day 
dawn,  and  the  day-star  arise  in 
your  hearts:  Ver.  20.  Knowing 
this  first,  that  no  prophecy  of  the 
scripture  is  of  any  private  inter- 
pretation. Ver.  21.  For  the  pro- 
phecy came  not  in  old  time  by 
the  will  of  man:  but  holy  men  of 
God  spake  as  they  were  moved 
by  the  Holy  Ghost. 

f  Eph.  ii.  20.  And  are  built  up- 
on the  foundation  of  the  apostles 
and  prophets,  Jesii3  Christ  him- 
self being  the  chief  corner-stone. 
Rev.  xxii.  18.  For  I  testify  unto 
every  man  that  heareth  the  words 
of  the  prophecy  of  this  book,  If 
any  man  shall  add  unto  these 
things,  God  shall  add  unto  him 
the  plagues  that  are  written  in 
this  book:  Ver.  19.  And  if  any 
man  shall  take  away  from  the 
words  of  the  book  of  this  pro- 
phecy, God  shall  take  away  his 
part  out  of  the  book  of  life,  and 
out  of  the  holy  city,  and  from  the 
thing's  which  are  written  in  this 
book.  Isa.  viii.  20.  To  the  law, 
and  to  the  testimony :  if  they 
speak  not  according  to  this  word, 
it  is  because  there  is  no  light  in 
them.  Luke  xvi.  29.  They  have 
Moses  and  the  prophets ;  let  them 
hear  them.  Ver.  31.  If  they  hear 
not  Moses  and  the  prophets,  nei- 


ther will  they  be  persuaded  though 
one  rose  from  the  dead.  Gal.  i.  8. 
But  though  we,  or  an  angel  from 
heaven,  preach  any  other  gospel 
unto  you  than  that  which  we  have 
preached  unto  you,  let  him  be  ac- 
cursed. Ver.  9.  As  we  said  be- 
fore, so  say  I  now  again,  If  any 
man  preach  any  other  gospel  unto 
you  than  that  ye  have  received, 
let  him  be  accursed.  2  Tim.  iii. 
15,  16.  [See  in  letter*.') 

4.  s  Hos.  viii.  12. 1  have  written 
to  him  the  great  things  of  my  law, 
but  they  were  counted  as  a  strange 
thing.  1  Cor.  ii.  6.  Howbeit,  we 
speak  wisdom  among  them  that 
are  perfect:  yet  not  the  wisdom  of 
this  world,  nor  of  the  princes  of 
this  world,  that  come  to  nought. 
Ver.  7.  But  we  speak  the  wisdom 
of  God  in  a  mystery,  even  the  hid- 
den wisdom,  which  God  ordained 
before  the  world  unto  our  glory. 
Ver.  13.  Which  things  also  we 
speak,  not  in  the  words  which 
man's  wisdom  teacheth,  but  which 
the  Holy  Ghost  teacheth ;  com- 
paring spiritual  things  with  spiri- 
tual. Psal.  cxix.  18.  Open  thou 
mine  eyes,  that  I  may  behold 
wondrous  things  out  of  thy  law. 
Ver.  129.  Thy  testimonies  are 
.  wonderful :  therefore  doth  my  soul 
keep  them. 

h  Psal.  xii.  6.  The  words  of  the 
Lord  are  pure  words:  as  silver 
tried  in  a  furnace  of  earth,  puri- 
fied seven  times.  Psal.  cxix.  140. 
Thy  word  is  very  pure ;  therefore 
thy  servant  loveth  it. 


180 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


the  parts,1  and  the  scope  of  the  whole,  which  is  to  give  all 
glory  to  God;k  by  their  light  and  power  to  convince  and 
convert  sinners,  to  comfort  and  build  up  believers  unto  sal- 
vation :  *  but  the  Spirit  of  God  bearing  witness  by  and  with 
the  scriptures  in  the  heart  of  man,  is  alone  able  fully  to  per- 
suade it  that  they  are  the  very  word  of  God.m 


1  Acts  x.  43.  To  him  give  all  the 
prophets  witness,  that  through  his 
name,  whosoever  believeth  in  him 
shall  receive  remission  of  sins. 
Acts  xxvi.  22.  Having  therefore 
obtained  help  of  God,  I  continue 
unto  this  day,  witnessing  both  to 
small  and  great,  saying  none  other 
things  than  those  which  the  pro- 
phets and  Moses  did  say  should 
come. 

k  Rom.  iii.  19.  Now  we  know, 
that  what  things  soever  the  law 
saith,  it  saith  to  them  who  are 
under  the  law :  that  every  mouth 
may  be  stopped,  and  all  the  world 
may  become  guilty  before  God. 
Ver.  27.  Where  is  boasting  then  ? 
It  is  excluded.  By  what  law? 
of  works'?  Nay;  but  by  the  law 
of  faith. 

1  Acts  xviii.  28.  For  he  mightily 
convinced  the  Jews,  and  that  pub- 
licly, showing  by  the  scriptures 
that  Jesus  was  Christ.  Heb.  iv. 
12.  For  the  word  of  God  is  quick 
and  powerful,  and  sharper  than 
any  two-edged  sword,  piercing 
even  to  the  dividing  asunder  of 
soul  and  spirit,  and  of  the  joints 
and  marrow,  and  is  a  discerner  of 
the  thoughts  and  intents  of  the 
heart.  James  i.  18.  Of  his  own 
will  begat  he  us  with  the  word  of 
trutli,  that  we  should  be  a  kind  of 
first-fruits  of  his  creatures.  Psal. 
xix.  7.  The  law  of  the  Lord  is  per- 
fect, converting  the  soul :  the  tes- 
timony of  the  Lord  is  sure,  making 
wise  the  simple:  Ver.  8.  The  sta- 
tutes of  the  Lord  are  right  re- 


joicing the  heart:  the  command- 
ment of  the  Lord  is  pure,  enlighten- 
ing the  eyes:  Ver.  9-  The  fear  of  the 
Lord  is  clean,  enduring  for  ever: 
the  judgments  of  the  Lord  are 
true  and  righteous  altogether. 
Rom.  xv.  4.  For  whatsoever  things 
were  written  aforetime  were  writ- 
ten for  our  learning;  that  we 
through  patience  and  comfort  of 
the  scriptures  might  have  hope. 
Acts  xx.  32.  And  now,  brethren,  I 
commend  you  to  God,  and  to  the 
word  of  his  grace,  which  is  able 
to  build  you  up,  and  to  give  you 
an  inheritance  among  all  them 
which  are  sanctified. 

m  John  xvi.  13.  Howbeit,  when 
he,  the  Spirit  of  truth,  is  come,  he 
will  guide  you  into  all  truth:  for 
he  shall  not  speak  of  himself;  but 
whatsoever  he  shall  hear,  that  shall 
he  speak:  and  he  will  show  you 
things  to  come.  Ver.  14.  He  shall 
glorify  me :  for  he  shall  receive  of 
mine,  and  shall  show  it  unto  you. 
1  John  ii.  20.  But  ye  have  an 
unction  from  tli£  Holy  One,  and 
ye  know  all  things.  Ver.  27.  But 
the  anointing  which  ye  have  re- 
ceived of  him  abideth  in  you;  and 
ye  need  not  that  any  man  teach 
you:  but,  as  the  same  anointing 
teacheth  you  of  all  things,  and  is 
truth,  and  is  no  lie,  and  even  as  it 
hath  taught  you,  ye  shall  abide  in 
him.  John  xx.  31.  But  these  are 
written,  that  ye  might  believe  that 
Jesus  is  the  Christ,  the  Son  of 
God;  and  that  believing  ye  might 
have  life  through  his  name. 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


181 


Q.  5.    What  do  the  scriptures  principally  teach? 
A.  The  scriptures  principally  teach,  what  man  is  to  be- 
lieve concerning  God,  and  what  duty  God  requires  of  man.' 


What  man  ought  to  believe  concerning  God. 

Q.  6.    What  do  the  scriptures  make  known  of  God  ? 

A.  The  scriptures  make  known  what  God  is,0  the  per- 
sons in  the  Godhead,?  his  decrees,*1  and  the  execution  of  his 
decrees.1 

Q.  7.    What  is  God? 

*#.  God  is  a  Spirit,5  in  and  of  himself  infinite  in  being,1 
glory ,v  blessedness,*  and  perfection:*  all-sufficient,y  eter- 


5.  B  2  Tim.  i.  13.  Hold  fast  the 
form  of  sound  words,  which  thou 
hast  heard  of  me,  in  faith  and  love 
which  is  in  Christ  Jesus. 

6.  °  Heb.  xi.  6.  But  without 
faith  it  is  impossible  to  please  him: 
for  he  that  cometh  to  God  must 
believe  that  he  is,  and  that  he  is  a 
rewarder  of  them  that  diligently 
seek  him. 

p  1  John  V-  7.  For  there  are  three 
that  bear  record  in  heaven,  the 
Father,  the  Word,  and  the  Holy 
Ghost :  and  these  three  are  one. 

q  Acts  xv.  14.  Simeon  hath  de- 
clared how  God  at  the  first  did 
visit  the  Gentiles,  to  take  out  of 
them  a  people  for  his  name. 
Ver.  15.  And  to  this  agree  the 
words  of  the  prophets;  as  it  is 
written.  Ver.  18.  Known  Unto 
God  are  all  his  works  from  the 
beginning  of  the  world. 

r  Acts  iv.  27.  For  of  a  truth, 
against  thy  holy  child  Jesus,  whom 
thou  hast  anointed,  both  Herod 
and  Pontius  Pilate,  with  the  Gen- 
tiles and  the  people  of  Israel,  were 
gathered  together.  Ver.  28.  For  to 
do  whatsoever  thy  hand  and  thy 
counsel  determined  before  to  be 
done. 

16 


7.  *  John  iv.  24.  God  is  a  Spirit ; 
and  they  that  worship  him  must 
worship  him  in  spirit  and  in  truth. 

*Exod.  iii.  14.  And  God  said 
unto  Moses,  I  AM  THAT  I  AM: 
and  he  said,  Thus  shalt  thou  say 
unto  the  children  of  Israel,  I  AM 
hath  sent  me  unto  you.  .Job  xi.  7. 
Canst  thou  by  searching  find  out 
God  }  canst  thou  find  oct  the  Al- 
mighty unto  perfection?  Ver.  8.  It 
is  as  high  as  heaven,  what  canst 
thou  do!  deeper  than  hell,  what 
canst  thou  know!  Ver.  9.  The 
measure  thereof  is  longer  than  the 
earth,  and  broader  than  the  sea. 

v  Acts  vii.  2.  The  God  of 
glory  appeared  unto  our  father 
Abraham,  when,  he  was  in  Meso- 
potamia, before  he  dwelt  in  Char- 
ran. 

w  1  Tim.  vi.  15.  Which  in  his 
limes  he  shall  show,  who  ie  the 
blessed  and  only  Potentate,  the 
King  of  kings,  and  Lord  of  lords. 

*  Mat.  v.  48.  Be  ye  therefore 
perfect,  even  as  your  Father  which 
is  in  heaven  is  perfect. 

7  Gen.  xvii.  1.  And  when  Abra- 
ham was  ninety  years  old  and 
nine  the  Lord  appeared  to  Abra- 
ham,   and  said   nnto  him,  I   am 


182 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


nal,z  unchangeable/  incomprehensible,15  every  where  pre- 
sent,0 almighty/  knowing  all  things,6  most  wise/  most  holy,8 
most  just,h  most  merciful  and  gracious,  long-suffering,  and 
abundant  in  goodness  and  truth.1 

Q.  8.  Are  there  more  Gods  than  one  ? 

A.  There  is  but  One  only,  the  living  and  true  God.k 


the  Almighty  God:  walk   before 
me,  and  be  thou  perfect. 

z  Psal.  xc.  2.  Before  the  moun- 
tains were  brought  forth,  or  ever 
thou  hadst  formed  the  earth  and 
the  world:  even  from  everlasting 
to  everlasting  thou  art  God. 

a  Mai.  iii.  6.  For, I  am  the  Lord, 
I  change  not :  therefore  ye  sons  of 
Jacob  are  not  consumed.  James 
i.  17.  Every  good  gift,  and  every 
perfect  gift,  is  from  above,  and 
cometh  down  from  the  Father  of 
lights,  with  whom  is  no  variable- 
ness, neither  shadow  of  turning. 

b  1  Kings  viii.  27.  But  will  God 
indeed  dwell  on  the  earth  !  Be- 
hold, heaven,  and  the  heaven  of 
heavens,  cannot  contain  thee; 
how  much  less  this  house  that  I 
have  builded? 

c  Psal.  cxxxix.  1 — 13.  O  Lord, 
thou  hast  searched  me,  and  known 
me:  thou  knowest  my  down-sit- 
ting and  mine  up-rising,  thou 
understandest  my  thoughts  afar 
off,  &c.  Whither  shall  I  go  from 
thy  Spirit?  or  whither  shall  I  flee 
from  thy  presence]  &c. 

d  Rev.  iv.  8.  And  the  four  beasts 
had  each  of  them  six  wings  about 
him,  and  they  were  full  of  eyes 
within ;  and  they  rest  not  day  and 
night,  saying,  Holy,  holy,  holy, 
Lord  God  Almighty,  which  was, 
and  is,  and  is  to  come. 

e  Heb.  iv.  13.  Neither  is  there 
any  creature  that  is  not  manifest 
in  his  sight;  but  all  things  are 
naked  and  opened  unto  the  eyes 
of  him  with  whom   we  have  to 


do.  Psal.  cxlvii.  5.  Great  is  our 
Lord,  and  of  great  power:  his 
understanding  is  infinite. 

f  Rom.  xvi.  27.  To  God  only 
wise,  be  glory  through  Jesus  Christ 
for  ever.    Amen. 

s  Isa.  vi.  3.  And  one  cried  unto 
another,  and  said,  Holy,  holy,  holj 
is  the  Lord  of  hosts;  the  whole 
earth  is  full  of  his  glory.  Rev.  xv. 
4.  Who  shall  not  fear  thee,  O 
Lord,  and  glorify  thy  name?  for 
thou  only  art  holy:  for  all  nations 
shall  come  and  worship  before 
thee;  for  thy  judgments  are  mad( 
manifest. 

h  Deut.  xxxii.  4.  He  is  the  Rock, 
his  work  is  perfect;  for  all  his 
ways  are  judgment:  a  God  of 
truth,  and  without  iniquity,  just 
and  right  is  he. 

1  Exod.  xxxiv.  6.  And  the  Lord 
passed  by  before  him,  and  pro- 
claimed, The  Lord,  The  Lord 
God,  merciful  and  gracious,  long- 
suffering,  and  abundant  in  good- 
ness and  truth. 

8.  k  Deut.  vi.  4.  Hear,  O  Israel, 
The  Lord  our  God  is  one  Lord. 
1  Cor.  viii.  4.  As  concerning  there- 
fore the  eating  of  those  things  that 
are  offered  in  sacrifice  unto  idols 
we  know  that  an  idol  is  nothing  ir 
the  world,  and  that  there  is  non< 
other  God  but  one.  Ver.  6.  But  tc 
us  there  is  but  one  God,  the  Fa- 
ther, of  whom  are  all  things,  anc 
we  in  him  ;  and  one  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  by  whom  are  all  things,  and 
we  by  him.  Jer.  x.  10.  But  the 
Lord  is  the  true  God,  he  is  the 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


183 


Q.  9.  How  many  persons  are  there  in  the  Godhead? 

A.  There  be  three  persons  in  the  Godhead,  the  Father, 
the  Son,  and  the  Holy  Ghost ;  and  these  three  are  one  true, 
eternal  God,  the  same  in  substance,  equal  in  power  and  glo- 
ry ;  although  distinguished  by  their  personal  properties.1 

Q.  10.  What  are  the  personal  properties  of  the  three  persons 
in  the  Godhead? 

A.  It  is  proper  to  the  Father  to  beget  the  Son,m  and  to  the 
Son  to  be  begotten  of  the  Father,11  and  to  the  Holy  Ghost 
to  proceed  from  the  Father  and  the  Son  from  all  eternity.0 

Q.  11.  How  doth  it  appear  that  the  Son  and  the  Holy  Ghost 
are  God  equal  with  the  Father  ? 

A.  The  scriptures  manifest  that  the  Son  and  the  Holy 
Ghost  are  God  equal  with  the  Father,  ascribing  unto  them 


living  God,  and  an  everlasting" 
King:  at  his  wrath  the  earth  shall 
tremble,  and  the  nations  shall  not 
be  able  to  abide  his  indignation.  - 

9.  '  1  John  v.  7.  For  there  are 
three  that  bear  record  in  heaven, 
the  Father,  the  Word,  and  the 
Holy  Ghost ;  and  these  three  are 
one.  Mat.  iii.  16.  And  Jesus, 
when  he  was  baptized,  went  up 
straightway  out  of  the  water; 
and,  lo,  the  heavens  were  opened 
unto  him,  and  he  saw  the  Spirit 
of  God  descending  like  a  dove, 
and  lighting  upon  him.  Ver.  17. 
And,  lo,  a  voice  from  heaven, 
saying,  This  is  my  beloved  Son, 
in  whom  I  am  well  pleased.  Mat. 
xxviii.  19.    Go  ye  therefore,   and 

-teach  all  nations,  baptizing  them 
in  the  name  of  the  Father,  and  of 
the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 
2  Cor.  xiii.  14-  The  grace  of  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  the  love 
of  God,  and  the  communion  of 
the  Holy  Ghost,  be  with  you  aH. 
Amen.  John  x.  30.  I  and  my 
Father  are  one. 

10.  m  Heb.  i.  5.  For  unto  which 
of  the  angels  said  fye  at  any  time, 
Thou  art  my  Son,  this  day  have  I 


begotten  thee!  And  again,  I  will 
be  to  him  a  Father,  and  he  shall 
be  to  me  a  Son.  Ver.  6.  And 
again,  when  he  bringeth  in  the 
first  begotten  into  the  world,  he 
saith,  And  let  all  the  angels  of 
God  worship  him.  Ver.  8.  But 
unto  the  Son  he  saith,  Thy  throne, 
O  God,  is  for  ever  and  ever;  a 
sceptre  of  righteousness  is  the 
sceptre  of  thy  kingdom. 

n  John  i.  14.  And  the  Word  was 
made  flesh,  and  dwelt  among  us, 
(and  we  beheld  his  glory,  the 
glory  as  of  the  only  begotten  of 
the  Father,)  full  of  grace  and 
truth.  Ver.  18.  No  man  hath  seen 
God  at  any  time  ;  the  only  begot- 
ten Son.  which  is  in  the  bosom 
of  the  Father,  he  hath  declared 
him. 

0  John  xv.  26.  But  when  the 
Comforter  is  come,  whom  I  will 
send  unto  you  from  the  Father, 
even  the  Spirit  of  truth,  which 
proce^deth  from  the  Father,  he 
shall  testify  of  me.  Gal.  iv.  6. 
And  because  ye  are  Sons,  God 
hath  sent  forth  the  Spirit  of  his 
Son  into  your  hearts,  crying, 
Abba,  Father. 


184 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


such  names,p  attributes,*1  works/  and  worship,8  as  are  pro- 
per to  God  only. 

Q.  12.    What  are  the  decrees  of  God? 

A.  God's  decrees,  are  the  wise,  free,  and  holy  &ets  of  the 


11.  p  Jsa.  vi.  3.  And  one  cried 
unto  another,  and  said,  Holy, 
holy,  holy  is  the  Lord  of  hosts; 
the  whole  earth  is  foil  of  his  glory. 
Ver.  5.  Then  said  I,  Wo  is  me ! 
for  I  am  undone;  because  Lam  a 
man  of  unclean  lips,  and  I  dwell 
in  the  midst  of  a  people  of  unclean 
lips  :  for  mine  eyes  have  seen  the 
King,  the  Lord  of  hosts.  Ver.  8. 
Also  I  heard  the  voice  of  the  Lord, 
saying,  Whom  shall  I  send,  and 
who  will  go  for  us]  Then  said  T, 
Here  am  I,  send  me.  Compared 
with  John  xii.  41-  These  things 
said  Esaias,  when  he  saw  his 
glory,  and  spake  of  him.  And 
with  Acts  xxviii-  25.  And  when 
they  agreed  not  among  them- 
selves, they  departed,  after  that 
Paul  had  spoken  one  word,  Well 
spake  the  Holy  Ghost  by  Esaias. 
the  prophet  unto  our  fathers., 
1  John  v.  20.  And  we  know 
that  the  Son  of  God  is  come, 
and  hath  given  us  an  understand- 
ing, that  we  may  know  him  that 
is  true:-  and  we  are  in  him 
that  is  true,  even  in  his  Son  Jesus 
Christ.  This  is  the  true  God, 
and  eternal  life.  Acts  v.  3.  Rut 
Peter  said,  Ananias,  why  hath 
Satan  filled  thine  heart  to  lie  to 
the  Holy  Ghost,  and  to, keep  back 
part  of  the  price  of  the  land? 
Ver.  4.  Whiles  it  remained,  was. 
it  not  thine  own?  and  after  it 
was  sold,  was  it  not  in  thine  own 
power?  why  hast  thou  conceived 
this  thing  in  thine  heart?  thou 
hast  not  lied  unto  men,  but  unto 
God. 

•»  John  i.  1.   In   the  beginning 


was  the  Word,  and  the  Word 
was  with  God,  and  the  Word 
was  God.  Isa.  ix.  6.  For  unto  us 
a  child  is  born,  unto  us  a  son  is 
given,  and  the  government  shall 
be  upon  his  shoulder:  and  his 
name  shall  be  called  Wonderful, 
Counsellor,  The  mighty  God,  The 
everlasting  Father,  The  Prince  of 
Peace.  John  ii.  24.  But  Jesus  did 
not  commit  himself  unto  them, 
because  he  knew  all  men :  Ver.  25. 
And  needed  not  that  any  should 
testify  of  man ;  for  he  knew  what 
was  in  man.  1  Cor.  ii.  10-  But 
God  hath  revealed  them  unto  us 
by  his  Spirit:  for  the  Spirit  search- 
eth  all  things,  yea,  the  deep  things 
of  God.  Ver.  11.  For  what  man 
knoweth  the  tilings  of  a  man, 
save  the  spirit  of  man,  which  is  in 
him?  even  so  the  things  of  God 
knoweth  no  man,  but  the  Spirit 
of  God. 

r  Col.  i.  16.  For  by  him  were  all 
things  created  that  are  in  heaven, 
and  that  are  in  earth,  visible  and 
invisible,  whether  they  be  thrones, 
or  dominions,  or  principalities,  or 
powers:  all  things  were  created 
by  him,  and  for  him.  Gen.  i.  2. 
And  the  earth  was  without  form, 
and  void;  and  darkness  was  upon 
the  face  cf  the  deep:  and  the 
Spirit  of  God  moved  upon  the 
face  of  the  waters. 

8  Mat.  xxviii.  19.  Go  ye  there- 
fore, and  teach  all  nations,  bap- 
tizing them  in  the  name  of  the 
Father,  and  of  the  Son,  and  of 
the  Holy  Ghost  2  Cor.-xiii.  14. 
The  grace  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
and.  the  love  of  God,  and  the  com- 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


185 


counsel  of  his  will,'  whereby,  from  all  eternity,  he  hath. 
for  his  own  glory,  unchangeably  foreordained  whatsoever 
comes  to  pass  in  time/  especially  concerning  angels  and 
men. 

Q.  13.  Whai  hath  God  especially  decreed  concerning  angels 
and  men  .? 

A.  God,  by  an  eternal  and  immutable  decree,  out  of  his 
mere  love,  for  the  praise  of  his  glorious  grace,  to  be  mani- 
fested in  due  time,  hath  elected  some  angels  to  glory;"  and 
in  Christ,  hath  chosen  some  men  to  eternal  life,  and  the 
means  thereof:  x  and  also,  according  to  his  sovereign  power, 


munion  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  bo  with 
you  all.     Amen. 

12.  '  Eph.  i.  11.  In  whom  also 
we  have  obtained  an  inheritance, 
being-  predestinated  according  to 
the  purpose  of  him  who  worketh 
all  things  after  the  counsel  of  his 
own  will.  Rom.  xi.  33.  O  the 
depth  of  the  riches  both  of  the 
wisdom  and  knowledge  of  God  ! 
how  unsearchable  are  his  judg- 
ments, and  his  ways  past  finding 
out!  Rom.  ix.  14.  'What  shall  we 
say  then  1  Is  there  unrighteousness 
with  God  ?-  God  forbid.  Ver.  15. 
For  he  saith  to  Moses,  I  will  have 
mercy  on  whom  I  will  have  mercy, 
and  I  will  have  compassion  on 
whom  I  will  have  compassion. 
Ver.  13.  Therefore  hath  he  mercy 
on  whom  he  will  have  mercy,  and 
whom  he  will  he  hardeneth." 

v  Eph.  i.  4.  According  as  he  hath 
chosen  us  in  him  before  the  foun- 
dation of  the  world,  that  we 
should  be  holy,  and  without  blame 
before  him  in  love.  Ver.  11.  In 
whom  also  we  have  obtained  an 
inheritance,  being  predestinated 
according  to  the  purpose  of  him 
who  worketh  all  things  after  the 
counsel  of  his  own  will.  Rom. 
ix.  22.  What  if  God,  willing  to 
show  his  wrath,  and  to  make  his 
power  known,  endured  with  much 


long-suffering  the  vessels  of  wrath 
fitted  to  destruction :  Ver.  23.  And 
that  he  might  make  known  the 
richrs  of  his  glory  on  the  vessels 
of  mercy,  which  he  had  afore 
prepared  unto  glory  ?  Psal.  xxxiii. 
11.  The  counsel  of  the  Lord  stand- 
eth  for  ever,  the  thoughts  of  his 
heart  to  all  generations. 

13.  w  1  Tim.  v.  21.  I  charge  thee 
before  God,  and  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  and  the  elect  angels,  that 
thou  observe  these  things,  with- 
out preferring  one  before  another, 
doing  nothing  by  part: 

*  Eph.  i.  4.  According  as  he 
hath  chosen  us  in  him  before  the 
foundation  of  the  world,  that  we 
should  be  holy,  and  without  blame 
before  him  in  love :  Ver.  5.  Having 
predestinated  us  unto  the  adop- 
tion of  children  by  Jesus  Christ 
to  himself,  according  to  the  good 
pleasure  of  his  will,  Ver.  6.  To 
the  praise  of  the  glory  of  his 
grace,  wherein  he  hath  made  us 
accepted  in  the  Beloved.  2  Thess. 
ii.  13.  But  we  are  bound  to  give 
thanks  ahvay  to  God  for  you, 
brethren,  beloved  of  the  Lord, 
because  God  hath  from  the  be- 
ginning chosen  you  to  salvation, 
through  sanctificatiou  of  the  Spi- 
rit, and  belief  of  the  truth  :  Ver.  14. 
Whereunto  he  called  vou  bv  out 


186 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


and  the  unsearchable  counsel  of  his  own  will,  (whereby  he 
extendeth  or  withholdeth  favour  as  he  pleaseth,)  hath  passed 
by  and,  foreordained  the  rest  to  dishonour  and  wrath,  to  be 
for  their  sin  inflicted,  to  the  praise  of  the  glory  of  his  jus- 
tice.y 

Q.  14.  How  doth  God  execute  his  decides? 

A.  God-  executeth  his  decrees  in  the  works  of  creation 
and  providence,  according  to  his  infallible  foreknowledge, 
and  the  free  and  immutable  counsel  of  his  own  will.z 

Q%  15.    What  is  the  work  of  creation  ? 

A,  The  work  of  creation  is  that  wherein  God  did  in  the 
beginning,  by  the  word  of  his  power,  make  of  nothing  the 
world,  and  all  things  therein,  for  himself,  within  the  space 
of  six  days,  and  all  very  good,1 


gospel,   to  the   obtaining'  of   the 
glory  ofihe  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

y  Rom.  ix.  17.    For   the   scrip- 
ture  saith    unto    Pharoah,    Even 
for  this  same  purpose  have  I  raised 
thee  up,  that  I   might  show    my 
power  in-  thee,  and  that  my  name 
might  be  declared  throughout  all 
the  earth.  Ver.  18.  Therefore  hath 
he  mercy  on  whom  he  will  have 
mercy,   and    whom    he    will    he 
hardeneth.     Ver.  21.  Hath  not  the 
potter  power    over    the  clay,   of 
the  same  lump  to  make  one  ves- 
sel unto  honour,  and  another  unto 
dishonour'?      Ver.   22.    What    if 
God,  willing   to  show    his  wrath, 
and   to  make   his    power  known, 
endured  with  much  long-suffering 
the  vessels  of  wrath  fitted  to  de- 
struction?    Mat.  xi.   25.  At  that 
time  Jesus   answered  and- said,  I 
thank  thee,   O   Father,    Lord    of 
heaven   and   earth,   because  thou 
hast    hid    these   things   from    the 
wise  and  prudent,  and  hast  reveal- 
ed  them   unto   babes.      Ver.  26. 
Even  so,  Father,  for  so  it  seemed 
good  in  thy  sight.     2  Tim.  ii.  20. 
But  in  a  great  house  there  are  not 
onlv  vessels  of  gold  and  of  silver, 


but  also  of  wood  and  of  earth; 
and  some  to  honour,  and  some  to 
dishonour.  Jude,  Ver.  4.  For 
there  are  certain  men  crept  in 
unawares,  who  were  before  of 
old  ordained  to  this  condemna- 
tion, ungodly  men,  turning  the 
grace  of  our  God  into  lascivi- 
ousness,  and  denying  the  only 
Lord  God,  and  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ.  1  Pet.  ii.  8-  And  a  stone 
of  stumbling,  and  a  rock  of  of- 
fence even  to  them  which  stumble 
at  the  word,  being  disobedient, 
whereunto  also  they  were  ap- 
pointed. 

14.  z  Eph.  i.  11.  In  whom  als 
we  have  obtained  an  inheritance, 
being  predestinated  according  tc 
the  purpose  of  him  who  worketl 
all  things  after  the  counsel  of  his 
own  will. 

15.  a  [Gen.  Chapter  i.]  Heb-  xi. 
3.  Through  faith  we  understand^ 
that  the  worlds  were  framed  by1 
the  word  of  God,  so  that  things 
which  are  seen  were  not  made  of 
things  which  do  appear.  Prov. 
xvi.  4.  The  Lord  hath  made  all 
things  for  himself;  yea,  even  the 
wicked  for  th«  day  of  evil. 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


187 


Qi  16.  How  did  God  create  angels? 

A.  God  created  all  the  angelsb  spirits,0  immortal/1  holy,* 
excelling  in  knowledge/  mighty  in  power,5  to  execute  his 
commandments,  and  to  praise  his  name,*1  yet  subject  to 
change.1 

Q.  17.  Hozo  did  God  create  man? 

A.  After  God  had  made  all  other  creatures,  he  created 
man  male  and  female  ;k  formed  the  body  of  the  man  of  the 
dust  of  the  ground,1  and  the  woman  of  the  rib  of  the  man,m 
endued  them  with  living,. reasonable,  and  immortal  souls;0 


10. b  Col.  i.  16.  For  by  him  were 
all  things  created  that  are  in  hea- 
ven, and  that  are  in  earth,  visible 
and  invisible,  whether  they  be 
thrones,  or  dominions,  or  princi- 
palities,, or  powers:  all  things 
were  created  by  him,  and  for  him. 

c  Esal.  civ.  4.  Who  rnaketh  his 
angels,  spirits;  his  ministers  a 
flaming  fire. 

d  Mat.  xxii.  30.  For  in  the  re- 
surrection they  neither  marry  nor 
are  given  in  marriage :  but  are  as 
the  angels  of  God  in  heaven. 

e  Mat.  xxv.  31.  When  the  Son 
cf  man  shall  come  in  his  glory, 
and  all  the  holy  angels  with  him, 
then  shall  he  sit  upon  the  throne 
of  his  glory. 

f2  Sam.  xiv.  17.  Then  thine 
handmaid  said,  The  word  of  my 
lord  the  king  shall  now  be  com- 
fortable :  for  as-the  angel  of  God, 
so  is  my  lord  the  king  to  discern 
good  and  bad  :  therefore  the  Lord 
thy  God  will  be  with  thee.  Mat. 
xxvi.  36.  But  of  that  day  and 
hour  knoweth  no  man,  no,,  not 
the  angels  of  heaven,  but  my 
Father  only. 

K  2  Thess.  i.  7.  And  to  you  who 
are  troubled  rest  with  us,  when  the 
Lord  Jesus  shall  be  revealed  from 
heaven  with  his  mighty  angels. 

h  Psal.  ciii.  20.  Bless  the  Lord,  ye 
his  angels,  that  excel  in  strength, 


that  do  his  commandments,  heark- 
ening unto  the  voice  of  his  word. 
Ver.  21.  Bless  ye  the  Lord,  all  ye 
his  hosts  ;  ye  ministers  of  his  that 
do  his  pleasure. 

'9  Pet.  ii.  4.  For  if  God  spared 
not  the  angels  that  sinned,  but 
cast  them  down  to  hell,  and  deli- 
vered them  into  chains  of  dark- 
ness, to  be  reserved  unto  judgment. 

17.  k  Gen.  i.  27.  So  God  created 
man  in  his  own  image,  in  the 
image  of  God  created  he  him : 
male  and  female  created  he  them. 

1  Gen.  ii.  7.  And  the  Lord  God 
formed  man  of  the  dust  of  the 
ground,  and  breathed  into  his 
nostrils  the  breath  of  life. 

12  Gen.  ii.  22.  And  the  rib, 
which,  the  Lord  God  had  taken, 
from  man,  made  he  a  woman, 
and  brought  her  unto  the  man. 

a  Gen.  ii.  7.  And  the  Lord  God 
formed  man  of  the  dust  of  the 
ground,  and  breathed  into  his 
nostrils,  the  breath  of  life:  and 
man  became  a  living  soul.  Com- 
pared with  Job  xxxy.  11.  Who 
teacheth  us  more  than  the  beasts 
of  the  earth,  and  rnaketh  us  wiser 
than  the  fowls  of  heaven.  And 
with  Eccl.  xii.  7.  Then  shall  the 
dust  return  to  the  earth  as  it  was; 
and  the  spirit  shall  return  unto 
God  who  gave  it.  And  with 
Mat.   x.  28.    And   fear   not  them 


188 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


made  them  after  his  own  image,0  in  knowledge,?  righteous- 
ness, and  holiness  ;q  having  the  law  of  God  written  in  their 
hearts/  and  power  to  fulfil  it,s  with  dominion  over  the  crea- 
tures;* yet  subject  to  fall.7 

Q.  18.    What  are  God' 's  works  of  provide?! ce? 

A.  God's  works  of  providence  are  his  most  holy,* 
wise,x  and   powerful  preserving*  and  governing2  all   his 


which  can  kill  the  body,  but  are 
not  able  to  kill  the  soul:  but 
rather  fear  him  which  is  able  to 
destroy  both  soul  and  body  in 
hell.  And  with  Luke  xxiii.  43. 
And  Jesus  said  unto  him,  Verily 
I  say  unto  thee,"  To-day  shalt 
thou  be  with  me  in  paradise. 

0  Gen.  i.  27.  So  God  created 
man  in  his  own  image,  in  the 
image  of  God  created  he  him: 
male  and  female  created  he  them. 

p  Col.  iii.  10.  And  have  put  on 
the  new  man,  which  is  renewed 
in  knowledge,,  after  the  image  of 
him  that  created  him. 

i  Eph.  iv.  24.  And  that  ye  put 
on  the  new  man,  which  after 
God  is  created  in  righteousness 
and  true  holiness. 

r  Rom.  ii.  14.  For  when  the 
Gentiles,  which  have  not  the  law, 
do  by  nature  the  things  contained 
in  the  law,  these  having  not  the 
law,  are  a  law  unto  themselves: 
Ver.  15.  Which  show  the  work  of 
the  law  written  in  their  hearts, 
their  conscience  also  bearing  wit- 
ness, and  their  thoughts  the  mean 
while  accusing  or  else  excusing 
one  another. 

s  Eccl.  vii.  29.  Lo,  this  only 
have  I  found,  that  God  hath 
made  man  upright;  but  they  have 
sought  out  many  inventions. 

4  Gen.  i.  28.  And  God  blessed 
them ;  and  God  said  unto  them, 
Be  fruitful,  and  multiply,  and 
replenish   the   earth,  and   subdue 


it:  and  have  dominion  over  the 
fish  of  the  sea,  and  over  the  fowl 
of  the  air,  and  over  every  living 
thing  that  moveth  upon  the  earth. 

*  Gen.  iii.  6.  And  when  the 
woman  saw  that  the  tree  was 
good  for  food,  and  that  it  was 
pleasant  to  the  eyes,  and  a  tree 
to  be  desired  to  make  one  wise, 
she  took  of  the  fruit  thereof,  and 
did  eat;  and  gave  also  unto  her 
husband  with  her,  and  he  did 
eat.  Eccl.  vii.  29.  Lo,  this  only 
have  I  found,  that  God  hath  made 
man  upright;  but  they  have  sought 
out  many  inventions. 

18.  w  Psal.  cxlv.  17.  The  Lord 
is  righteous  in  all  his  ways,  and 
holy  in  all  his  works. 

2  Psal.  civ.  24.  O  Lord,  how 
manifold  are  thy  works!  in  wis- 
dom hast  thou  made  them  all: 
the  earth  is  full  of  thy  riches. 
Isa.  xxviii.  29.  This  also  cometh 
forth  from  the  Lord  of  hosts, 
which  is  wonderful  in  counsel, 
and  excellent  in  working." 

y  Heb.  i.  3.  Who  being  the 
brightness  of  his  glory,  and  the 
express  image  of  his  person,  and 
upholding  all  things  by  the  word 
of  his  power,  when  he  had  by 
himself  purged  our  sins,  sat  dow 
on  the  right  hand  of  the  Majesty 
on  high. 

2  Psal.  ciii.  19.  The  Lord  hath 
prepared  his  throne  in  the  hea- 
vens; and  his  kingdom  rulef 
over  all. 


The  Larger  Catechism* 


189 


creatures ;  ordering  them,  and  all  their  actions,1  to  his  own 
glory.b 

Q.  19.   What  is  God's  providence  (ozcards  the  angels? 

A.  God  by  his  providence  permitted  some  of  the  angels, 
wilfully  and  irrecoverably,  to  fall  into  sin  and  damnation,0 
limiting  and  ordering  that,  and  all  their  sins,  to  his  own  glo- 
ry ;  a  and  established  the  rest  in  holiness  and  happiness ;  * 
employing  them  all/  at  his  pleasure,  in  the  administrations 
of  his  power,  mercy,  and  justice.5 


%  Mat-  x.  29.  Are  not  two  spar- 
rows sold  for  a  farthing-  ?  and  one 
of  them  shall  not  fall  on  the  ground 
without  your  Father.  Ver.  30.  But 
the  very  hairs  of  your  head  are 
all  numbered.  Ver.  31.  Fear  ye 
not  therefore,  ye  are  of  more 
value  than  many  sparrows-  Gen. 
xlv.  7.  And  God  sent  me  before 
you,  to  preserve  you  a  posterity 
in  the  earth,  and  to  save  yoAr 
ives  by  a  great  deliverance. 

b  Rorn.  xi.  36.  For  of  him,  and 
through  him,  and  to  him,  are  all 
things:  to  whom  be  glory  for  ever. 
Amen.  Isa.  Ixiii.  14.  As  a  beast 
goeth  down  into  the  valley,  the 
Spirit  of  the  Lord  caused  him  to 
rest;  so  didst  thou  lead  thy  people, 
to  make  thyself  a  glorious  name. 

19.  c  Jude,  Ver.  6.  And  the 
angels  which  kept  not  their  first 
estate,  but  left  their  own  habita- 
tion, he  hath  reserved  in  everlast- 
ing chains  under  darkness,  unto 
the  judgment  of  the  great  day. 
2  Pet.  ii.  4.  For  if  God  spared  noS 
the  angels  that  sinned,  but  cast 
them  down  to  liell,  and  delivered 
them  into  chains  of  darkness,  to 
be  reserved  unto  judgment.  Heb. 
ii.  16.  For  verily  he  took  not  on 
him  the  nature  of  angels;  but  he 
look  on  him  the  seed  of  Abraham. 
John  viii.  44.  Ye  are  of  your  fa- 
ther the  devil,  and  the  lasts  of 
your  father  ye  will  do;  he  was  a 


murderer  from  the  beginning,  and 
abode  not  in  the  truth,  because 
there  is  no  truth  in  him.  When 
he  speaketh  a  lie,  he  speaketh  of 
his  own :  for  he  is  a  liar,  and  the 
father  of  it. 

d  Job  i.  12.  And  the  Lord  said 
unto  Satan,  Behold,  all  that  he 
hath  is  in  thy  power,  only  upon 
himself  put  not  forth  thine  hand. 
So  Satan  went  forth  from  the  pre- 
sence of  the  Lord.  Mat-  viii.  31. 
So  the  devils  besought  him,  saying, 
If  thou  cast  us  out,  suffer  us  to  go 
away  into  the  herd  of  swine. 

e  1  Tim.  v.  2L  I  charga  thee 
before  God,  and  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  and  the  elect  angels,  that 
thou  observe  these  things,  with- 
out preferring  one  before  another, 
doing  nothing  by  partiality.  Mark 
viii.  3S.  Whosoever  therefore  shall 
be  ashamed  of  me,  and  of  my 
words,  in  this  adulterous  and  sin- 
ful generation,  of  him  also  shall 
the  Son  of  man  be  ashamed,  when 
he  cometh  in  the  glory  of  his  Fa- 
ther, with  the  holy  angels.  Heb. 
xii.  22.  But  ye  are  come  unto 
mount  Sion,  and  unto  the  city  of 
the  living  God,  the  heavenly  Je- 
rusalem, and  to  an  innumerable 
company  of  angels. 

f  Psal.  civ.  4.  Who  maketh  his 
angels  spirits ;  his  ministers  a 
flaming  fire. 

5  2  Kings  xix.  35.  And  it  came 


190 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


Q.  20.  What  was  the  providence  of  God  toward  man  in  the 
estate  in  which  he  was  created  ? 

Ji.  The  providence  of  God  toward  man  in  the  estate  in 
which  he  was  created,  was  the  placing  him  in  paradise,  ap- 
pointing him  to  dress  it,  giving  him  liberty  to  eat  of  the  fruit 
©f  the  earth ; h  putting  the  creatures  under  his  dominion,1 
and  ordaining  marriage  for  his  help ; k  affording  him  com- 
munion with  himself;1  instituting  the  sabbath  ;m  entering 
into  a  covenant  of  life  with  him,  upon  condition  of  personal, 


to  pass  that  night,  that  the  angel 
of  the  Lord  went  out,  and  smote 
in  the  camp  of  the  Assyrians  a 
hundred  fourscore  and  five  thou- 
sand :  and  when  they  arose  early 
in  the  morning,  behold,  they 
were  all  dead  corpses.  Heb.  i. 
14.  Are  they  not  all  ministering 
spirits  sent  forth  to  minister  for 
them  who  shall  be  heirs  of  salva- 
tion? 

20.  h  Gen.  ii..  8.  And  the  Lord 
God  planted  a  garden  eastward  in 
Eden;  and  there  he  put  the  man 
whom  he  had  formed.  Ver.  15. 
And  the  Lord  God  took  the  man, 
and  put  him  into  the  garden  of 
Eden,  to  dress  it,  and  to  keep  it. 
Ver.  16.  And  the  Lord  God  com- 
manded the  man,  saying,  Of  every 
tree  of  the  garden  thou  mayest 
freely  eat. 

1  Gen.  i.  23.  And  God  blessed 
them:  and  God  said  unto  them, 
Be  fruitful,  and  multiply,  and 
replenish  the  earth,  and  subdue 
it;  and  have  dominion  over  the 
fish  of  the  sea,  and  over  the 
fowl  of  the  air,  and  over  every 
living  thing  that  moveth  upon 
the  earth. 

k  Gen.  ii.  18.  And  the  Lord  God 
said,  It  is  not  good  that  the  man 
should  be  alone:  I  will  make  him 
a  help  meet  for  him. 

1  Gen.  i.  26.  And  God  said, 
Let  us  make  man  in  our  image, 


after  our  likeness;  and  let  them 
have  dominion  over  the  fish  of 
the  sea,  and  over  the  fowl  of  the 
air,  and  over  the  cattle,  and  over 
all  the  earth,  and  over  every 
creeping  thing  that  creepeth  up- 
on the  earth.  Ver.  27.  So  God 
created  man  in  his  own  image, 
in  the  image  of  God  created  he 
him  :  male  and  female  created  he 
them.  Ver.  28.  And  God  bless- 
ed them :  and  God  said  unto 
them,  Be  fruitful,  and  multiply, 
and  replenish  the  earth,  and  sub- 
due it:  and  have  dominion  over 
the  fish  of  the  sea,  and  over  the 
fowl  of  the  air,  and  over  every 
living  thing  that  moveth  upon 
the  earth.  Ver.  29.  And  God  said, 
Behold,  I  have  given  you  every™ 
herb  bearing  seed,  which  is  upon 
the  face  of  all  the  earth,  and 
every  tree  in  the  which  is  the 
fruit  of  a  tree  yielding  seed;  to 
you  it  shall  be  for  meat.  Gen. 
iii.  8.  And  they  heard  the  voice 
of  the  Lord  God  walking  in  th 
garden  in  the  cool  of  the  day:  and 
Adam  and  his  wife  hid  themselve 
from  the  presence  of  the  Lord! 
God  amongst  the  trees  of  the  gar- 
den. 

m  Gen.  ii.  3.  And  God  blessed 
the  seventh  day,  and  sanctified  it : 
because  that  in  it  he  had  rested 
from  all  his  work  which  God  cre- 
ated and  made, 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


191 


>erfect,  and  perpetual  obedience,0  of  which  the  tree  of  life 
?as  a  pledge :  °  and  forbidding  to  eat  of  the  tree  of  know- 
?dge  of  good  and  evil,  upon  the  pain  of  death.? 

Q.  21.  Did  man  continue  in  that  estate  wherein  God  at  first 
reated  him  1 

A.  Our  first  parents  being  left  to  the  freedom  of  their 
iwn  will,  through  the  temptation  of  Satan,  transgressed 
lie  commandment  of  God  in  eating  the  forbidden  fruit; 
nd  thereby  fell  from  the  estate  of  innocency  wherein  they 
vere  created.q 

Q.  22.  Did  all  mankind  fall  in  that  first  transgression  ? 

A.  The  covenant  being  made  with  Adam  as  a  public 
>erson,  not  for  himself  only,  but  for  his  posterity,  all  man- 
kind descending  from  him  by  ordinary  generation/  sinned 
n  him,  and  fell  with  him  in  that  first  transgression.5 


n  Gal.  iii.  12.  And  the  law  is 
ot  of  faith :  but,  The  man  that 
oeth  them  shall  live  in  them. 
Lom.  x.  5.  For  Moses  describeth 
le  righteousness  which  is  of  the 
iw,  That  the  man  which  doeth 
lose  things  shall  live  by  them. 

0  Gen.  ii.  9.  And  out  of  the 
round  made  the  Lord  God  to 
row  every  tree  that  is  pleasant  to 
he  sight,  and  good  for  food :  the 
ree  of  life  also  in  the  midst  of  the 
garden,  and  the  tree  of  knowledge 
if  good  and  evil. 

f  Gen.  ii.  17.  But  of  the  tree  of 
he  knowledge  of  good  and  evil, 
hou  shalt  not  eat  of  it:  for  in 
he  day  that  thou  eatest  thereof 
hou  shalt  surely  die. 

21.  '■■  Gen.  iii.  6.  And  when  the 
voman  saw  that  the  tree  was  good 
or  food,  and  that  it  was  pleasant 
o  the  eyes,  and  a  tree  to  be  de- 
ired  to  make  one  wise,  she  took 
>f  the  fruit  thereof,  and  did  eat; 
ind  gave  also  unto  her  husband 
vith  her,  and  he  did  eat.  Ver.  7. 
\nd  the  eyes  of  them  both  were 
)pened,  and  they  knew  that  they 
-vere  naked ;  and  they  sewed  fig- 


leaves  together,  and  made  them- 
selves aprons.  Ver.  8.  And  they 
heard  the  voice  of  the  Lord  God 
walking  in  the  garden  in  the  cool 
of  the  day:  and  Adam  and  his 
wife  hid  themselves  from  the  pre- 
sence of  the  Lord  God  amongst 
the  trees  of  the  garden.  Ver.  13. 
And  the  Lord  God  said  unto  the 
woman,  What  is  this  that  thou 
hast  done  1  And  the  woman  said, 
The  serpent  beguiled  me,  and  I 
did  eat.  Eccl.  vii.  29.  Lo,  this 
only  have  I  found,  that  God  made 
man  upright;  but  they  have  sought 
out  many  inventions.  2  Cor-  xi.  3. 
But  I  fear,  lest,  by  any  means,  as 
the  serpent  beguiled  Eve  through 
his  subtilty,  so  your  minds  should 
be  corrupted  from  the  simplicity 
that  is  in  Christ. 

22.  r  Acts  xvii.  26.  And  hath 
made  of  one  blood  all  nations  of 
men,  for  to  dwell  on  all  the  face 
of  the  earth;  and  hath  determined 
the  times  before  appointed,  and 
the  bounds  of  their  habitation. 

5  Gen.  ii.  16.  And  the  Lord  God 
commanded  the  man,  saying,  Of 
every   tree  of   the    garden   thou 


192 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


Q.  23.  Into  what  estate  did  the  fall  bring  mankind? 

A.  The  fall  brought  mankind  into  an  estate  of  sin  and 
misery.* 

Q.  24.    What  is  sin  ? 

A.  Sin  is  any  want  of  conformity  unto,  or  transgression 
of,  any  law  of  <jod,  given  as  a  rule  to  the  reasonable  crea- 
ture.v 

Q.  25.  Wherein  consisteth  the  sinfulness  of  that  estate  where- 
in to  man  fell  ? 

A.  The  sinfulness  of  that  estate  whereinto  man  fell,  con- 
sisteth in  the  guilt  of  Adam's  first  sin,w  the  want  of  that 
righteousness  wherein  he  was  created,  and  the  corruption 
of  his  nature,  whereby  he  is  utterly  indisposed,  disabled, 
and  made  opposite  unto  all  that  is  spiritually  good,  and 
wholly  inclined  to  all  evil,  and  that  continually ; x  which  is 


mayest  freely  eat:  Ver.  17.  But  of 
the  tree  of  the  knowledge  of  good 
and  evil,  thou  shalt  not  eat  of  it: 
for  in  the  day  that  thou  eatest 
thereof  thou  shalt  surely  die. 
[Compared  with  Rom.  v.  12 — 20.] 
Wherefore,  as  by  one  man  sin  en- 
tered into  the  world,  and  death 
by  sin ;  and  so  tleath  passed  upon 
all  men,  for  that  all  have  sinned. 
Ver.  15.  For  if  through  the  offence 
of  one  many  be  dead  ;  much  more, 
— Ver.  16. — For  the  judgment  was 
by  one  to  condemnation ; — Ver.  17. 
For  if  by  one  man's  offence  death 
reigned  by  one;  much  more — 
Ver.  18.  Therefore,  as  by  the  of- 
fence of  one  judgment  came  upon 
all  men  to  condemnation ;  even  so 
— Ver.  19.  For  as  by  one  man's  dis- 
obedience many  were  made  sin- 
ners; so  by  the  obedience— And 
with  1  Cor.  xv.  21.  For  since  by 
man  came  death,  by  man  came  also 
the  resurrection  of  the  dead.  Ver. 
22.  For  as  in  Adam  all  die,  even 
so  in  Christ  shall  all  be  made  alive. 
23. x  Rom.  v.  12.  Wherefore,  as 
by  one  man  sin  entered  into  the 
world,  and  death  by  sin;   and  so 


death  passed  upon  all  men,  for 
that  all  have  sinned.  Rom.  iii. 
23.  For  all  have  sinned,  and  come 
short  of  the  glory  of  God. 

24.  v  1  John  iii.  4.  Whosoever 
committeth  sin  transgresseth  also 
the  law :  for  sin  is  the  transgres- 
sion of  the  law.  Gal.  iii.  10.  For 
as  many  as  are  of  the  works  of  the 
law  are  under  the  curse :  for  it  is 
written,  Cursed  is  every  one  that 
continucth  not  in  all  things  which 
are  written  in  the  book  of  the  law 
to  do  them-  Ver.  12.  And  the  law 
is  not  of  faith:  but,  The  man  that 
doeth  them  shall  live  in  them. 

25.  w  Rom.  v.  12.  Wherefore,  as 
by  one  man  sin  entered  into  the 
world,  and  death  by  sin;  and  so 
death  passed  upon  all  men,  for 
that  all  have  sinned.  Ver.  19.  For 
as  by  one  man's  disobedience 
many  were  made  sinners;  so  by 
the  obedience  of  one  shall  many 
be  made  righteous. 

x  Rom.  iii.  10.  As  it  is  written, 
There  is  none  righteous,  no,  not 
one;  Ver.  11.  There  is  none  that 
understandeth,  there  is  none  that 
seeketh  after  God.   Ver.  12.  They 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


193 


commonly  called  Original  Sin,  and  from  which  do  proceed 
all  actual  transgressions.7 

Q.  26.  How  is  original  sin  conveyed  from  our  first  parents 
unto  their  posterity? 

A.  Original  sin  is  conveyed  from  our  first  parents  unto 
their  posterity  by  natural  generation,  so  as  all  that  proceed 
from  them  in  that  way  are  conceived  and  born  in  sin.z 

Q.  27.    What  misery  did  the  fall  bring  upon  mankind? 

A.  The  fall  brought  upon  mankind  the  loss  of  commu- 
nion with  God,a  his  displeasure  and  curse ;  so  as  we  are 


are  all  gone  out  of  the  way,  they 
are  together  become  unprofitable; 
there  is  none  that  doeth  good,  no, 
not  one.  Ver.  13.  Their  throat  is 
an  open  sepulchre;  with  their 
tongues  they  have^  used  deceit; 
the  poison  of  asps  is  under  their 
lips:  Ver.  14.  Whose  mouth  is  full 
of  cursing  and  bitterness:  Ver.  15. 
Their  feet  are  swift  to  shed  blood  : 
Ver.  16.  Destruction  and  misery  are 
in  their  ways :  Ver.  17.  And  the 
way  of  peace  have  they  not  known ; 
Ver.  18.  There  is  no  fear  of  God 
before  their  eyes.  Ver.  19-  Now 
we  know,  that  what  things  soever 
the  law  saith,  it  saith  to  them  who 
are  under  the  law;  that  every 
mouth  may  be  stopped,  and  all 
the  world  may  become  guilty  be- 
fore GGd.  Eph.  ii.  1.  And  you 
hath  he  quickened,  who  were  dead 
in  trespasses  and  sins :  Ver.  2. 
Wherein  in  time  past  ye  walked 
according  to  the  course  of  this 
world,  according  to  the  prince  of 
the  power  of  the  air,  the  spirit  that 
now  worketh  in  the  children  of  dis- 
obedience. Ver.  3.  Among  whom 
also  we  all  had  our  conversation  in 
times  past,  in  the  lusts  of  our  flesh, 
fulfilling  the  desires  of  the  flesh  and 
of  the  mind  ;  and  were  by  nature 
the  children  of  wrath,  even  as 
others.  Rom.  v.  6.  For  when  we 
were  yet  without  strength,  in  due 


time  Christ  died  for  the  ungodly. 
Rom.  viii-  7.  Because  the  carnal 
mind  is  enmity  against  God  :  for  it 
is  not  subject  to  the  law  of  God, 
neither  indeed  can  be.  Ver.  8.  So 
then  they  that  are  in  the  flesh  can- 
not please  God.  Gen.  vi.  5.  And 
God  saw  that  the  wickedness  of 
man  was  great  in  the  earth,  and 
that  every  imagination  of  the 
thoughts  of  his  heart  was  only 
evil  continually. 

y  James  i.  14.  But  every  man  is 
tempted,  when  he  is  drawn  away 
of  his  own  lust,  and  enticed.  Ver. 
15.  Then  when  lust  hath  con- 
ceived, it  bringeth  forth  sin;  and 
sin,  when  it  is  finished,  bringeth 
forth  death.  Mat.  xv.  19.  For  out 
of  the  heart  proceed  evil  thoughts, 
murders,  adulteries,  fornications, 
thefts,  false  witness,  blasphemies. 

26.  z  Pfeal-  Ii.  5.  Behold,  1  was 
shnpen  in  iniquity;  and  in  sin  did 
my  mother  conceive  me.  Job  xiv. 
4.  Who  can  bring  a  clean  thing 
out  of  an  unclean?  not  one.  Job 
xv.  14.  What  is  man,  that  he 
should  be  clean  1  and  he  which  is 
born  of  a  woman,  that  he  should 
be  righteous?  John  iii.  6.  That 
which  is  born  of  the  flesh  is  flesh ; 
and  that  which  is  born  of  the  Spi- 
rit is  spirit. 

27  a  Gen.  iii  8.  And  they  heard 
the  voice  of  the  Lord  God  walk- 


194 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


by  nature  children  of  wrath,b  bond  slaves  to  Satan,c  and 
justly  liable  to  all  punishments  in  this  world,  and  that  which 
is  to  come.d 

Q.  28.    What  are  the  punishments  of  sin  in  this  world? 

A.  The  punishments  of  sin  in  this  world  are  either  in- 
ward, as  blindness  of  mind,e  a  reprobate  sense/  strong 
delusions,5  hardness  of  heart,h  horror  of  conscience,1  and 


ing  in  the  garden  in  the  cool  of 
the  day :  and  Adam  and  his  wife 
hid  themselves  from  the  presence 
of  the  Lord  God  amongst  the  trees 
of  the  garden.  Ver.  10,  And  he 
said,  I  heard  thy  voice  in  the  gar- 
den, and  I  was  afraid,  because  I 
was  naked  ;  and  I  hid  myself.  Ver. 
24.  So  he  drove  out  the  man ;  and 
he  placed  at  the  east  of  the  garden 
of  Eden  chei  ubims,  and  a  flaming- 
sword,  which  turned  every  way,  to 
keep  the  way  of  the  tree  of  life. 

b  Eph.  ii.  2.  Wherein  in  time 
past  ye  walked  according  to  the 
course  of  this  world,  according  to 
the  prince  of  the  power  of  the  air, 
the  spirit  that  now  worketh  in  the 
children  of  disobedience.  Ver.  3. 
Among  whom  also  we  all  had  our 
conversation  in  times  past,  in  the 
lusts  of  our  flesh,  fulfilling  the  de- 
sires of  the  flesh  and  of  the  mind ; 
and  were  by  nature  the  children  of 
wrath,  even  as  others. 

c  2  Tim.  ii.  26.  And  that  they 
may  recover  themselves  out  of  the 
snare  of  the  devil,  who  are  taken 
captive  by  him  at  his  will. 

d  Gen.  ii.  17.  But  of  the  tree  of 
the  knowledge  of  good  and  evil 
thou  shalt  not  eat  of  it;  for  in  the 
day  that  thou  eatest  thereof  thou 
shalt  surely  die.  Lam.  iii.  39. 
Wherefore  doth  a  living  man 
complain,  a  man  for  the  punish- 
ment of  his  sins?  Rom.  vi.  23.  For 
the  wages  of  sin  is  death;  but  the 
gift  of  God  is  eternal  life,  through 
Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.    Mat.  xxv. 


41.  Then  shall  he  say  also  unto 
them  on  the  left  hand,  Depart  from 
me,  ye  cursed,  into  everlasting  fire, 
prepared  for  the  devil  and  his  an- 
gels. Ver.  46.  And  these  shall  go 
away  into  everlasting  punishment; 
but  the  righteous  into  life  eternal. 
Jude,  Ver.  7.  Even  as  Sodom  and 
Gomorrha,  and  the  cities  about 
them,  in  like  manner  giving  them- 
selves over  to  fornication,  and  going 
after  strange  flesh,  are  set  forth  for 
an  example,  suffering  the  ven- 
geance of  eternal  fire. 

28. e  Eph.  iv.  18.  Having  the  un- 
derstanding darkened,  being  alie- 
nated from  the  life  of  God  through 
the  ignorance  that  is  in  them,  be- 
cause of  the  blindnessof  their  heart. 

fRom.  i.  28.  Even  as  they  did 
not  like  to  retain  God  in  their 
knowledge,  God  gave  them  over 
to  a  reprobate  mind,  to  do  those 
things  which  are  not  convenient. 

s2  Thess.  ii.  11.  And  for  this 
cause  God  shall  send  them  6trong 
delusion,  that  they  should  believe 
a  lie. 

h  Rom.  ii.  5.  But  after  thy  hard- 
ness and  impenitent  heart,  treasur- 
est  up  unto  thyself  wrath  against 
the  day  of  wrath,  and  revelation  of 
the  righteous  judgment  of  God. 

1  Isa.  xxxiii.  14.  The  sinners  in 
Zion  are  afraid;  fearfulness  hath 
surprised  the  hypocrites:  whoj 
among  us  shall  dwell  with  the  de- 
vouring fire'!  who  among  us  shall 
dwell  with  everlasting  burnings? 
Gen.  iv.  13.  And  Cain  said  unto 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


195 


vile  affections  ;k  or  outward,  as  the  curse  of  God  upon  the 
creatures  for  our  sakes,1  and  all  other  evils  that  befall  us 
in  our  bodies,  names,  estates,  relations,  and  employments; m 
together  with  death  itself.11 

Q.  20.  What  are  the  punishments  of  sin  in  the  world  to 
come  ? 

A.  The  punishments  of  sin  in  the  world  to  come,  are  ever- 
lasting separation  from  the  comfortable  presence  of  God, 
and  most  grievous  torments  in  soul  and  body,  without  inter- 
mission, in  hell-fire  for  ever.0 

Q.  30.  Doth  God  leave  all  mankind  to  perish  in  the  estate  oj 
sin  and  misery? 

A.  God  doth  not  leave  all  men  to  perish  in  the  estate  of  sin 
and  misery ,p  into  which  they  fell  by  the  breach  of  the  first 
covenant,  commonly  called  the  Covenant  of  Works  ;q  but 


the  Lord,  My  punishment  is 
greater  than  I  can  bear.  Mat. 
xxvii.  4.  Saying1,  I  have  sinned,  in 
that  I  have  betrayed  the  innocent 
blood.  And  they  said,  What  is 
that  to  us  ?  see  thou  to  that. 

kRom.  i.  26.  For  this  cause  God 
gave  them  up  unto  vile  affections: 
for  even  their  women  did  change 
the  natural  use  into  that  which  is 
against  nature. 

1  Gen.  iii.  17.  And  unto  Adam  he 
said,  Because  thou  hast  hearkened 
unto  the  voice  of  thy  wife,  and 
hast  eaten  of  the  fruit  of  which  I 
commanded  thee,  saying,  Thou 
shalt  not  eat  of  it;  cursed  is  the 
ground  for  thy  sake:  in  sorrow 
shalt  thou  eat  of  it  all  the  days  of 
of  thy  life. 

m  Deut.  xxviii.  15,  to  the  end. 
But  it  shall  come  to  pass,  if  thou 
wilt  not  hearken  unto  the  voice  of 
the  Lord  thy  God,  to  observe  to  do 
all  his  commandments,  and  his 
statutes,  which  I  command  thee 
this  day,  that  all  these  curses  shall 
come  upon  thee,  and  overtake  thee. 
Ver.  16.  Cursed  shalt  thou  be  in 
the  city,  and  cursed  shalt  thou  be 


in  the  fir-Id.  Ver.  17.  Cursed  shall 
be  thy  basket  and  thy  store.  Ver. 
18.  Cursed  shall  be  the  fruit  of  thy 
body,  and  the  fruit  of  thy  land,  &c. 
n  Rom.  vi.  21.  What  fruit  had 
ye  then  in  those  things  whereof  ye 
are  now  ashamed?  for  the  end  of 
those  things  is  death.  Ver.  23. 
For  the  wages  of  sin  is  death; 
but  the  gift  of  God  is  eternal  life, 
through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord. 

29.  °2Thess.  i.  9.  Who  shall  be 
punished  with  everlasting  destruc- 
tion from  the  presence  of  the  Lord, 
and  from  the  glory  of  his  power. 
Mirk  ix.  44,  46,  48,— To  go  into 
hell, — where  their  worm  dieth  not, 
and  the  fire  is  not  quenched.  Luke 
xvi.  24.  And  he  cried,  and  said, 
Father  Abraham,  have  mercy  on 
me,  and  send  Lazarus,  that  he  may 
dip  the  tip  of  his  finger  in  water, 
and  cool  my  tongue;  for  I  am 
tormented  in  this  flame. 

30.  p  1  Thess.  v.  9.  For  God 
hath  not  appointed  us  to  wrath; 
but  to  obtain  salvation  by  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

q  Gal.  iii.  10.  For  as  many  aa 
are  of  the  works  of  the  law   are 


196 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


of  his  mere  love  and  mercy  delivereth  his  elect  out  of  it, 
and  bringeth  them  into  an  estate  of  salvation  by  the  second 
covenant,  commonly  called  the  Covenant  of  Grace/ 

Q.  31.  With  whom  was  the  covenant  of  grace  made? 

A,  The  covenant  of  grace  was  made  with  Christ  as  the 
second  Adam,  and  in  him  with  all  the  elect  as  his  seed." 

Q.  32.  How  is  the  grace  of  God  manifested  in  the  second  co- 
venant. 

A.  The  grace  of  God  is  manifested  in  the  second  covenant, 
in  that  he  freely  provideth  and  ofFereth  to  sinners  a  Mediator,4 


under  the  curse:  for  it  is  written, 
Cursed  is  every  one  that  eonti- 
nuetli  not  in  all  things  which  are 
written  in  the  book  of  the  law  to 
do  them.  Ver.  12.  And  the  law  is 
not  of  faith:  but,  The  man  that 
doeth  them  shall  live  in  them. 

r  Tit.  iii.  4.  But  after  that  the 
kindness  and  love  of  God  our  Sa- 
viour toward   man  appeared,  Ver. 

5.  Not  by  works  of  righteousness 
which  we  have  done,  but  accord- 
ing to  his  mercy  he  saved  us,  by 
the  washing  of  regeneration,  and 
renewing  of  the  Holy  Ghost ;  Ver. 

6.  Which  he  shed  on  us  abundant- 
ly, through  Jesus  Christ  our  Sa- 
viour: Ver.  7.  That  being  justified 
by  his  grace,  we  should  be  made 
heirs  according  to  the  hope  of  eter- 
nal life.  Gal.  iii.  21.  Is  the  law 
then  against  the  promises  of  God? 
God  forbid:  for  if  there  had  been 
a  law  given  which  could  have 
given  life,  verily  righteousness 
should  have  been  by  the  law. 
Rom.  iii.  20.  Therefore  by  the 
deeds  of  the  law  there  shall  no 
flesh  be  justified  in  his  sight:  for 
by  the  law  is  the  knowledge  of 
sin.  Ver.  21.  But  now  the  righte- 
ousness of  God  without  the  law  is 
manifested,  being  witnessed  by  the 
law  and  the  prophets;  Ver.  22. 
Even  the  righteousness  of  God, 
which  is  by  faith  of  Jesus  Christ 


unto  all,  and  upon  all  them   that 
believe;  for  there  is  no  difference. 

31.  s  Gal.  iii.  16.  Now  to  Abra- 
ham and  his  seed  were  the  pro- 
mises made.  He  saith  not,  And  to 
seeds,  as  of  many;  but  as  of  one, 
And  to  thy  seed,  which  is  Christ. 
[Rom.  v.  15,  to  the  end.]  Isa.  liii. 
10.  Yet  it  pleased  the  Lord  to 
bruise  him  ;  he  hath  put  him  to 
grief:  when  thou  shalt  make  his 
soul  an  offering  for  sin,  he  shall 
see  his  seed,  he  shall  prolong  his 
days,  and  the  pleasure  of  the  Lord 
shall  prosper  in  his  hand.  Ver.  11. 
He  shall  see  of  the  travail  of  his 
soul,  and  shall  be  satisfied  :  by  his 
knowledge  shall  my  righteous  ser- 
vant justify  many  ;  lor  he  shall  bear 
their  iniquities. 

32.  '  Gen.  iii.  15.  And  I  will  put 
enmity  between  thee  and  the  wo- 
man, and  between  thy  seed  and  her 
seed:  it  shall  bruise  thy  head,  and 
thou  shalt  bruise  his  heel.  Isa.  xlii. 
6.  I  the  Lord  have  called  thee  in 
righteousness,  and  will  hold  thine 
hand,  and  will  keep  thee,  and  will 
give  thee  for  a  covenant  of  the 
people,  for  a  light  of  the  Gentiles. 
John  vi.  27.  Labour  not  for  the 
meat  which  perisheth,  but  for  that 
meat  which  endureth  unto  ever- 
lasting life,  which  the  Son  of  man 
shall  give  unfo  you  :  for  him  hath 
God  the  Father  sealed. 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


19T 


and  life  and  salvation  by  him;v  and  requiring  faith  as  the 
condition  to  interest  them  in  him,w  promiseth  and  giveth  his 
Holy  Spirit x  to  all  his  elect,  to  work  in  ihem  that  faith/ 
with  all  other  saving  graces ;z  and  to  enable  them  unto  all 
holv  obedience/  as  the  evidence  of  the  truth  of  their  faithb 
and  thankfulness  to  God,c  and  as  the  way  which  he  hath 
appointed  them  to  salvation.4 

Q.  33.  Was  the  covenant  of  grace  always  administered  after 
one  and  the  same  manner? 

A.  The  covenant  of  grace  was  not  always  administered 
after  the  same  manner,  but  the  administrations  of  it  un- 
der the  Old  Testament  were  different  from  those  under  the 
New.' 


T  1  John  v.  11.  And  this  is  the 
record,  that  God  hath  given  to  us 
eternal  life;  and  this  life  is  in  his 
"  Son.  Ver.  12.  He  that  hath  the 
Son  hath  life;  and  he  that  hath 
not  the  Son  of  God  hath  not  life. 

•  John  iii.  16.  For  God  so  loved 
the  world,  that  he  gave  his  only 
begotten  Son,  that  whosoever  be- 
lieveth  in  him  should  not  perish, 
but  have  everlasting  life.  John  i. 
12.  But  as  many  as  received  him, 
to  them  gave  he  power  to  become 
the  sons  of  G  >d,  even  to  them  that 
believe  on  his  name. 

x  Prov.  i.  2a  Behold,  I  will  pour 
out  my  Spirit  unto  you,  I  will 
make  known  my  words  unto  you. 

7  2  Cor.  \v.  13.  We  having  the 
same  spirit  of  faith,  according  as  it 
is  written,  I  believed,  and  there- 
fore have  I  spoken :  we  also  be- 
lieve, and  therefore  speak. 

zGal.  v.  22.  But  the  fruit  of  the 
Spirit  is  love,  joy,  peace,  long  suf- 
fering, gentleness,  goodness,  faith, 
Ver.  23.  Meekness,  temperance: 
against  such  there  is  no  I 

1  Ezek.  xxx vi.  27.  And  I  will  put 

my  Spirit  within  you,  and  cause  you 

to  walk  in  my  statutes,  and  ye  shall 

keep  mv  judgments,  and  do  them. 

XT* 


b  James  ii.  18.  Yea,  a  man  may 
say,  Tiiou  hast  faith,  and  I  have 
works:  show  me  thy  faith  with- 
out thy  works,  and  I  will  show 
thee  my  faith  by  my  works.  Ver. 
22.  Seest  thou  how  faith  wrought 
with  his  works;  and  by  works 
was  faith  made  perfect  ? 

c  2  Cor.  v.  14.  For  the  love  of 
Christ  constraineth  us;  because  we 
thus  judge,  that  if  one  died  for  all, 
then  were  all  dead:  Ver.  15.  And 
that  he-died  for  all,  that  they  which 
live  should  not  henceforth  live  un- 
to themselves,  but  unto  him  which 
died  for  them,  and  rose  again. 

d  Eph.  ii.  10.  For  we  are  his 
workmanship,  created  in  Christ 
Jesus  unto  good  works,  which 
God  hath  before  ordained  that 
we  should  walk  in  them. 

33.  e  2  Cor.  iii.  6.  Who  also 
hath  made  us  able  ministers  of  the 
new  testament;  not  of  the  letter, 
but  of  the  Spirit:  for  the  letter 
killeth,  but  the  Spirit  giveth  life. 
Ver.  7.  But  if  the  ministration  of 
death,  written  and  engraven  in 
stones,  was  glorious,  so  that  the 
children  of  Israel  could  not  stead- 
fastly behold  the  face  of  Moses 
for  the  glory  of  his  countenance, 


198 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


Q.  34.  How  was  the  covenant  of  grace  administered  under 
the  Old  Testament? 

A.  The  covenant  of  grace  was  administered  under  the 
Old  Testament,  by  promises/  prophecies,8  sacrifices,11  cir- 
cumcision,1 the  passover,k  and  other  types  and  ordinances, 
which  did  all  fore-signify  Christ  then  to  come,  and  were 
for  that  time  sufficient  to  build  up  the  elect  in  faith  in  the 
promised  Messiah,1  by  whom  they  then  had  full  remission 
of  sin,  and  eternal  salvation.111 

Q.  35.  How  is  the  covenant  of  grace  administered  under  the 
JS/ew  Testament  ? 

A.  Under  the  New  Testament,  when  Christ  the  substance 
was  exhibited,  the  same  covenant  of  grace  was  and  still  is 


which  glory  was  to  be  done  away ; 
Ver.  8.  How  shall  not  the  minis- 
tration of  the  Spirit  be  rather  glo- 
rious'? Ver.  9.  For  if  the  minis- 
tration of  condemnation  be  glory, 
much  more  doth  the  ministration 
of  righteousness  exceed  in  glory. 

34.  f  Rom.  xv.  8.  Now  I  say, 
that  Jesus  Christ  was  a  minister  of 
the  circumcioion  for  the  truth  of 
God  to  confirm  the  promises 
made  unto  the  fathers. 

e  Acts  iii.  20.  And  he  shall  send 
Jesus  Christ,  which  before  was 
preached  unto  you.  Ver.  24.  Yea, 
and  all  the  prophets  from  Samuel, 
and  those  that  follow  after,  as 
many  as  have  spoken,  have  like- 
wise foretold  of  these  days. 

h  Heb.  x.  X-  For  the  law  having 
a  shadow  of  good  things  to  come, 
and  ml  the  very  image  of  the 
things,  can  never  with  those  sa- 
crifices, which  thoy  offered  year 
by  year  continiuliy,  make  the 
comers  thereunto  perfect. 

k  Rom.  iv.  11.  And  he  received 
the  sign  of  circumcision,  a  seal  of 
the  righteousness  of  the  faith 
which  he  had,  yet  being  uncir- 
cumcised  :  that  he  might  be  the 
father  of  all   them   that   believe,. 


1  hough  they  be  not  circumcised; 
that  righteousness  might  be  im- 
puted unto  them  also. 

k  1  Cor.  v.  7.  Purge  out  there- 
fore the  old  leaven,  that  ye  may 
be  a  new  lump,  as  ye  are  unlea- 
vened. For  even  Christ  our  pass- 
over  is  sacrificed  for  us. 

1  [Heb.  Chapters  viii.  ix.  and  x.] 
Heb.  xi.  13.  These  all  died  in  faith, 
not  having  received  the  promises, 
but.  having  seen  them  afar  off,  and 
were  persuaded  of  them,  and  em- 
braced them,  and  confessed  that 
they  were  strangers  and  pilgrims 
on  thp  earth. 

m  Gal.  iii.  7.  Know  ye  there- 
fore, that  they  which  are  of  faith, 
the  same  are  the  children  of  Abra- 
ham. Ver.  8.  And  the  scripture 
foreseeing  that  God  would  justify 
the  h  'athen  through  faith,  preach- 
ed before  the  gospel  unto  Abra- 
ham, saying,  In  thee  shall  all  na- 
tions be  blessed.  Ver.  9.  So  then 
they  which  be  of  faith  are  blessed 
with  faithful  Abraham.  Ver.  14. 
That  the  blessing  of  Abraham 
might  come  on  the  Gentiles 
through  Jesus  Christ;  that  we 
might  receive  the  promise  of  the 
Spirit  through  faith. 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


199 


to.be  adminstered  in  the  preaching  of  the  word,n  and  the 
administration  of  the  sacraments  of  baptism0  and  the  Lord's 
supper  ;p  in  which  grace  and  salvation  are  held  forth  in  more 
fulness,  evidence,  and  efficacy,  to  all  nations.q 

Q.  3(3.    Who  is  the  Mediator  of  the  covenant  of  grace. 

A.  The  only  Mediator  of  the  covenant  of  grace  is  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ/  who,  being  the  eternal  Son  of  God,  of 
one  substance  and  equal  with  the  Father,5  in  the  fulness  of 


35.  n  Mark  xvi.  15.  And  he  said 
unto  them,  Go  ye  into  all  the 
world,  and  preach  the  gospel  to 
every  creature. 

0  Mat.  xxviii.  19.  Go  ye  there- 
fore and  teach  ail  nations,  bap- 
tizing them  in  the  name  of  the  Fa- 
ther, and  of  the  Son,  and  of  the 
Holy  Ghost:  Ver.  20.  Teaching 
them  to  observe  all  things  whatso- 
ever I  have  commanded  you  :  and, 
lo,  I  am  with  y;u  alway,  even  un- 
to the  end  of  the  world.    Amen. 

p  1  Car.  xi.  23.  Fur  I  have  re- 
ceived of  the  Lord  that  which  also 
I  delivered  unto  you,  That  the  Lord 
Jesus,  the  same  night  in  which  he 
was  betrayed,  took  bread:  Ver. 
I  when  he  had  given  thanks, 
he  brake  it,  and  said,  Take,  eat; 
this  is  my  body,  which  is  broken 
for  you:  this  do  in  remembrance 
of  me.  Ver.  '25.  After  the  same 
panne r  also  he  took  the  cup,  when 
he  had  supped,  saying,  This  cup 
is  the  new  testament  in  my  blood: 
this  do  ye,  as  oft  as  ye  drink  it,  in 
remembrance  of  me. 

«  2  Cor.  Hi.  6,  to  the  end.  Who 
also  hath  made  us  able  ministers 
of  the  new  testament;  not  of  the 
letter,  but  of  the  Spirit:  for  the 
letter  killeth,  but  the  Spirit  giveth 
life.  Ver.  7.  But  if  the  ministra- 
tion of  death,  written  and  engraven 
in  stones  was  glorious, — Ver.  8. 
How  shall  not  the  ministration  of 
the  Spirit  be  rather  glorious)  Ver. 


9.  For  if  the  ministration  of  con- 
demnation be  glory,  much  more 
doth  the  ministration  of  righteous- 
ness exceed  in  glory,  &c.  *  Heb. 
viii.  (>.  But  now  hath  he  obtained 
a  more  excellent  ministry,  by  how 
much  also  he  is  the  Mediator  of  a 
better  covenant,  which  was  esta- 
blished upon  better  promises.  Ver. 

10.  For  this  is  the  covenant  that  I 
will  make  with  the  house  of  Tsrael 
after  those  days,  saith  the  Lord: 
I  will  put  my  laws  into  their  mind, 
and  write  them  in  their  hearts: 
and  I  will  be  to  them  a  God,  and 
they  shall  be  to  me  a  people.  Ver. 

11.  And  they  shall  not  teach  every 
man  his  neighbour,  and  every  man 
his  brother,  saying,  Know  the 
Lord:  for  all  shall  know  me,  from 
the  leas^  to  the  greatest.  Mat. 
xxviii.  19.  Go  ye  therefore,  and 
teach  all  nations,  baptizing  them 
in  the  name  of,  <f-c. 

36. r  1  Tim.  ii.  5.  For  there  is  one 
God,  and  one  Mediator  between 
God  and  men,  the  man  Christ 
Jesus. 

s  John  i.  1.  In  the  beginning 
was  the  Word,  and  the  Word 
was  with  God,  and  the  Word  was 
God.  Ver.  14.  And  the  Word 
was  made  flesh,  and  dwelt  among 
us,  (and  we  beheld  his  glory,  the 
glory  as  of  the  only  begotten  of 
the  Father.)  full  of  grace  and 
truth.  John  x.  30.  I  and  my  Fa- 
ther are  one.    Phil.  ii.  6.  Who  be- 


200 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


time  became  man,*  and  so  was  and  continues  to  be  God 
and  man,  in  two  entire  and  distinct  natures,  and  one  person, 
for  ever/ 

Q,.  37.  How  did  Christ,  being  the  Son  of  God,  become  man  ? 

A.  Christ  the  Son  of  God  became  man,  by  taking  to  him- 
self a  true  body,  and  a  reasonable  soul,w  being  conceived 
by  the  power  of  the  Holy  Ghost  in  the  womb  of  the  Virgin 
Mary,  of  her  substance,  and  born  of  her,x  yet  without 
sinJ 

Q.  38.  Why  zvas  it  requisite  that  the  Mediator  should  be 
God? 

A.  It  was  requisite  that  the  Mediator  should  be  God,  that 
he  might  sustain  and  keep  the  human  nature  from  sinking 

ing  in  the  form  of  God,  thought  it 

not  robbery  to  be  equal  with  God. 
*  Gal.  iv.  4.    But  when  the  ful- 
ness of  the  time  was  come,  God 

sent   forth    his    Son,    made    of  a 

woman,  made  under  the  law. 
v  Luke   i.   35.    And  the  angel 

answered  and  said  unto  her,  The 

Holy  Ghost  shall  come  upon  thee, 

and  the  power  of  the  Highest  shall 

overshadow  thee:    therefore   also 

that   holy  thing,  which    shall    be 

born  of  thee,  sliall  be   called  the 

Son  of  God.     Rom.  ix.  5.   Whose 

are  the  fathers,  and  of  whom,  as 

concerning  the  flesh,  Christ  came, 

who  is  over  all,  God  blessed  for 
ever.  Amen.  Col.  ii.  9.  For  in  him 
dwelleth  all  the  fulness  of  the  God- 
head bodily.  Heb.  vii.  24.  But 
this  man,  because  he  continued* 
ever,  hath  an  unchangeable  priest- 
hood. Ver.  25.  Wherefore  he  is 
able  also  to  save  them  to  the  utter- 
most that  come  unto  God  by  him, 
seeing  he  ever  liveth  to  make  in- 
tercession for  them. 

37.  w  John  i.  14.  And  the  Word 
was  made  flesh,  and  dwelt  among 
us,  (and  we  beheld  his  glory,  the 
glory  as  of  the  only  begotten  of 
the  Father,)  full  of  grace  and 
truth.     Mat.  xxvi.  38.  Then  saith 


he  unto  them,  My  soul  is  exceed- 
ing sorrowful,  even  unto  death: 
tarry  ye  here,  and  watch  with  me. 
*  Luke  i.  27.  To  a  virgin  es- 
poused to  a  man,  whose  name  was 
Joseph,  of  the  house  of  David;  and 
the  virgin's  name  was  Mary.  Ver. 
31.  And,  behold,  thou  shalt  con- 
ceive in  thy  womb,  and  bring  forth 
a  son,  and  shalt  call  his  name  Je- 
sus. Ver.  35.  And  the  angel  an- 
swered and  said  unto  her,  The 
Holy  Ghost  shall  come  upon  thee, 
and  the  power  of  the  Highest  shall 
overshadow  thee :  therefore  also 
that  holy  thing,  which,  shall  be 
born  of  thee,  shall  be  called  the 
Son  of  God.  Ver.  42.  And  Elisa- 
beth spake  out  with  a  loud  voice, 
and  said,  Blessed  art  thou  among 
women,  and  blessed  is  the  fruit  of' 
thy  womb.  Gal-  iv.  4.  But  when 
the  fulness  of  the  time  was  come, 
God  sent  forth  his  Son,  made  of  a 
woman,  made  under  the  law. 

y  Heb.  iv.  15.  For  we  have  not 
a  high  priest  which  cannot  be 
touched  with  the  feeling  of  our 
infirmities;  but  was  in  all  points 
tempted  like  as  we  are,  yet  with- 
out sin.  Heb.  vii.  26-  For  such 
a  high  priest  became  us,  who  is 
holy,  harmless,  undefiled,  se.narate 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


20 


under  the  infinite  wrath  of  God,  and  the  power  of  death;2 
give  worth  and  efficacy  to  his  sufferings,  obedience,  and 
intercession;3  and  to  satisfy  God's  justic'e,b  procure  his  fa- 
vour,0 purchase  a  peculiar  people/  give  his  Spirit  to  them,6 


from  sinners,  and  made  higher  than 
the  heavens. 

38.  z  Acts  ii.  24.  Whom  God 
hath  raised  up,  having  loosed  the 
pains  of  death  :  because  it  was  not 
possible  that  he  should  be  holden 
of  it.  Ver.  25.  For  David  speak- 
eth  concerning  him,  I  foresaw  the 
Lord  always  before  my  face;  for 
he  is  on  my  right  hand,  that  I 
should  not  be  moved.  Rom.  i.  4. 
And  declared  to  be  the  Son  of  God 
with  power,  according  to  the  Spi- 
rit of  holiness,  by  the  resurrection 
from  the  dead.  Compared  with 
Rom.  iv.  25.  Who  was  delivered 
for  our  offences,  and  was  raised 
again  for  our  justification.  Heb. 
ix.  14.  How  much  more  shall  the 
blood  of  Christ,  who  through  the 
eternal  Spirit  offered  himself  with- 
out spot  to  God,  purge  your  con- 
science from  dead  works,  to  serve 
the  living  God? 

a  Acts  xx.  23.  Take  heed  there- 
fore unto  yourselves,  and  to  all  the 
flock,  over  the  which  the  Holy 
Ghost  hath  made  you  overseers,  to 
feed  the  church  of  God,  which  he 
hath  purchased  with  his  own  blood. 
Heb.  ix.  14.  How  much  more  shall 
the  blood  of  Christ,  who  through 
the  eternal  Spirit  offered  himself 
without  spot  to  God,  purge  your 
conscience  from  dead  works,  to 
serve  the  living  God?  Heb.  vii.  25. 
Wherefore  he  is  able  also  to  save 
them  to  the  uttermost  that  come 
unto  God  by  him,  seeing  he  ever 
liveth  to  make  intercession  for 
them.  Ver.  26.  For  such  a  high 
priest  became  us,  who  is  holy, 
harmless,  undefiled,  separate  from 
sinners,  and  made  higher  than  the 


heavens;  Ver.  27.  Who  needeth 
not  daily,  as  those  high  priests, 
to  offer  up  sacrifice,  first  for  his 
own  sins,  and  then  for  the  people's: 
for  this  he  did  once,  when  he 
offered  up  himself.  Ver.  28.  For 
the  law  maketh  men  high  priests 
which  have  infirmity:  but  the 
word  of  the  oath,  which  was  since 
the  law,  maketh  the  Son,  who  is 
consecrated  for  evermore. 

b  Rom.  iii.  24.  Being  justi- 
fied freely  by  his  grace,  through 
the  redemption  that  is  in  Jesus 
Christ :  Ver.  25.  Whom  God  hath 
set  forth  to  be  a  propitiation 
through  faith  in  his  blood,  to  de- 
clare his  righteousness  for  the 
remission  of  sins  that  are  past, 
through  the  forbearance  of  God ; 
Ver.  26.  To  declare,  I  say,  at 
this  time  his  righteousness;  that 
he  might  be  just,  and  the  justi- 
fier  of  him  which  believeth  in 
Jesus. 

0  Eph.  i.  6.  To  the  praise  of 
the  glory  of  his  grace,  wherein 
he  hath  made  us  accepted  in  the 
Beloved.  Mat.  iii.  17.  And,  lo,  a 
voice  from  heaven,  saying,  This 
is  my  beloved  Son,  in  whom  I  am 
well  pleased. 

d  Tit.  ii.  13.  Looking  for  that 
blessed  hope,  and  the  glorious  ap- 
pearing of  the  great  God  and  our 
Saviour  Jesus  Christ:  Ver.  14-  Who 
gave  himself  for  us,  that  he  might 
redeem  us  from  all  iniquity,  and 
purify  unto  himself  a  peculiar 
people,  zealous  of  good  works. 

e  Gal.  iv.  6.  And  because  ye 
are  sons,  God  hath  sent  forth  the 
Spirit  of  his  Son  into  your  hearts, 
crying,  Abba,  Father. 


202 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


conquer  all  their  enemies/  and  bring  them  to  everlasting 
salvation.81 

Q,.  39.    Why  was  it  requisite   that  the   Mediator  should  be 


man  i 


A.  It  was  requisite  that  the  Mediator  should  be  man,  that 
he  might  advance  our  nature,h  perform  obedience  to  the 
law,1  suffer  and  make  intercession  for  us  in  our  nature,k 
have  a  fellow-feeling  of  our  infirmities;1  that  we  might  re- 


f  Luke  i.  68.  Blessed  be  the 
Lord  God  of  Israel;  for  he  hath 
visited  and  redeemed  his  people, 
Ver.  69.  And  hath  raised  up  a 
horn  of  salvation  for  us  in  the 
house  of  his  servant  David :  Ver. 
71.  That  we  should  be  saved  from 
our  enemies,  and  from  the  hand 
of  all  that  hate  us.  Ver.  74.  That 
he  would  grant  unto  us,  that  we, 
being-  delivered  out  of  the  hand  of 
our  enemies,  might  serve  him 
without  fear. 

&  Heb.  v.  8.  Though  he  were 
a  Son,  yet  learned  he  obedience 
by  the  things  which  he  suffered : 
Ver.  9.  And  being  made  perfect, 
he  became  the  author  of  eternal 
salvation  unto  all  them  that  obey 
him.  Heb,  ix.  11.  But  Christ  be- 
ing come  a  high  priest  of  good 
things  to  come,  by  a  greater  and 
more  perfect  tabernacle,  not  made 
with  hands,  that  is  to  say,  not  of 
this  building;  Ver,  12.  Neither  by 
the  blood  of  goats  and  calves,  but 
by  his  own  blood,  he  entered  in 
once  into  the  holy  place,  having 
obtained  eternal  redemption  for 
us,  Ver.  13.  For  if  the  blood  of 
bulls  and  of  goats,  and  the  ashes 
of  a  heifer,  sprinkling  the  un- 
clean, sanctifieth  to  the  purify- 
ing of  the  flesh;  Ver.  14.  How 
much  more  shall  the  blood  of 
Christ,  who  through  the  eternal 
Spirit  offered  himself  without 
spot    to    God,   purge    your    con- 


science from  dead  works  to  serve 
the  living  God!  Ver.  15.  And  for 
this  cause  he  is  the  Mediator  of 
the  new  testament,  that  by 
means  of  death,  for  the  redemp- 
tion of  the  transgressions  that 
were  under  the  first  testament, 
they  which  are  called  might  re- 
ceive the  promise  of  eternal  in- 
heritance. 

39.  h  Heb.  ii.  16.  For  verily  he 
took  not  on  him  the  nature  of 
angels;  but  he  took  on  him  the 
seed  of  Abraham. 

1  Gal.  iv.  4.  But  when  the  ful- 
ness of  the  time  was  come,  God 
sent  forth  his  Son,  made  of  a  wo- 
man, made  under  the  law. 

k  Heb.  ii.  14.  Forasmuch  then  as 
the  children  are  partakers  of  flesh 
and  blood,  he  also  himself  likewise 
took  part  of  the  same:  that  through 
death  he  might  destroy  him  that 
had  the  power  of  death,  that  is, 
the  devil.  Heb.  vii.  24.  But  this 
man,  because  he  continueth  ever, 
hath  an  unchangeable  priesthood. 
Ver,  25.  Wherefore  he  is  able  also 
to  save  them  to  the  uttermost  that 
come  unto  God  by  him,  seeing  he 
ever  liveth  to  make  intercession 
for  them, 

1  Heb.  iv.  15.  For  we  have  not 
a  high  priest  which  cannot  be 
touched  with  the  feeling  of  our 
infirmities:  but  was  in  all  points 
tempted  like  as  we  are,  yet  with- 
out sin. 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


203 


ceive  the  adoption  of  sons,m  and  have  comfort  and  access 
with  boldness  unto  the  throne  of  grace,11 

Q.  40.  Why  was  it  requisite  that  the  Mediator  should  be  God 
and  man  in  one  person  ? 

A.  it  was  requisite  that  the  Mediator,  who  was  to  recon- 
cile God  and  man,  should  himself  be  both  God  and  Man, 
and  this  in  one  person,  that  the  proper  works  of  each  na- 
ture might  be  accepted  of  God  for  us,0  and  relied  on  by  us, 
as  the  works  of  the  whole  persons 

Q.  41.   Why  was  our  Mediator  called  Jesus? 

A.  Our  Mediator  was  called  Jesus,  because  he  saveth  his 
people  from  their  sins.q 

Q.  42.    Why  was  our  Mediator  called  Christ? 

A.  Our  Mediator  was  called  Christ,  because  he  was  anoint- 
ed with  the  Holy  Ghost  above  measure  ;r  and  so  set  apart, 
and  fully  furnished  with  all  authority  and  ability,5  to  execute 


m  Gal.  iv.  5.  To  redeem  them 
that  were  under  the  law,  that  we 
might    receive     the    adoption    of 

6011  s. 

n  Heb.  iv.  16.  Let  us  therefore 
come  boldly  unto  the  throne  of 
grace,  that  we  may  obtain  mercy, 
and  find  grace  to  help  in  time  of 
need. 

40.  °  Mat.  i.  21.  And  she  shall 
bring  forth  a  son,  and  thou  shalt 
call  his  name  Jesus:  for  he  shall 
save  his  people  from  their  sins. 
Ver.  23.  Behold,  a  virgin  shall  be 
with  child,  and  shall  bring  forth 
a  son,  and  they  shall  call  his  name 
Emmanuel,  which,  being  interpret- 
ed, is,  God  with  us.  Mat.  iii.  17. 
And,  lo,  a  voice  from  heaven,  say- 
ing, This  is  my  beloved  Son,  in 
whom  I  am  well  pleased.  Heb.  ix. 
14.  How  much  more  shall  the  blood 
of  Christ,  who  through  the  eternal 
Spirit  offered  himself  without  spot 
to  God,  purge  your  conscience 
from  dead  works  to  serve  the  living 
God? 

p  1  Pet.  ii.  6.  Wherefore  also  it 


is  contained  in  the  scripture,  Be- 
hold, I  lay  in  Sion  a  chief  corner 
stone,  elect,  precious:  and  he  that 
believeth  on  him  shall  not  be  con* 
founded. 

41.  <*  Mat.  i.  21.  And  she  shall 
bring  forth  a  son,  and  thou  shalt 
call  his  name  Jesus:  for  he  shall 
save  his  people  from  their  sins. 

42.  r  John  iii.  34.  For  he  whom 
God  hath  sent  speaketh  the  words 
of  God  :  for  God  giveth  not  the  Spi- 
rit by  measure  unto  him.  Psal.  xlv. 
7.  Thou  lovest  righteousness,  and 
hatest  wickedness:  therefore  God, 
thy  God,  hath  anointed  thee  with 
the  oil  of  gladness  above  thy  fel- 
lows. 

3  John  vi.  27.  Labour  not  for  the 
meat  which  perisheth,  but  for  that 
meat  which  endureth  unto  ever- 
lasting life,  which  the  Son  of  man 
shall  give  unto  you  :  for  him  hath 
God  the  Father  sealed.  Mat.  xxviii. 
18.  And  Jesus  came,  and  spake  un- 
to them,  saying,  All  power  is  given 
unto  me  in  heaven  and  in  earth. 
Ver.  19.  Go  ye  therefore,  and  teach 


204 


The  Larger  Catechism, 


the  offices  of  prophet,*  priest,v  and  king  of  his  Church/  in 
the  estate  both  of  his  humiliation  and  exaltation. 


all  nations,  baptizing  them  in  the 
name  of  the  Father,  and  of  the 
Son,  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost:  Ver. 
20.  Teaching  them  to  observe  all 
things  whatsoever  I  have  com- 
manded you  :  and,  lo,  I  am  with 
you  alway,  even  unto  the  end  of 
the  world.    Amen. 

1  Acts  iii.  21.  Whom  the  heaven 
must  receive  until  the  times  of 
restitution  of  all  things,  which 
God  hath  spoken  by  the  mouth 
of  all  his  holy  prophets  since  the 
world  began.  Ver.  22.  For  Moses 
truly  said  unto  the  fathers,  A  pro- 
phet shall  the  Lord  your  God 
raise  up  unto  you  of  your  bre- 
thren, like  unto  me;  him  shall  ye 
hear  in  all  things  whatsoever  he 
shall  say  unto  you.  Luke  iv.  IS. 
The  Spirit  of  the  Lord  is  upon  me, 
because  he  hath  anointed  me  to 
preach  the  gospel  to  the  poor,  he 
hath  sent  me  to  heal  the  broken- 
hearted, to  preach  deliverance  to 
the  captives,  and  recovering  of 
sight  to  the  blind,  to  set  at  liberty 
them  that  are  bruised.  Ver.  21. 
And  he  began  to  say  unto  them, 
This  day  is  this  scripture  fulfilled 
in  your  ears. 

v  Heb.  v.  5.  So  also  Christ  glo- 
rified not  himself  to  be  made  a 
high  priest;  but  he  that  said  unto 
him,  Thou  art  my  Son,  to-day  have 
I  begotten  thee.  Ver.  6.  As  he 
saith  also  in  another  place,  Thou 
art  a  priest  for  ever  after  the  or- 
der of  Melchisedec:  Ver.  7.  Who 
in  the  days  of  his  flesh,  when  he 
had  offered  up  prayers  and  suppli- 
cations with  strong  crying  and 
tears,  unto  him  that  was  able  to 
save  him  from  death,  and  was 
heard  in  that  he  feared.     Heb.  iv. 


14.  Seeing  then  that  we  have  a 
great  high  priest  that  is  passed 
into  the  heavens,  Jesus  the  Son  of 
God,  let  us  hold  fast  our  profes- 
sion. Ver.  15.  For  we  have  not  a 
high  priest  which  cannot  be  touch- 
ed with  the  feeling  of  our  infirmi- 
ties, but  was  in  all  points  tempted 
like  as  we  are,  yet  without  sin. 

w  Psal.  ii.  6.  Yet  have  I  set  my 
King  upon  my  holy  hill  of  Zion. 
Mat.  xxi.  5.  Tell  ye  the  daugh- 
ter of  Sion,  Behold,  thy  King 
cometh  unto  thee,  meek,  and  sit- 
ting upon  an  ass,  and  a  colt  the 
foal  of  an  ass.  Isa.  ix.  6.  For  unto 
us  a  child  is  born,  unto  us  a  son  is 
given,  and  the  government  shall 
be  upon  his  shoulder:  and  his  name 
shall  be  called  Wonderful,  Coun- 
sellor, The  mighty  God,  The  ever- 
lasting Father,  The  Prince  of 
Peace.  Ver.  7.  Of  the  increase  of 
his  government  and  peace  there 
shall  be  no  end,  upon  the  throne 
of  David,  and  upon  his  kingdom, 
to  order  it,  and  to  establish  it  with 
judgment  and  with  justice,  from 
henceforth  even  for  ever:  the  zeal 
of  the  Lord  of  hosts  will  perform 
this.  Phil.  ii.  8.  And  being  found 
in  fashion  as  a  man,  he  humbled 
himself,  and  became  obedient  unto 
death,  even  the  death  of  the  cross. 
Ver.  9.  Wherefore  God  also  hath 
highly  exalted  him,  and  given 
him  a  name  which  is  above  every 
name:  Ver.  10.  That  at  the  name 
of  Jesus  every  knee  should  bow, 
of  things  in  heaven,  and  things  in 
earth,  and  things  under  the  earth; 
Ver.  11.  And  that  every  tongue 
should  confess  that  Jesus  Christ 
is  Lord,  to  the  glory  of  God  the 
Father. 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


5205 


Q.  43.  How  doth  Christ  execute  the  office  of  a  prophet  ? 

A.  Christ  executeth  the  office  of  a  prophet,  in  his  reveal- 
ing to  the  Church,*  in  all  ages,  by  his  Spirit  and  word/  in 
divers  ways  of  administration,2  the  whole  will  of  God,a  in 
all  things  "concerning  their  edification  and  salvation.b 

Q.  44.   How  doth  Christ  execute  the  office  of  a  priest  ? 

A.  Christ  executeth  the  office  of  a  priest,  in  his  once  of- 
fering himself  a  sacrifice  without  spot  to  God,c  to  be  a  re- 


43.  x  John  i.  IS.  No  man  hath 
seen  God  at  any  time ;  the  only 
begotten  Son,  which  is  in  the 
bosom  of  the  Father,  he  hath  de- 
clared him. 

y  1  Pet.  i.  10.  Of  which  salva- 
tion the  prophets  have  inquired, 
and  searched  diligently,  who  pro- 
phesied of  the  grace  that  should 
come  unto  you:  Ver.  11.  Search- 
ing what,  or  what  manner  of  time 
the  Spirit  of  Christ  which  was  in 
them  did  signify,  when  it  testi- 
fied beforehand  the  sufferings  of 
Christ,  and  the  glory  that  should 
follow.  Ver.  12.  Unto  whom  it 
was  revealed,  that  not  unto  them- 
selves, but  unto  us  they  did  minis- 
ter the  things  which  are  now  re- 
ported unto  you  by  them  that 
have  preached  the  gospel  unto 
you,  with  the  Holy  Ghost  sent 
down  from  heaven;  which  things 
the  angels  desire  to  look  into. 

1  Heb.  i.  1.  God,  who  at  sun- 
dry times,  and  in  divers  manners, 
spake  in  time  past  unto  the  fathers 
by  the  prophets,  Ver.  2.  Hath  in 
these  last  days  spoken  unto  us  by 
his  Son,  whom  he  hath  appointed 
heir  of  all  things,  by  whom  also  he 
made  the  worlds. 

a  John  xv.  15.  Henceforth  I  call 

you  not  servants;  for  the  servant 

knoweth  not  what  his  lord  doeth: 

but  I  have  called  you  friends;  for 

18 


all  things  that  I  have  heard  of  my 
Father!  have  made  known  unto 
you. 

b  Acts  xx.  32.  And  now,  bre- 
thren, I  commend  you  to  God,  and 
to  the  word  of  his  grace,  which  is 
able  to  build  you  up,  and  to  give 
you  an  inheritance  among  all  them 
which  are  sanctified.  Eph.  iv.  11. 
And  he  gave  some,  apostles;  and 
some,  prophets;  and  some,  evange- 
lists; and  some,  pastors  and  teach- 
ers; Ver.  12.  For  the  perfecting  of 
the  saints,  for  the  work  of  the  mi- 
nistry', for  the  edifying  of  the  body 
of  Christ:  Ver.  13.  Till  we  all  come 
in  the  unity  of  the  faith,  and  of  the 
knowledge  of  the  Son  of  God,  unto 
a  perfect  man,  unto  the  measure  of 
the  stature  of  the  fulness  of  Christ. 
John  xx.  31.  But  these  are  written, 
that  ye  might  believe  that  Jesus  is 
the  Christ,  the  Son  of  God;  and 
that  believing  ye  might  have  life 
through  his  name. 

4i>  Heb.  ix.  14.  How  much 
more  shall  the  blood  of  Christ, 
who  through  the  eternal  Spirit 
offered  himself  without  spot  to 
God,  purge  your  conscience  from 
dead  works,  to  serve  the  living 
God  !  Ver.  28.  So  Christ  was  once 
offered  to  bear  the  sins  of  many; 
and  unto  them  that  look  for  him 
shall  he  appear  the  second  time, 
without  sin,  unto  salvation, 


206 


Hie  Larger  Catechism. 


conciliation  for  the  sins  of  his  people  ;d  and  in  making  con- 
tinual intercession  for  them.e 

Q.  45.  How  doth  Christ  execute  the  office  of  a  king  ? 

A.  Christ  executeth  the  office  of  a  king,  in  calling  out  of 
the  world  a  people  to  himself/  and  giving  them  officers,8 
laws,11  and  censures,  by  which  he  visibly  governs  them;1  in 
bestowing  saving  grace  upon  his  elect,k  rewarding  their 


d  Heb.  ii.  17.  Wherefore  in  all 
tilings  it  behooved  him  to  be  made 
like  unto  his  brethren,  that  he 
might  be  a  merciful  and  faithful 
high  priest  in  things  pertaining  to 
God,  to  make  reconciliation  for  the 
sins  of  the  people. 

e  Heb.  vii.  25.  Wherefore  he  is 
able  also  to  save  them  to  the  utter- 
most that  come  unto  God  by  him, 
seeing  he  ever  liveth  to  make  in- 
tercession for  them. 

45.  f  Acts  xv.  14.  Simeon  hath 
declared  how  God  at  the  first  did 
visit  the  Gentiles,  to  take  out  of 
them  a  people  for  his  name.  Ver. 
15.  And  to  this  agree  the  words 
of  the  prophets ;  as  it  is  written, 
Ver.  16.  After  this  I  will  return, 
and  will  build  again  the  tabernacle 
of  David,  which  is  fallen  down: 
and  I  will  build  again  the  ruins 
thereof,  and  I  will  set  it  up.  Isa. 
Iv.  4.  Behold,  I  have  given  him  for 
a  witness  to  the  people,  a  leader 
and  commander  to  the  people. 
Ver.  5.  Behold,  thou  shalt  call  a 
nation  that  thou  knowest  not :  and 
nations  that  knew  not  thee  shall 
run  unto  thee,  because  of  the  Lord 
thy  God,  and  for  the  Holy  One  of 
Israel ;  for  he  hath  glorified  thee. 
Gen.  xlix.  10.  The  sceptre  shall 
not  depart  from  Judah,  nor  a  law- 
giver from  between  his  feet,  until 
Shiloh  come;  and  unto  him  shall 
the  gathering  of  the  people  be. 
Psal.  ex.  3.  Thy  people  shall  be 
willing  in  the  day  of  thy  power; 
in  the  beauties  of  holiness  from  the 


womb  of  the  morning :  thou  hast 
the  dew  of  thy  youth. 

s  Eph.  iv.  11.  And  he  gave 
some,  apostles;  and  some,  prophets; 
and  some,  evangelists;  and  some, 
pastors  and  teachers ;  Ver.  12.  For 
the  perfecting  of  the  saints,  for 
the  work  of  the  ministry,  for  the 
edifying  of  the  body  of  Christ. 
1  Cor.  xii.  28.  And  God  hath  set 
some  in  the  church;  first,  apostles; 
secondarily,  prophets;  thirdly, 
teachers;  after  that  miracles;  then 
gifts  of  healings,  helps,  govern- 
ments, diversities  of  tongues. 

h  Isa.  xxxiii.  22-  For  the  Lord 
is  our  judge,  the  Lord  is  our  law- 
giver, the  Lord  is  our  king;  he 
will  save  us. 

1  Mat.  xviii.  17.  And  if  he  shall 
neglect  to  hear  them,  tell  it  unto 
the  church;  but  if  he  neglect  to 
hear  the  church;  let  him  be  unto 
thee  as  a  heathen  man,  and  a 
publican.  Ver.  18.  Verily  I  say 
unto  you,  Whatsoever  ye  shall 
bind  on  earth  shall  be  bound  in 
heaven ;  and  whatsoever  ye  shall 
loose  on  earth  shall  be  loosed  in 
heaven.  1  Cor.  v.  4.  In  the  name 
of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  when  ye 
are  gathered  together,  and  my 
spirit,  with  the  power  of  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  Ver.  5.  To  de- 
liver such  a  one  unto  Satan  for 
the  destruction  of  the  flesh,  that 
the  spirit  may  be  saved  in  the  day 
of  the  Lord  Jesus. 

k  Acts  v.  31.  Him  hath  God  ex- 
alted with  his  right  hand  to  be  a 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


207 


obedience,1  and  correcting  them  for  their  sins,m  preserving 
and  supporting  them  under  all  their  temptations  and  suf- 
ferings,11 restraining  and  overcoming  all  their  enemies,0  and 
powerfully  ordering  all  things  for  his  own  glory ,*  and  their 
good;q  and  also  in  taking  vengeance  on  the  rest,  who  know 
not  God,  and  obey  not  the  gospel/ 

Q.  46.  What  was  the  estate  of  Christ's  humiliation  ? 

A.  The  estate  of  Christ's  humiliation  was  that  low  con- 
dition, wherein  he,  for  our  sakes,  emptying  himself  of  his 
glory,  took  upon  him  the  form  of  a  servant,  in  his  concep- 
tion and  birth,  life,  death,  and  after  his  death,  until  his  re- 
surrection.8 


Prince  and  a  Saviour,  for  to  give 
repentance  to  Israel,  and  forgive- 
ness of  sins. 

1  Rev.  xxii.  12,  And,  behold,  I 
come  quickly;  and  my  reward  is 
with  me,  to  give  every  man  ac- 
cording as  his  work  shall  be.  Rev. 
ii.  10.  Fear  none  of  those  things 
which  thou  shalt  suffer:  behold, 
the  devil  shall  cast  some  of  you 
into  prison,  that  ye  may  be  tried ; 
and  ye  shall  have  tribulation  ten 
days:  be  thou  faithful  unto  death, 
and  I  will  give  thee  a  crown  of 
life. 

m  Rev.  iii.  19.  As  many  as  I  love 
I  rebuke  and  chasten;  be  zealous 
therefore,  and  repent. 

n  Isa.  Ixiii.  9.  In  all  their  afflic- 
tion he  was  afflicted,  and  the  angel 
of  his  presence  saved  them;  in  his 
love  and  in  his  pity  he  redeemed 
them,  and  he  bare  them,  and  car- 
ried them  all  the  days  of  old. 

0  1  Cor,  xv.  25.  For  he  must 
reign  till  he  hath  put  all  enemirs 
under  his  feet.  Psal.  ex.  1.  The 
Lord  said  unto  my  Lord,  Sit 
thou  at  my  right  hand,  until  I 
make  thine  enemies  thy  footstool, 
"or.  2.  The  Lord  shall  send  the 
rod  of  thy  strength  out  of  Zion; 
rule  thou  in   the  midst  of  thine 


enemies,  <$c.  [See  the  Psalm 
throughout.] 

p  Rom.  xiv.  10.  But  why  dost 
thou  judge  thy  brother?  or  why 
dost  thou  set  at  nought  thy  bro- 
ther] for  we  shall  all  stand  before 
the  judgment-seat  of  Christ.  Ver. 
11.  For  it  is  written,  As  I  live, 
saith  the  Lord,  every  knee  shall 
bow  to  me,  and  every  tongue 
shall  confess  to  God. 

i  Rom.  viii.  28.  And  we  know 
that  all  things  work  together  for 
good  to  them  that  love  God,  to 
them  who  are  the  called  accord- 
ing to  his  purpose. 

r  2  Thess.  i.  8.  In  flaming  fire, 
taking  vengeance  on  them  that 
know  not  God,  and  that  obey 
not  the  gospel  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ;  Ver.  9.  Who  shall  be  pu- 
nished with  everlasting  destruction 
from  the  presence  of  the  Lord, 
and  from  the  glory  of  his  power. 
Psal.  ii.  8,  Ask  of  me,  and  I  shall 
give  thee  the  heathen  for  thine  in- 
heritance, and  the  uttermost  parts 
of  the  earth  for  thy  possession. 
Ver.  9.  Thou  shalt  break  them  with 
a  rod  of  iron,  thou  shalt  dash  them 
in  pieces  like  a  potter's  vessel. 

46.  3  Phil.  ii.  6.  Who  being  in 
the  form  of  God,  thought  it  not 


208 


The  Larger  Catechism, 


Q.  47.  How  did  Christ  humble  himself  in  his  conception  and 
birth? 

A.  Christ  humbled  himself  in  his  conception  and  birth, 
in  that,  being  from  all  eternity  the  Son  of  God,  in  the 
bosom  of  the  Father,  he  was  pleased  in  the  fulness  of  time 
to  become  the  son  of  man,  made  of  a  woman  of  low  estate, 
and  to  be  born  of  her;  with  divers  circumstances  of  more 
than  ordinary  abasement.1 

Q.  48.  How  did  Christ  humble  himself  in  his  life. 

A  Christ  humbled  himself  in  his  life,  by  subjecting  him- 
self to  the  law,v  which  he  perfectly  fulfilled  ;w  and  by 
conflicting  with  the  indignities  of  the  world,x  temptations 


robbery  to  be  equal  with  God; 
Ver.  7.  But  made  himself  of  no  re- 
putation, and  took  upon  him  the 
form  of  a  servant,  and  was  made 
in  the  likeness  of  men:  Ver.  8. 
And  being  found  in  fashion  as  a 
man,  he  humbled  himself,  and  be- 
came obedient  unto  death,  even 
the  death  of  the  cross.  Luke  i. 
31.  And,  behold,  thou  ehalt  con- 
ceive in  thy  womb,  and  bring 
forth  a  son,  and  shalt  call  his 
name  Jesus.  2  Cor.  viii.  9.  For 
ye  know  the  grace  of  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  that  though  he  was 
rich,  yet  for  your  sakes  he  became 
poor,  that  ye  through  his  poverty 
might  be  rich.  Acts  ii.  24.  Whom 
God  hath  raised  up,  having  loosed 
the  pains  of  death;  because  it  was 
not  possible  that  he  should  be 
holderi  of  it. 

47.  *  John  i.  14.  And  the  Word 
was  made  flesh,  and  dwelt  among 
us,  (and  we  beheld  his  glory,  the 
glory  as  of  the  only  begotten  of 
the  Father,)  full  of  grace  and  truth, 
Ver.  18.  No  man  hath  seen  God 
at  any  time:  the  only  begotten 
Son,  which  is  in  the  bosom  of  the 
Father,  he  hath  declared  him. 
Gal.  iv.  4.  But  when  the  fulness 
of  the  time  was  come,  God  sent 


forth  his  Son,  made  of  a  woman, 
made  under  the  law.  Luke  ii.  7. 
And  she  brought  forth  her  first-, 
born,  son,  and  wrapped  him  in 
swaddling-clothes,  and  laid  him 
in  a  manger,  because  there  was 
no  room  for  them  in  the  inn. 

48.  v  Gal.  iv.  4.  But  when  the 
fulness  of  the  time  was  come,  God 
sent  forth  his  Son,  made  of  a  wo- 
man, made  under  the  law. 

w  Mat.  v.  17.  Think  not  that 
I  am  come  to  destroy  the  law  or 
the  prophets:  I  am  not  come 
to  destroy,  but  to  fulfil.  Rom. 
v.  19.  For  as  by  one  man's  dis- 
obedience many  were  made  sin- 
ners ;  so  by  the  obedience  of  one 
shall  many  be  made  righteous. 

x  Psal.  xx ii.  6.  But  I  am  a 
worm,  and  no  man ;  a  reproach 
of  men,  and  despised  of  the  people. 
Heb.  xii.  2.  Looking  unto  Jesus, 
the  author  and  finisher  of  our 
faith ;  who,  for  the  joy  that  was 
set  before  him,  endured  the  cross, 
despising  the  shame,  and  is  set 
down  at  the  right  hand  of  the 
throne  of  God.  Ver.  3,  For  con- 
sider him  that  endured  such  con- 
tradiction of  sinners  against  him- 
self, lest  ye  be  wearied,  and  faint 
in  your  minds- 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


2G9 


of  Satan,y  and  infirmities  in  his  flesh,  whether  common  (o 
the  nature  of  man,  or  particularly  accompanying  that  his 
low  condition.2 

Q.  49.  How  did  Christ  humble  himself  in  his  death? 

A.  Christ  humbled  himself  in  his  death,  in  that  having 
been  betrayed  by  Judas,a  forsaken  by  his  disciples,b  scorned 
and  rejected  by  the  world,c  condemned  by  Pilate,  and  tor- 
mented by  his  persecutors  ;d  having  also  conflicted  with  the 
terrors  of  death,  and  the  powers  of  darkness,  felt  and  borne 
the  weight  of  God's  wrath,6  he  laid  down  his  life  an  offering 


»  Mat  iv.  1,  to  verse  12.  Then 
was  Jesus  led  up  of  the  Spirit  into 
the  wilderness,  to  be  tempted  of 
the  devil,  &c.  Luke  iv.  13.  And 
when  the  devil  had  ended  all  the 
temptation,  he  departed  from  him 
for  a  season, 

«  Hob.  ii.  17.  Wherefore  in  all 
things  it  behooved  him  to  be  made 
like  unto  his  brethren ;  that  he 
might  be  a  merciful  and  faithful 
high  priest  in  things  pertaining 
to  God,  to  make  reconciliation  for 
the  sins  of  the  people.  Ver.  IS. 
For  in  that  he  himself  hath  suf- 
fered, being  tempted,  he  is  able  to 
succour  them  that  are  tempted. 
Heb.  iv.  15.  For  we  have  not  a 
high  priest  which  cannot  be 
touched  with  the  feeling  of  our 
infirmities;  but  was  in  all  points 
tempted  like  as  we  are,  yet  with- 
out sin.  Isa.  lii.  13.  Behold,  my 
servant  shall  deal  prudently;  he 
shall  be  exalted  and  extolled,  and 
be  very  high.  Ver.  14.  As  many 
were  astonished  at  thee;  his  vi- 
sage was  so  marred  more  than 
any  man,  and  his  form  more 
than  the  sons  of  men. 

49.  a  Mat.  xxvii.  4,  Saying,  I 
have  sinned,  in  that  I  have  be- 
trayed the  innocent  blood.  And 
they  said,  What  is  that  to  us }  see 
thou  to  that. 

b  Mat.    xxvi.  5G.    But  all   this 
18* 


was  done  that  the  scriptures  of 
the  prophets  might  be  fulfilled. 
Then  all  the  disciples,  forsook 
him,  and  fled. 

e  Isa.  hii.  2.  For  he  shall  grow 
up  before  him  as  a  tender  plant, 
and  as  a  root  out  of  a  dry  ground  : 
he  hath  no  form  nor  comeliness; 
and  when  we  shall  see  him,  there 
is  no  beauty  that  we  should  desire 
him.  Ver.  3.  He  is  despised  and 
rejected  of  men,  a  man  of  sor- 
rows, and  acquainted  with  grief: 
and  we  hid  as  it  were  our  faces 
from  him  ;  he  was  despised,  and 
we  esteemed  him  not. 

d  Mat.  xxvii.  26,  to  verse  50, 
Then  released  he  Barabbas  unto 
them:  and  when  he  had  scour- 
ged Jesus,  he  delivered  him  to 
be  crucified,  &c.  John  xix.  34. 
But  one  of  the  soldiers  with  a 
spear  pierced  his  side,  and  forth- 
with came  thereout  blood  and 
water. 

e  Luke  xxii.  44.  And  being  in 
an  agony,  he  prayed  more  ear- 
nestly ;  and  his  sweat  was  as  it 
were  great  drops  of  blood  fall- 
ing down  to  the  ground.  Mat. 
xxvii.  46.  And  about  the  ninth 
hour  Jesus  cried  with  a  loud 
voice,  saying,  Eli,  Eli,  lama  sa- 
bachthani]  that  is  to  say,  My 
God,  my  God,  why  hast  thou 
forsaken  me  ] 


£1.0 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


for  sin,f  enduring  the  painful,  shameful,  and  cursed  death 
of  the  cross.6 

Q.  50.  Wherein  consisted  Christ's  humiliation  after  his 
death  ? 

A.  Christ's  humiliation  after  his  death  consisted  in  his  be- 
ing buried,h  and  continuing  in  the  'state  of  the  dead,  and 
under  the  power  of  death  till  the  third  day;1  which  hath 
been  otherwise  expressed  in  these  words,  He  descended  into 
hell. 

Q.  51.    What  was  the  estate  of  Christ's  exaltation  ? 

A.  The  estate  of  Christ's  exaltation  comprehendeth 
his   resurrection,*    ascension,1    sitting   at    the  right    hand 


f  Isa.  liii.  10.  Yet  it  pleased  the 
Lord  to  bruise  him;  he  hath  put 
him  to  grief:  when  thou  shalt  make 
his  soul  an  offering  for  sin,  he  shall 
see  his  seed,  he  shall  prolong  his 
days,  and  the  pleasure  of  the  Lor{l 
shall  prosper  in  his  hand. 

e  Phil.  ii.  8.  And  being  found  in 
fashion  as  a  man,  he  humbled  him- 
self, and  became  obedient  unto 
death,  even  the  death  of  the  cross. 
Heb.  xii.  2.  Looking  unto  Jesus,  the 
author  and  finisher  of  our  faith; 
who,  for  the  joy  that  was  set  before 
him,  endured  the  cross,  despising 
the  shame,  and  is  set  down  at  the 
right  hand  of  the  throne  of  God. 
Gal.  iii.  13.  Christ  hath  redeemed 
us  from  the  curse  of  the  law,  being 
made  a  curse  for  us :  for  it  is  writ- 
ten, Cursed  is  every  one  that  hang- 
eth  on  a  tree. 

50.  h  1  Cor.  xv.  3.  For  I  delivered 
unto  you  first  of  all  that  which  I 
also  received,  how  that  Christ  died 
for  our  sins,  according  to  the  scrip- 
tures. Ver.  4.  And  that  he  was  bu- 
ried, and  that  he  rose  again  the  third 
day,  according  to  the  scriptures. 

1  Psal.  xvi.  10.  For  thou  wilt  not 
leave  my  soul  in  hell;  neither  wilt 
thou  suffer  thine  Holy  One  to  see 
corruption.  Compared  with  Acts  ii. 


24.  Whom  God  hath  raised  up, 
having  loosed  the  pains  of  death; 
because  it  was  not  possible  that  he 
should  be  holden  of  it.  Ver.  25.  For 
David  speaketh  concerning  him,  I 
foresaw  the  Lord  always  before  my 
face;  for  he  is  on  my  right  hand, 
that  I  should  not  be  moved :  Ver. 
26.  Therefore  did  my  heart  rejoice, 
and  my  tongue  was  glad;  moreover 
also  my  flesh  shall  rest  in  hope: 
Ver.  27.  Because  thou  wilt  not  leave 
my  soul  in  hell,  neither  wilt  thou 
suffer  thine  Holy  One  to  see  corrup- 
tion. Ver.  31.  He,  seeing  this  before, 
spake  of  the  resurrection  of  Christ, 
that  his  soul  was  not  left  in  hell, 
neither  his  flesh  did  see  corruption. 
Rom.  vi.  9.  Knowing  that  Christ, 
being  raised  from  the  dead,  dieth 
no  more;  death  hath  no  more  do- 
minion over  him.  Mat.  xii.  40.  For 
as  Jonas  was  three  days  and  three 
nights  in  the  whale's  belly;  so  shall 
the  Son  of  man  be  three  days  and 
three  nights  in  the  heart  of  the 
earth. 

51.  *  1  Cor.  xv.  4.  And  that  he 
was  buried,  and  that  he  rose  again 
the  third  day,  according  to  the 
scriptures. 

1  Mark  xvi.  19.  So  then,  after 
the  Lord  had  spoken  unto  them,  he 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


211 


of  the  Father,111  and  bis  coming  again  to  judge  the 
world. n 

Q.  52.  How  was  Christ  exalted  in  the  resurrection? 

A.  Christ  was  exalted  in  his  resurrection,  in  that,  not  hav- 
ing seen  corruption  in  death,  (of  which  it  was  not  possible 
for  him  to  be  held,0  and  having  the  very  same  body  in 
which  he  suffered,  with  the  essential  properties  thereof,? 
(but  without  mortality,  and  other  common  infirmities  be- 
longing to  this  life.)  really  united  to  his  soul,q  he  rose 
again  from  the  dead  the  third  day  by  his  own  power  ;r 
whereby  he  declared  himself  to  be  the  Son  of  God,s  to 
have  satisfied  divine  justice,1  to  have  vanquished  death, 
and  him  that  had  the  power  of  it/  and  to  be  Lord  of  quick 


was  received  up  into  heaven,  and 
sat  en  the  right  hand  of  God. 

m  Eph.  i.  20.  Which  he  wrought 
in  Christ  when  he  raised  him 
from  the  dead,  and  set  him  at  his 
own  right  hand  in  the  heaveuly 
places. 

n  Acts  i.  11.  Which  also  said, 
Ye  men  of  Galilee,  why  stand  ye 
gazing  up  into  heaven1?  this  same 
Jesus,  which  is  taken  up  from  you 
into  heaven,  shall  so  come  in 
like  manner  as  ye  have  seen  him 
go  into  heaven.  Acts  xvii.  31. 
Because  he  hath  appointed  a  day, 
in  the  which  he  will  judge  the 
world  in  righteousness  by  that 
man  whom  he  hath  ordained; 
whereof  he  hath  given  assurance 
unto  all  men,  in  that  he  hath 
raised  him  from  the  dead. 

52.  °  Acts  ii.  24.  Whom  God 
hath  raised  up,  having  loosed  the 
pains  of  death :  because  it  was  not 
possible  that  he  should  be  holden 
of  it.  Vcr.  27.  Because  thou  wilt 
not  leave  my  soul  in  hell,  neither 
wilt  thou  suffer  thine  Holy  One  to 
see  corruption. 

p  Luke  xxiv.  39.  Behold  my 
hands  and  my  feet,  that  it  is  1 
myself:  handle  me,  and  see ;  for 


a  spirit  hath  not  flesh  and  bones,  as. 
ye  see  me  have. 

i  Rom.  vi.  9.  Knowing  that 
Christ,  being  raised  from  the  dead?. 
dieth  no  more;  death  hath  no  more 
dominion  over  him.  Rev.  i.  IS.  lam 
he  that  liveth  and  was  dead;  and, 
behold,  I  am  alive  for  evermore, 
Amen;  and  have  the  keys  of  hell 
and  of  death. 

r  John  x.  18.  No  man  taketh  it 
from  me,  but  I  lay  it  down  of  my- 
self: I  have  power  to  lay  it  down, 
and  I  have  power  to  take  it  again. 
This  commandment  have  I  received 
of  my  Father. 

s  Rom.  i.  4.  And  declared  to 
be  the  Son  of  God  with  power, 
according  to  the  Spirit  of  holi- 
ness, by  the  resurrection  from  the 
dead. 

*  Rom.  viii.  34.  "Who.  is  he  that 
condemneth]  It  is  Christ  that 
died,  yea  rather,  that  is  risen 
again*  who  is  even  at  the  right 
hand  of  God,  who  also  maketh  in- 
tercession for  us. 

T  Heb.  ii.  14.  Forasmuch  then 
as  the  children  are  partakers  of 
flesh  and  blood,  he  also  himself 
likewise  took  part  of  the  same: 
that  through  death  he   might  do- 


212 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


and  dead : w  all  which  he  did  as  a  public  person,*  the  head 
of  his  church,7  for  their  justification,*  quickening  in  grace,3 
support  against  enemies,b  and  to  assure  them  of  their  resur- 
rection from  the  dead  at  the  last  day.0 

Q.  53.  How  was  Christ  exalted  in  his  ascension  I 
A.  Christ  was  exalted  in  his  ascension,  in  that  having  af- 
ter his  resurrection  often  appeared  unto  and  conversed  with 
his  apostles,  speaking  to  them  of  the  things  pertaining  to  the 
kingdom  of  God,d  and  giving  them  commission  to  preach 
the  gospel  to  all  nations,6  forty  days  after  his  resurrection* 


stroy  him  that  had  the  power  of 
death,  that  is,  the  devil. 

w  Rom.  xiv.  9.  For  to  this  end 
Christ  both  died  and  rose,  and  re- 
vived, that  he  might  be  Lord  both 
of  the  dead  and  living. 

x  1  Cor.  xv.  21.  For  since  by  man 
came  death,  by  man  came  also  the 
resurrection  of  the  dead.  Ver.  22. 
For  as  in  Adam  all  die,  even  so  in 
Christ  shall  all  be  made  alive. 

y  Eph.  i.  20.  Which  he  wrought 
in  Christ,  when  he  raised  him  from 
the  dead,  and  set  him  at  his  own 
right  hand  in  the  heavenly  places. 
Ver.  22.  And  hath  put  all  things 
under  his  feet,  and  gave  him  to  be 
the  head  over  all  things  to  the 
church,  Ver.  23.  Which  is  his  body, 
the  fulness  of  him  that  filleth  all  in 
all.  Col.  i.  18.  And  he  is  the  head 
of  the  body  the  church,  who  is 
the  beginning,  the  first  born  from 
the  dead;  that  in  all  things  he 
might  have  the  pre-eminence. 

zRom.  iv.  25.  Who  was  delivered 
for  our  offences,  and  was  raised 
again  for  our  justification. 

a  Eph.  ii.  1.  And  you  hath  he 
quickened,  v/ho  were  dead  in  tres- 
passes and  sins.  Ver.  5.  Even  when 
we  were  dead  in  sins,  hath  quicken- 
ed us  together  with  Christ,  (by 
grace  ye  are  saved.)    Ver.  6.  And 


hath  raised  us  up  together,  and  made 
us  sit  together  in  heavenly  places  in 
Christ  Jesus.  Col.  ii.  12.  Buried 
with  him  in  baptism,  wherein  also 
ye  are  risen  with  him,  through  the 
faith  of  the  operation  of  God,  who 
hath  raised  him  from  the  dead. 

b  1  Cor.  xv.  25.  For  he  must 
reign  till  he  hath  put  all  enemies 
under  his  feet.  Ver.  26,  The  last 
enemy  that  shall  be  destroyed  is 
death.  Ver.  27.  For  he  hath  put 
all  things  under  his  feet.  But  when 
he  saith,  All  things  are  put  under 
him,  it  is  manifest  that  he  is  ex- 
cepted which  did  put  all  things, 
under  him. 

c  I  Cor.  xv.  20.  But  now  is  Christ 
risen  from  the  dead,  and  become 
the  first  fruits  of  them  that  slept. 

53.  d  Acts  i.  4.  Until  the  day  in 
which  he  was  taken  up,  after  that 
he  through  the  Holy  Ghost  had 
given  commandments  unto  the 
apostles  whom  he  had  chosen.  Ver. 
3.  To  whom  also  he  showed  him- 
self alive  after  his  passion  by  many 
infallible  proofs,  being  seen  of' 
them  forty  days,and  speaking  of  the 
things  pertaining  to  the  kingdom  of 
God. 

eMat.  xxviii.  19.  Go  ye  there- 
fore, and  teach  all  nations,  bap- 
tizing them  in  the  name  of  the- 


77i$  Larger  Catechism. 


213 


he,  in  our  nature,  and  as  our  head/  triumphing  over  ene- 
mies/ visibly  went  up  into  the  highest  heavens,  there  to 
receive  gifts  for  men,h  to  raise  up  our  affections  thither,1 
and  to  prepare  a  place  for  us,k  where  himself  is,  and  shall 
continue  till  his  second  coming  at  the  end  of  the  world.1 

Q.  54.  How  is  Christ  exalted  in  his  sitting  at  the  right  hand 
of  God? 

A.  Christ  is  exalted  in  his  sitting  at  the  right  hand  of  God, 
in  that  as  God-man  he  is  advanced  to  the  highest  favour 
with  God  the  Father,m  with   all  fulness    of  joy,n  glory,0 


Father,  and  of  the  Son,  and  of  the 
Holy  Ghost:  Ver.  20.  Teaching 
them  to  observe  all  things  whatso- 
ever I  have  commanded  you:  and, 
lo,  I  am  with  you  ahvay,  even  unto 
the  end  of  the  world.    Amen. 

^Heb.  vi.  20.  Whither  the  fore- 
runner is  for  us  entered,  even  Je- 
sus, made  a  high  priest  for  ever, 
after  the  order  of  Melchisedec. 

*  Eph.  iv.  8.  Wherefore  he  saith, 
When  he  ascended  up  on  high  he 
led  captivity  captive,  and  gave 
gifts  unto  men. 

h  Acts  i.  9.  And  when  he  had 
spoken  these  things,  while  they 
beheld,  he  was  taken  up;  and  a 
cloud  received  him  out  of  their 
sight.  Ver.  10.  And,  while  they 
looked  steadfastly  toward  heaven, 
as  he  went  up,  behold,  two  men 
stood  by  them  in  white  apparel ; 
Ver.  11.  Which  also  said,  Ye  men 
of  Galilee,  why  stand  ye  gazing 
up  into  heaven?  This  same  Jesus, 
which  is  taken  up  from  you  into 
heaven,  shall  so  come  in  like  man- 
ner as  ye  have  seen  him  go  into 
heaven.  Ephes.  iv.  10.  He  that 
descended  is  the  same  also  that 
ascended  up  far  above  all  heavens, 
that  he  might  fill  all  things.  Psal. 
lxviii.  18.  Thon  hast  ascended  on 
high,  thou  hast  led  captivity  cap- 
tive: thou  hast  received  gifts  for 
men;  yea,  fir  the  rebellious  also, 


that  the  Lord   God    might  dwell 
among  them. 

1  Col.  iii.  1.  If  ye  then  bo  risen 
with  Christ,  seek  those  things 
which  are  above,  where  Christ  sit- 
teth  on  the  right  hand  of  God.  Ver. 
2.  Set  your  affections  on  things 
above,  not  on  things  on  the  earth.  , 

k  John  xiv.  3.  And  if  I  go  and 
prepare  a  place  for  you,  I  will 
come  again,  and  receive  you  unto 
myself,  that  where  I  am,  there  ye 
may  be  also. 

Acts  iii.  21.  Whom  the  hea- 
ven must  receive  until  the  times 
of  restitution  of  all  things,  which 
God  hath  spoken  by  the  mouth  of 
all  his  holy  prophets  since  the 
world  began. 

54.  aPhil.  ii.  9,  Wherefore  God 
also  hath  highly  exalted  him,  and 
given  him  a  name,  which  is  above 
every  name. 

aActs  ii.  28.  Thou  hast  made 
known  to  me  the  ways  of  life  ; 
thou  shalt  make  me  full  of  joy 
with  thy  countenance.  Compared 
with  Psalm  xvi.  11.  Thou  wilt 
show  me  the  path  of  life;  in  thy 
presence  is  fulness  of  joy,  at  thy 
right  hand  there  are  pleasures  for 
evermore. 

°John  xvii.  5.  And  now,  O  Fa- 
ther, glorify  thou  me  with  thine 
own  self,  with  the  glory  which  I 
had  with  thee  before  the  wo^ld  was. 


214 


Hie  Larger  Catechism. 


and  power  over  all  things  in  heaven  and  earth  ;p  and  doth 
gather  and  defend  his  church,  and  subdue  their  enemies ; 
furnisheth  his  ministers  and  people  with  gifts  and  graces,q 
and  maketh  intercession  for  them/ 

Q.  55.  How  doth  Christ  make  intercession  ? 

A.  Christ  maketh  intercession,  by  his  appearing  in  our 
nature  continually  before  the  Father  in  heaven,8  in  the 
merit  of  his  obedience  and  sacrifice  on  earth,1  declaring 
his  will  to  have  it  applied  to  all  believers  ;v  answering  all 
accusations  against  them,w  and  procuring  for  them  quiet 


p  Eph.  i.  22.  And  hath  put  all 
things  under  his  feet,  and  gave 
him  to  be  the  head  over  all  things 
to  the  church.  1  Pet.  iii.  22.  Who 
is  gone  into  heaven,  and  is  on  the 
right  hand  of  God;  angels,  and 
authorities,  and  powers  being  made 
subject  unto  him. 

iEph.  iv.  10.  He  that  descended 
is  the  same  also  that  ascended  up 
far  above  all  heavens,  that  he  might 
fill  all  things.  Ver.  11.  And  he 
gave  some,  apostles;  and  some,  pro- 
phets; and  some,  evangelists;  and 
some,  pastors  and  teachers;  Ver. 
12.  For  the  perfecting  of  the 
saints,  for  the  work  of  the  minis- 
try, for  the  edifying  of  the  body  of 
Christ.  Psal.  ex.  1.  The  Lord 
said  unto  my  Lord,  Sit  thou  at  my 
right  hand,  until  I  make  thine 
enemies  thy  footstool,  &c.  [See 
the  Psalm  throughout.] 

rRom.  viii.  34.  Who  is  he  that 
condemneth  1  It  is  Christ  that 
died,  yea  rather,  that  is  risen 
again,  who  is  even  at  the  right 
hand  of  God,  who  also  maketh  in- 
tercession for  us. 

55.  8  Heb.  ix.  12.  Neither  by  the 
blood  of  goats  and  calves,  but  by 
his  own  blood,  he  entered  in  once 
into  the  holy  place,  having  obtained 
eternal  redemption  for  us.  Ver. 
24.  For  Christ  is  not  entered  into 
the  holy  places  made  with  hands, 


which  are  the  figures  of  the  true; 
but  into  heaven  itself,  now  to  ap- 
pear in  the  presence  of  God  for 
us. 

'Heb.  i.  3.  Who,  being  the 
brightness  of  his  glory,  and  the 
express  image  of  his  person,  and 
upholding  all  things  by  the  word 
of  his  power,  when  he  had  by  him- 
self purged  our  sins,  sat  down  on 
the  right  hand  of  the  Majesty  on 
high. 

vJohn  iii.  16.  For  God  so  loved 
the  world,  that  he  gave  his  only 
begotten  Son,  that  whosoever  be- 
lieveth  in  him  should  not  perish, 
but  have  everlasting  life.  John 
xvii.  9.  I  pray  for  them:  I  pray 
not  for  the  world,  but  for  them 
which  thou  hast  given  me,  for 
they  are  thine.  Ver.  20.  Neither 
pray  I  for  these  alone,  but  for 
them  also  which  shall  believe  on 
me  through  their  word.  Ver.  24.. 
Father,  1  will  that  they  also  whom 
thou  hast  given  me  be  with  me 
where  I  am;  that  they  may  behold 
my  glory,  which  thou  hast  given 
me :  for  thou  lovedst  me  before 
the  foundation  of  the  world. 

wRom.  viii.  33.  Who  shall  lay 
any  thing  to  the  charge  of  God's 
elect?  It  is  God  that  justifieth: 
Ver.  34.  Who  is  he  that  condemn 
eth  1  It  is  Christ  that  died,  yea 
rather,  that  is  risen  again,  who  is 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


215 


of  conscience,  notwithstanding  daily  failings/  access  with 
boldness  to  the  throne  of  grace,7  and  acceptance  of  their 
persons  z  and  services.*"1 

Q.  56.  How  is  Christ  to  be  exalted  in  his  coming  again  to 
judge  the  world? 

A.  Christ  is  to  be  exalted  in  his  coming  again  to  judge 
the  world,  in  that  he,  who  was  unjustly  judged  and  con- 
demned by  wicked  men,b  shall  come  again  at  the  last  day 
in  great  power,0  and  in  the  full  manifestation  of  his  own 
glory,  and  of  his  Father's,  with  all  his  holy  angels,d  with 
a  shout,  with  the  voice  of  the  archangel,  and  with  the 
trumpet  of  God,e  to  judge  the  world  in  righteousness/ 


even  at  the  right  hand  of  God,  who 
also  maketh  intercession  for  us. 

x  Rom.  v.  1.  Therefore  being 
justified  by  faith,  we  have  peace 
with  God,  through  our  Lord  Je- 
sus Christ.  Ver.  2.  By  whom  also 
we  have  access  by  faith  into  this 
grace  wherein  we  stand,  and  re- 
joice in  hope  of  the  glory  of  God. 
1  John  ii.  1.  My  little  children, 
these  things  write  I  unto  you, 
that  ye  sin  not.  And  if  any  man 
sin,  we  have  an  advocate  with  the 
Father,  Jesus  Christ  the  righ- 
teous: Ver.  2.  And  he  is  the  pro- 
pitiation for  our  sins;  and  not  for 
ours  only,  but  also  for  the  sins  of 
the  whole  world. 

y  Heb.  iv.  16.  Let  us  therefore 
come  boldly  unto  the  throne  of 
grace,  that  we  may  obtain  mercy, 
and  find  grace  to  help  in  time  of 
need. 

2  Eph.  i.  6.  To  the  praise  of  the 
glory  of  his  grace,  wherein  he 
hath  made  us  accepted  in  the 
Beloved. 

a  1  Pet.  ii.  5.  Ye  also,  as  lively 
stones,  are  built  up  a  spiritual 
house,  a  holy  priesthood,  to  offer 
up  spiritual  sacrifices,  acceptable 
to  God  by  Jesus  Christ. 

56. b  Acts  iii.  14.  But  ye  denied 


the  Holy  One  and  the  Just,  and 
desired  a  murderer  to  be  granted 
unto  you ;  Ver.  15.  And  killed  the 
Prince  of  life,  whom  God  hath 
raised  from  the  dead,  whereof  we 
are  witnesses. 

c  Mat.  xxiv.  30.  And  then  shall 
appear  the  sign  of  the  Son  of  man 
in  heaven  :  and  then  shall  all  the 
tribes  of  the  earth  mourn;  and 
they  shall  see  the  Son  of  man 
coming  in  the  clouds  of  heaven, 
with  power  and  great  glory. 

d  Luke  ix:  26.  For  whosoever 
shall  be  ashamed  of  me  and  of  my 
words,  of  him  shall  the  Son  of  man 
be  ashamed,  when  he  shall  come  in 
his  own  glory,  and  in  his  Father's, 
and  of  the  holy  angels.  Mat.  xxv. 
31.  When  the  Son  of  man  shall 
come  in  his  glory,  and  all  the  holy 
angels  with  him,  then  shall  he  sit 
upon  the  throne  of  his  glory. 

e  1  Thess.  iv.  16.  For  the  Lord 
himself  shall  descend  from  heaven 
with  a  shout,  with  the  voice  of  the 
archangel,  and  with  the  trump  of 
God  :  and  the  dead  in  Christ  shall 
rise  first. 

f  Acts  xvii.  31.  Because  he  hath 
appointed  a  day  in  the  which  he 
will  judge  the  world  in  righteous- 
ness by  that  man  whom  he  hath 


216 


The  Larger  Catechism, 


Q.  57.  What  benefits  hath  Christ  procured  by  his  me- 
diation? 

•d.  Christ,  by  his  mediation,  hath  procured  redemption,8 
with  all  other  benefits  of  the  covenant  of  grace.h 

Q.  58.  How  do  we  come  to  be  made  partake?^  of  the  be- 
?iefits  which  Christ  hath  procured? 

A.  We  are  made  partakers  of  the  benefits  which  Christ 
hath  procured,  by  the  application  of  them  unto  us,1  which 
is  the  work  especially  of  God  the  Holy  Ghost.* 

Q.  59.  Who  are  made  partakers  of  redemption  through 
Christ? 

*fl.  Redemption  is  certainly  applied,  and  effectually  com- 
municated, to  all  those  for  whom  Christ  hath  purchased 
it;1  who  are  in  time  by  the  Holy  Ghost  enabled  to  believe 
in  Christ  according  to  the  gospel.m 

ye  believed,  ye  were  sealed  witli 
that  Holy  Spirit  of  promise,  Ver. 
14.  Which  is  the  earnest  of  our  in- 
heritance, until  the  redemption  of 
the  purchased  possession,  unto  the 
praise  of  his  glory.  John  vi.  37.  All 
that  the  Father  giveth  me  shall 
come  to  me;  and  him  that  cometh 
unto  me  I  will  in  no  wise  cast  out. 
Ver.  39.  And  this  is  the  Father's 
will  which  hath  sent  me,  that  of  all  t 
which  he  hath  given  me  I  should 


ordained  ;  whereof  he  hath  given 
assurance  unto  all  men,  in  that  he 
hath  raised  him  from  the  dead. 

57.  t  Heb.  ix.  12.  Neither  by  the 
blood  of  goats  and  calves,  but  by 
his  own  blood,  he  entered  in  once 
into  the  holy  place,  having  obtain- 
ed eternal  redemption  for  us. 

h  2  Cor.  i.  20.  For  all  the  pro- 
mises of  God  in  him  are  yea,  and 
in  him  amen,  unto  the  glory  of 
God  by  us. 

58.  '  John  i.  11.  He  came  unto 
his  own,  and  his  own  received  him 
not.  Ver.  12.  But  as  many  as  re- 
ceived him,  to  them  gave  he  power 
to  become  the  sons  of  God,  even  to 
them  that,  believe  on  his  name. 

k  Tit.  iii.  5.  Not  by  works  of 
righteousness  which  we  have  done, 
but  according  to  his  mercy  he 
saved  us,  by  the  washing  of  rege- 
neration, and  renewing  of  the  Holy 
Ghost:  Ver.  6.  Which  he  shed 
on  us  abundantly,  through  Jesus 
Christ  our  Saviour. 

59. !  Eph.  i.  13.  In  whom  ye  also 
trusted,  after  that  ye  heard  the 
word  of  truth,  the  gospel  of  your 
salvation ;  in  whom  also,  after  that 


lose  nothing,  but  should  raise  it  up 
again  at  the  last  day.  John  x.  15. 
As  the  Father  knovveth  me,  even 
so  know  I  the  Father :  and  I  lay 
down  my  life  for  the  sheep.  Ver. 
16.  And  other  sheep  1  have,  which 
are  not  of  this  fold:  them  also  I  must 
bring,  and  they  shall  hear  my  voice; 
and  there  shall  be  one  fold,  and  one 
shepherd. 

m  Eph.  ii.  8.  For  by  grace  are  ye 
saved,  through  faith ;  and  that  not  of 
yourselves:  it  is  the  gift  of  God.  2 
Cor.  iv.13.  We  having  the  same  spi- 
rit of  faith,  according  as  it  is  written, 
I  believed,  and  therefore  have  I 
spoken :  we  also  believe,  and  there* 
fore  6peak. 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


217 


Q.  60.  Can  they  who  have  never  heard  the  gospel,  and  so 
know  not  Jesus  Christ,  nor  believe  in  him,  be  saved  by  their 
living  according  to  the  light  of  nature? 

A.  They  who  having  never  heard  the  gospel,0  know  not 
Jesus  Christ,0  and  believe  not  in  him,  cannot  be  saved,*  be 
they  ever  so  diligent  to  frame  their  lives  according  to  the 
light  of  nature,*  or  the  laws  of  that  religion  which  they 
profess  ;r  neither  is  there  salvation  in  any  other,  but  ir 
Rom.   x.    14.     How    then      is  the  disputer  of  this  world  !  hat! 


m 


60.  n  Kom.  x. 
shall  they  call  on  him  in  whom 
they  have  not  believed]  and  how 
shall  they  believe  in  him  of  whom 
they  have  not  heard!  and  how  shall 
they  hear  without  a  preacher! 

°2  Thess.  i.  8.  In  flaming  fire, 
taking  vengeance  on  them  that 
know  not  God,  and  that  obey  not 
the  gospel  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ: 
Ver.  9,  Who  shall  be  punished 
with  everlasting  destruction  from 
the  presence  of  the  Lord,  and  from 
the  glory  of  his  power.  Eph,  ii. 
12-  That  at  that  time  ye  were 
without  Christ,  being  aliens  from 
the  commonwealth  of  Israel,  and 
strangers  from  the  covenants  of 
promise,  having  no  hope,  and 
without  God  in  the  world.  John 
i.  10-  He  was  in  the  world,  and 
the  world  was  made  by  him,  and 
the  world  knew  him  not.  Ver.  11. 
He  came  unto  his  own,  and  his 
own  received  him  not.  Ver.  12. 
But  as  many  as  received  him,  to 
them  gave  he  power  to  become 
the  sons  of  God,  even  to  them  that 
believe  on  his  name. 

p  John  viii.  24.  I  said  therefore 
unto  you,  that  ye  shall  die  in 
your  sins:  for  if  ye  believe  not 
that  I  am  he,  ye  shall  die  in  your 
sins.  Mark  xvi.  16.  He  that  be- 
lieveth,  and  is  baptized,  shall  be 
saved ;  but  he  that  believeth  not 
shall  be  damned. 

«  1  Con   i.  20.   Where  is  the 
wise!  where  is  the  scribe!  where 
19 


not  God  made  foolish  the  wisdom 
of  this  world !  Ver.  21.  For  after 
that,  in  the  wisdom  of  God,  the 
world  by  wisdom  knew  not  God, 
it  pleased  God  by  the  foolishness 
of  preaching  to  save  them  that  be- 
lieve. Ver.  22.  For  the  Jews  re- 
quire a  sign,  and  the  Greeks  seek 
after  wisdom :  Ver.  23.  But  we 
preach  Christ  crucified,  unto  the 
Jews  a  stumbling-block,  and  unto 
the  Greeks  foolishness;  Ver.  24. 
But  unto  them  which  are  called, 
both  Jews  and  Greeks,  Christ  the 
power  of  God,  and  the  wisdom  of 
God. 

r  John  iv.  22.  Ye  worship  ye 
know  net  what:  we  know  what 
we  worship;  for  salvation  is  of  the 
Jews.  Rum.  ix.  31.  But  Israel, 
which  followed  after  the  law  of 
righteousness,  hath  not  attained 
to  the  law  of  righteousness.  Ver. 
32.  Wherefore!  Because  they 
BOUght  it  not  by  faith,  but  as  it 
were  by  the  works  of  the  law:  for 
they  stumbled  at  that  stumbling- 
stone.  Phil.  iii.  4.  Though  I  might 
also  have  confidence  in  the  flesh. 
If  any  other  man  thinketh  that  he 
hath  whereof  he  might  trust  in 
the  flesh,  I  more:  Ver.  5.  Circum- 
cised the  eighth  day,  of  the  stock 
of  Israel,  of  the  tribe  of  Benja- 
min, a  Hebrew  of  the  Hebrews; 
as  touching  the  law,  a  Pharisee ; 
Ver.  6.  Concerning  zeal,  perse- 
cuting the  church;  touching  the 


218 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


Christ  alone,6  who  is  the  Saviour  only  of  his  body  the 
church.* 

Q.  61.  Are  all  they  saved  who  hear  the  gospel,  and  live  in  the 
church  'f 

A.  All  that  hear  the  gospel,  and  live  in  the  visible  church, 
are  not  saved ;  but  they  only  who  are  true  members  of  the 
church  invisibles 

Q.  62.  What  is  the  visible  church  ? 

A.  The  visible  church  is  a  society  made  up  of  all  such  as 
in  all  ages  and  places  of  the  world  do  profess  the  true  reli- 
gion/ and  of  their  children.x 


righteousness  which  is  in  the  law, 
blameless.  Ver.  7.  But  what  things 
were  gain  to  me,  those  I  counted 
loss  for  Christ.  Ver.  8.  Yea  doubt- 
less,  and  I  count  all  things  but  loss 
for  the  excellency  of  the  know- 
ledge of  Christ  Jesus  my  Lord: 
for  whom  I  have  suffered  the  loss 
of  all  things,  and  do  count  them 
but  dung,  that  I  may  win  Christ, 
Ver.  9.  And  be  found  in  him,  not 
having  mine  own  righteousness, 
which  is  of  the  law,  but  that  which 
is  through  the  faith  of  Christ,  the 
righteousness  which  is  of  God  by 
faith. 

6  Acts  iv.  12.  Neither  is  there 
salvation  in  any  other:  for  there 
is  none  other  name  under  heaven 
given  among  men  whereby  we 
must  be  saved. 

*  Eph.  v.  23.  For  the  husband  is 
the  head  of  the  wife,  even  as  Christ 
is  the  head  of  the  church :  and  he 
is  the  saviour  of  the  body. 

61.  v  John  xii.  38.  That  the  say- 
ing of  Esaias  the  prophet  might  be 
fulfilled,  which  lie  spake,  Lord, 
who  hath  believed  our  report?  and 
to  whom  hath  the  arm  of  the  Lord 
been  revealed?  Ver.  39.  Therefore 
they  could  not  believe,  because 
that  Esaias  said  again,  Ver.  40. 
He  hath  blinded  their  eyes,  and 


hardened  their  heart;  that  they 
should  not  see  with  their  eyes,  nor 
understand  witli  their  heart,  and 
be  converted',  and  I  should  heal 
them.  Rom.  ix.  6.  Not  as  though 
the  word  of  God  hath  taken  none 
effect:  for  they  are  not  all  Israel 
which  are  of  Israel.  Mat.  xxii.  14. 
For  many  are  called,  but  few  are 
chosen.  Mat.  vii.  21.  Not  every 
one  that  saith  unto  me,  Lord,  Lord, 
shall  enter  into  the  kingdom  of 
heaven;  but  he  that  doeth  the  will 
of  my  Fathpr  which  is  in  heaven. 
Rom."xi.  7.  What  then?  Israel  hath 
not  obtained  that  which  he  seek- 
eth  for;  but  the  election  hath  ob- 
tained it,  and  the  rest  were  blinded. 
62.  w  1  Cor.  i.  2.  Unto  the  church 
of  God  which  is  at  Corinth,  to 
them  that  are  sanctified  in  Christ 
Jesus,  called  to  be  saints,  with  all 
that  in  every  place  call  upon  the 
name  of  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord, 
both  theirs  and  ours.  1  Cor.  xii. 
13.  For  by  one  Spirit  are  we  all 
baptized  into  one  body,  whether 
we  be  Jews  or  Gentiles,  whether 
we  be  bond  or  free;  and  have  been 
all  mado  to  drink  into  one  Spirit. 
Rom.  xv.  9.  And  that  the  Gentiles 
might  glorify  God  for  his  mercy, 
as  it  is  written,  For  this  cause  I 
will  confess  to  thee  among  the 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


219 


Q.  63.  What  are  the  special  privileges  of  the  visible 
church  ? 

«/?.  The  visible  church  hath  the  privilege  of  being  under 
God's  special  care  and  government;7  of  being  protected  and 

therefore,  nnd  teach  all  nations, 
baptizing  them  in  the  name  of  the 
Father,  and  of  the  Son,  and  of  the 
Holy  Ghost:  Ver.  20.  Teaching 
them  to  observe  all  things  what- 
soever I  have  commanded  you: 
and,  lo,  I  am  with  you  alway, 
even  unto  the  end  of  the  world. 
Amen.  Isa.  lix.  21.  As  for  me, 
this  is  my  covenant  with  them, 
saith  the  Lord,  My  Spirit  that  is 
upon  thee,  and  my  words  which  f 
have  put  in  thy  mouth,  shall  not 
depart  out  of  thy  mouth,  nor  out 
of  the  mouth  of  thy  seed,  nor  out 
of  the  mouth  of  thy  seed's  seed, 
saith  the  Lord,  from  henceforth 
and  for  ever. 

x  1  Cor.  vii.  14.  For  the  unbe- 
lieving husband  is  sanctified  by  the 
wife,  and  the  unbelieving  wife  is 
sanctified  by  the  husband :  else 
were  your  children  unclean;  but 
now  are  they  holy.  Acts  ii.  39. 
For  the  promise  is  unto  you,  and 
to  your  children,  and  to  all  that  are 
afar  off,  even  as  many  as  the  Lord 
our  God  shall  call.  Rom.  xi.  16. 
For  if  the  first-fruit  be  holy,  the 
lump  is  also  holy;  and  if  the  root 
be  holy,  so  are  the  branches.  Gen. 
xvii.  7.  And  I  will  establish  my 
covenant  between  me  and  thee, 
and  thy  seed  after  thee,  in  their 
generations,  for  an  everlasting  co- 
venant, to  be  a  God  unto  thee, 
and  to  thy  seed  after  thee. 

63.  y  Isa.  iv.  5.  And  the  Lord 
will  create  upon  every  dwelling- 
place  of  mount  Zion,  and  upon 
her  assemblies,  a  cloud  and  smoke 
by  day,  and  the  shining  of  a  flam- 
ing fire  by  night:  for  upon  all  the 
glory  shall  be  a  defence.     Ver.  6. 


Gentiles,  and  sing  unto  thy  name. 
Ver.  10.  And  again  he  saith,  Re- 
joice, ye  Gentiles,  with  his  people. 
Ver.  11.  And  again,  Praise  the 
Lord,  all  ye  Gentiles;  and  laud 
him,  all  ye  people.  Ver.  12.  And 
again  Esaias  saith,  there  shall  be 
a  root  of  Jesse,  and  he  that  shall 
rise  to  reign  over  the  Gentiles,  in 
him  shall  the  Gentiles  trust.  Rev. 
vii.  9.  After  this  I  beheld,  and, 
io,  a  great  multitude,  which  no 
man  could  number,  of  all  nations, 
and  kindreds,  and  people,  and 
tongues,  stood  before  the  throne, 
and  before  the  Lamb,  clothed 
with  white  robes,  and  palms  in 
their  hands.  Psal.  ii.  8.  Ask  of 
me,  and  I  shall  give  thee  the 
heathen  for  thine  inheritance,  and 
the  uttermost  parts  of  the  earth 
for  thy  possession.  Psal.  xxii.  27. 
All  the  ends  of  the  world  shall  re- 
member and  turn  unto  the  Lord  : 
and  all  the  kindreds  of  the  nations 
shall  worship  before  thee.  Ver.  23. 
For  the  kingdom  is  the  Lord's: 
and  he  is  the  governor  among  the 
nations.  Ver.  29.  All  they  that  be 
fat  upon  earth  shall  eat  and  wor- 
ship: all  they  that  go  down  to  the 
dust  shall  bow  before  him ;  and 
none  can  keep  alive  his  own  soul. 
Ver.  30.  A  seed  shall  serve  him  ; 
it  shall  be  accounted  to  the  Lord 
for  a  generation.  Ver.  31.  They 
6hall  come,  and  shall  declare  his 
righteousness  unto  a  people  that 
6hall  be  born,  that  he  hath  done 
this.  Psal.  xlv.  17.  I  will  make 
thy  name  to  be  remembered  in  all 
generations:  therefore  shall  the 
people  praise  thee  for  ever  and 
ever.     Mat.    xxviii.    19.     Go  ye 


220 


The  Larger  Catechism, 


preserved  in  all  ages,  notwithstanding  the  opposition  of  all 
enemies ; z  and  of  enjoying  the  communion  of  saints,  the 
ordinary  means  of  salvation/  and  offers  of  grace  by  Christ 
to  all  the  members  of  it  in  the  ministry  of  the  gospel,  tes- 
tifying, that  whosoever  believes  in  him  shall  be  saved,b  and 
excluding  none  that  will  come  unto  him.* 


And  there  shall  be  a  tabernacle  for 
a  shadow  in  the  day-time  from  the 
heat,  and  for  a  place  of  refuge,  and 
for  a  covert  from  storm  and  from 
rain.  1  Tim.  iv.  10.  For  therefore 
we  both  labour,  and  suffer  reproach, 
because  we  trust  in  the  living  God, 
who  is  the  Saviour  of  all  men,  es- 
pecially of  those  that  believe. 

z  Psal.  cxv.  I.  Not  unto  us,  O 
Lord,  not  unto  us,  but — Ver.  2. 
Wherefore  should  the  heathen  say, 
Where  is  now  their  God?  (fc.  Ver. 
9.  O  Israel,  trust  thou  in  the  Lord  : 
lie  is  their  help  and  their  shield,  <SfC. 
[See  the  Psalm  throughout.]  Isa. 
xxxi.  4.  For  thus  hath  the  Lord 
spoken  unto  me,  Like  as  the  lion 
and  the  young  lion  roaring  on  his 
prey,  when  a  multitude  of  shep- 
herds is  called  forth  against  him, 
he  will  not  be  afraid  of  their  voice, 
nor  abase  himself  for  the  noise  of 
them;  so  shall  the  Lord  of  hosts 
come  down  to  fight  for  mount 
Zion,  and  for  the  hill  thereof.  Ver. 
5.  As  birds  flying,  so  will  the  Lord 
of  hosts  defend  Jerusalem:  defend- 
ing also  he  will  deliver  it,  and 
passing  over  he  will  preserve  it. 
Zech.  xii.  2.  Behold,  I  will  make 
Jerusalem  a  cup  of  trembling  un- 
to all  the  people  round  about, 
when  they  shall  be  in  the  siege, 
both  against  Judah  and  against 
Jerusalem.  Ver.  S.  And  in  that 
day  will  I  make  Jerusalem  a  bur- 
densome stone  for  all  people:  all 
that  burden  themselves  with  it 
shall  be  cut  in  pieces,  though  all 
the  people  of  the  earth  be  gathered 


together  against  it.  Ver.  4.  In 
that  day,  saith  the  Lord,  I  will 
smite  every  horse  with  astonish- 
ment, and  his  rider  with  madness; 
and  I  will  open  mine  eyes  upon 
the  house  of  Judah,  and  will  smite 
every  horse  of  the  people  with 
blindness.  Ver.  8.  In  that  day 
shall  the  Lord  defend  the  inhabi- 
tants of  Jerusalem  ;  and  he  that  is 
feeble  among  them  at  that  day 
shall  be  as  David;  and  the  house 
of  David  shall  be  as  God,  as  the 
angel  of  the  Lord  before  them. 
Ver.  9.  And  it  shall  come  to  pass 
in  that  day,  that  I  will  seek  to 
destroy  all  the  nations  that  come 
against  Jerusalem. 

a  Acts  ii.  39.  For  the  promise  is 
unto  you,  and  to  your  children, 
and  to  all  that  are  afar  off,  even  as 
many  as  the  Lord  our  God  shall 
call.  Ver.  42.  And  they  continued 
steadfastly  in  the  apostles'  doctrine, 
and  fellowship,  and  in  breaking  of 
bread,  and  in  prayers. 

B  Psal.  cxlvii.  19.  He  showeth 
his  word  unto  Jacob,  his  statutes 
and  his  judgments  unto  Israel. 
Ver.  20.  He  hath  not  dealt  so  with 
any  nation  :  and  as  for  his  judg- 
ments, they  have  not  known  them. 
Praise  ye  the  Lord.  Rom.  ix.  4. 
Who  are  Israelites;  to  whom 
pertaineth  the  adoption,  and  the 
glory,  and  the  covenants,  and  the 
giving  of  the  Jaw,  and  the  ser- 
vice of  God,  and  the  promises. 
Eph.  iv.  11.  And  he  gave  some, 
apostles;  and  some,  prophets;  and 
some,  evangelists;  and  some,  pastors 


The  Larger  Catechism, 


221 


Q.  64.   What  is  the  invisible  church? 

•tf.  The  invisible  church  is  the  whole  number  of  the  elect 
that  have  been,  are,  or  shall  be  gathered  into  one  under 
Christ  the  head.d 

Q.  05.  What  special  benefits  do  the  members  of  the  in- 
visible church  enjoy  by  Christ? 

*,%.  The  members  of  the  invisible  church  by  Christ  enjoy 
union  and  communion  with  him  in  grace  and  glory. e 

Q.  GQ.  What  is  that  union  winch  the  elect  have  with 
Christ  ? 

•#.  The  union  which  the  elect  have  with  Christ  is  the  work 
of  God's  grace/  whereby  they  are  spiritually  and  mystically, 


and  teachers ;  Yer.  12.  For  the  per- 
fecting of  the  saints,  for  the  work 
of  the  ministry,  for  the  edifying  of 
the  body  of  Christ.  Mark*  :-;vi.  15. 
And  he  said  unto  them,  Go  ye  into 
all  the  world,  and  preach  the  gos- 
pel to  every  creature.  Ver.  16.  He 
that  beiieveth,  and  is  baptized, 
shall  be  saved :  but  he  that  be- 
iieveth not  shall  be  damned. 

e  John  vi.  37.  All  that  the  Father 
giveth  me  shall  come  to  me;  and 
him  that  cometh  to  me  I  will  in  no 
wise  cast  out. 

64.  dEph.  i.10.  That  in  the  dis- 
pensation of  the  fulness  of  times, 
he  might  gather  together  in  one 
all  things  in  Christ,  both  which 
are  in  heaven,  and  which  are  on 
earth,  even  in  him.  Yer.  22.  And 
hath  put  all  things  under  his  feet, 
and  gave  him  to  be  the  head  over 
all  things  to  the  church,  Yer.  23. 
Which  is  his  body,  the  fulness  of 
him  that  filleth  all*  in  all.  John  x. 
16.  And  other  sheep  I  have,  which 
are  not  of  this  fold ;  them  also  I 
must  bring,  and  they  shall  hear 
my  voice:  and  th°re  shall  be  one 
fold,  and  one  shepherd.  John  xi. 
52.  And  not  for  that  nation  only, 
but  that  also  he  should  gather  to- 
gether in  one  the  children  of  God 
that  were  scattered  abroad. 
19* 


66.  e  John  xvii.  21.  That  they 
all  may  be  one ;  as  thou,  Father, 
art  in  me,  and  I  in'thee,  that  they 
also  may  be  one  in  us :  that  the 
world  may  believe  that  thou  hast 
sent  me.  Eph.  ii.  5.  Even  when 
we  were  dead  in  sins,  hath  quick- 
ened us  together  with  Christ,  (by 
grace  ye  are  saved.)  Yer.  6.  And 
hath  raised  us  up  together,  and 
made  us  sit  together  in  heavenly 
places  in  Christ  Jesus.  John  xvii. 
24.  Father,  I  will  that  they  also 
whom  thou  hast  given  me  be 
with  me  where  I  am;  that  they 
may  behold  my  glory  which  thou 
hast  given  me :  for  thou  lovedet 
me  before  the  foundation  of  the 
world. 

^  63.  f  Eph.  i.  22.  And  hath  put 
all  things  under  his  feet,  and 
gave  him  to  be  the  head  over  all 
things  to  the  church.  Eph.  ii.  6. 
And  hath  raised  us  up  together, 
and  made  us  sit  together  in 
heavenly  places  in  Christ  Jesus; 
Yer.  7.  That  in  the  ages  to  come 
he  might  show  the  exceeding 
riches  of  his  grace,  in  his  kind- 
ness toward  us  through  Christ 
Jesus.  Ver.  8.  For  by  grace  are 
ye  saved,  through  faith ;  and  that 
not  of  yourselves:  it  is  the  gift  of 
God. 


222  The  Larger  Catechism. 

yet  really  and  inseparably,  joined  to  Christ  as  their  head 
and  husband  ;g  which  is  done  in  their  effectual  calling.11 

Q.   67.    What  is  effectual  calling  7 

Ji.  Effectual  calling  is  the  work  of  God's  almighty  power 
and  grace,5  whereby  (out  of  his  free  and  special  love  to  his 
elect,  and  from  nothing  in  them  moving  him  thereuntok) 


s  1  Cor.  vi.  17.  But  he  that  is 
joined  unto  the  Lord  is  one  spirit. 
John  x,  28.  And  I  give  unto  them 
eternal  life,  and  they  shall  never 
perish,  neither  shall  any  pluck 
them  out  of  my  hand.  Eph.  v.  23. 
For  the  husband  is  the  head  of 
the  wife,  even  as  Christ  is  the 
head  of  the  church  ;  and  he  is  the 
saviour  of*  the  body.  Ver.  oO.  For 
we  are  members  of  his  body,  of 
his  flesh,  and  of  his  bones. 

h  1  Pet.  v.  10.  Bat  the  God  of 
all  grace,  who  hath  called  us 
unto  his  eternal  glory  by  Christ 
Jesus,  after  that  ye  have  suf- 
fered awhile,  make  you  perfect, 
stablish,  strengthen,  settle  you. 
1  Cor.  i.  9.  God  is  faithful,  by 
whom  ye  were  called  unto  the 
fellowship  of  his  Son  Jesus  Christ 
our  Lord. 

67.  '  John  v.  25.  Verity,  verily, 
I  say  unto  you,  The  hour  is 
coming,  and  now  is,  when  the  dead 
shall  hear  the  voice  of  the  Son  of 
God:  and  they  that  hear  shall 
live.  Eph.  i.  18.  The  eyes  of  your 
understanding  being  enlightened; 
that  ye  may  know  what  is  the 
hope  of  his  calling,  and  what  the 
riches  of  the  glory  of  his  inherit- 
ance in  the  saints;  Ver.  19.  And 
what  is  the  exceeding  greatness  of 
his  power  to  us- ward  w!\o  believe, 
according  to  the  working  of  his 
mighty  power;  Ver.  20.  Which  he 
wrought  in  Christ,  when  he  raised 
him  from  the  dead,  and  set  him 
at  his  own  right  hand  in  the  hea- 
venly places.    %  Tim.  h  8.  Be  not 


thou  therefore  ashamed  of  the 
testimony  of  our  Lord,  nor  of 
me  his  prisoner;  but  be  thou  par- 
taker of  the  afflictions  of  the  gos- 
pel, according  to  the  power  of 
God :  Ver.  9.  Who  hath  saved  us, 
and  called  us  with  a  holy  call- 
ing, not  according  to  our  works, 
but  according  to  his  own  pur- 
pose and  grace,  which  was  given 
us  in  Christ  Jesus  before  the  world 
began. 

k  Tit.  iii.  4.  But  after  that  the 
kindness  and  love  of  God  our 
Saviour  toward  man  appeared, 
Ver.  5.  Not  by  works  of  right- 
eousness which  we  have  done,  but 
according  to  his  mercy  he  saved 
us,  by  the  washing  of  regenera- 
tion, and  renewing  of  the  Holy 
Ghost.  Eph.  ii.  4.  But  God,  who 
is  rich  in  mercy,  for  his  great  love 
wherewith  he  loved  us,  Ver.  5. 
Even  when  we  were  dead  in  sins, 
hath  quickened  us  together  with 
Christ,  (by  grace  ye  are  saved.) 
Ver.  7.  That  in  the  ages  to  come  he 
might  show  the  exceeding  riches 
of  his  grace,  in  his  kindness  to- 
ward us  through  Christ  Jesus. 
Ver.  8.  For  by  grace  are  ye  saved 
through  faith;  and  that  not  of 
yourselves:  it  is  the  gift  of  God. 
Ver.  9.  Not  of  works,  lest  any  man 
should  boast.  Rom.  ix.  11.  For 
the  children  being  not  yet  born, 
neither  having  done  any  good  or 
evil,  that  the  purpose  of  God  ac- 
cording to  election  might  stand, 
not  of  works,  but  of  him  that 
calleth. 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


223 


he  doth,  in  his  accepted  time,  invite  and  draw  them  to  Je- 
sus Christ,  by  his  word  and  Spirit;1  savingly  enlightening 
their  minds,m  renewing  and  powerfully  determining  their 
wihV  so  as  they  (although  in  themselves  dead  in  sin)  are 
hereby  made  willing  and  able  freely  to  answer  his  call,  and 
to  accept  and  embrace  the  grace  offered  and  conveyed 
therein.0 


1  2  Cor.  v.  20.  Now   then   we 
are    ambassadors    for    Christ,    as 
though  God   did    beseech    you  by 
us:  we  pray  you  in  Christ's  stead, 
be  ye  reconciled  to  God.      Com- 
pared with  2  Cor.  vi.  1.  We  then, 
as    workers    together    with    him, 
beseech  you  also,  that  ye  receive 
not    the    grace    of  God"    in    vain. 
Ver.  2.  For  he  saith,  I  have  heard 
thee  in  a  time   accepted,  and    in 
the  day  of  salvation  have  I   suc- 
coured thee:    behold,  now   is  the 
accepted  time;  behold,  now  is  the 
day  of  salvation.     John  vi.  44.  No 
man  can  come  to  me,  except  the 
Father  which  hath  sent  me  draw 
him;  and  I  will  raise  him  up  at 
the  last  day.     2  Thess.  ii.  13.  But 
we    are    bound    to    give    thanks 
alway     to     God    for     you,     bre- 
thren,   beloved    of  the    Lord,  be- 
cause God  hath  from    the  begin- 
ning-   chosen    you     to    salvation, 
through      sanctification     of     the 
Spirit   and    belief  of  the    truth : 
Ver.  14.  Whereunto  he  called  you 
by  our    gospel,    to   the   obtaining 
of  the   glory  of  our    Lord   Jesus 
Christ. 

m  Acts  xxvi.  18.  To  open  their 
eyes,  and  to  turn  them  from 
darkness  to  light,,  and  from  the 
power  of  Satan  unto  God,  that 
they  may  receive  forgiveness  of 
sins,  and  inheritance  among  them 
which  are  sanctified  by  faith  that 
is  in  me.  1  Cor.  ii.  10.  But  God 
hath  revealed  them  unto  us  by 
his  Spirit:  for  the  Spirit  searcheth 


all  things,  yea,  the  deep  things  of 
God.  Ver.  12.  Now  we  have  re- 
ceived not  the  Spirit  of  the  world, 
but  the  Spirit  which  is  of  God ; 
that  we  might  know  the  things 
that  are  freely  given  to  us  of 
God. 

n  Ezek.  xi.  19.  I  will  give  them 
one  heart,  and  I  will  put  a  new 
spirit  within  you;  and  I  will  take 
the  stony  heart  out  of  their  flesh, 
and  will  give  them  a  heart  of 
flesh.  Ezek.  xxxvi.  26.  A  new 
heart  also  will  I  give  you,  and  a 
new  spirit  will  I  put  within  you; 
and  I  will  take  away  the  stony 
heart  out  of  your  flesh,  and  I  will 
give  you  a  heart  of  flesh.  Ver.  27. 
And  I  will  put  my  Spirit  within 
you,  and  cause  you  to  walk  in 
my  statutes,  and  ye  shall  keep  my 
judgments,  and  do  them.  John 
vi.  45.  It  is  written  in  the  pro- 
phets, And  they  shall  be  all  taught 
of  God.  Every  man  therefore 
that  hath  heard,  and  hath  learn- 
ed of  the  Father,  cometh  unto 
me. 

0  Eph.  ii.  5.  Even  when  we 
were  dead  in  sins,  hath  quickened 
us  together  with  Christ,  (by  grace 
ye  are  saved.)  Phil.  ii.  13.  For  it 
is  God  which  worketh  in  you, 
both  to  will  and  to  do  of  his  good 
pleasure.  Deut.  xxx.  6.  And  the 
Lord  thy  God  will  circumcise  thine 
heart,  and  the  heart  of  thy  seed, 
to  love  the  Lord  thy  God  with  all 
thine  heart,  and  with  all  thy  soul, 
that  thou  mayest  live. 


224 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


Q.  68.  Are  the  elect  only  effectually  called? 

•ft.  All  the  elect,  and  they  only,  are  effectually  called ;  p 
although  others  may  be  and  often  are,  outwardly  called  by 
the  ministry  of  the  word,q  and  have  some  common  opera-, 
tions  of  the  Spirit;1"  who,  for  their  wilful  neglect  and  con- 
tempt of  the  grace  offered  to  them,  being  justly  left  in  their 
unbelief,  do  never  truly  come  to  Jesus  Christ.5 


68.  p  Acts  xiii.  48.  And  when 
the  Gentiles  heard  this,  they  were 
glad,  and  glorified  the  word  of 
the  Lord:  and  as  many  as  were 
ordained  to  eternal  life  believed. 

<*  Mat.  xxii.  14.  For  many  are 
called,  but  i'ew  are  chosen. 

r  Mat.  vii.  22.  Many  will  say  to 
me  in  that  dayv  Lord,  Lord,  have 
we  not  prophesied  in  thy  name? 
and  in  thy  name  have  cast  out 
devils?  and  in  thy  name  done 
many  wonderful  works'?  Mat. 
xiii.  20.  But  he  that  received  the 
seed  into  stony  places,  the  same  is 
he  that  lieareth,  the  word,  and 
anon  with  joy  receiveth  it:  Ver.  21. 
Yet  hath  he  not  root  in  himself; 
but  dureth  for  awhile:  for  when 
tribulation  or  persecution  ariseth 
because  of  the  word,  by  and  by 
he  is  offended.  Heb.  vi.  4.  For 
it  is  impossible  for  those  who 
were  once  enlightened,  and  have 
tasted  of  the  heavenly  gift,  and 
were  made  partakers  of  the  Holy 
Ghost,  Ver.  5.  And  liave  tasted  the 
good  word  of  God,  and  the  powers 
of  the  world  to  come,  *  Ver.  6. 
If  they  shall  fall  away,  to  renew 
them  again  unto  repentance. 

s  John  xii.  38.  That  the  saying 
of  Esaias  the  prophet  nrght  be 
fulfilled,  which  he  spake,  Lord, 
who  hath  believed  our  report? 
and  to  whom  hath  the  arm  of 
the  Lord  been  revealed  ?  Ver.  39. 
Therefore  they  could  not  believe; 
because    that   Esaias  said   again, 


Ver.  40.  He  hath  blinded  their  eyes, 
and  hardened  their  heart;  that 
they  should  not  see  with  their 
eyes,  nor  understand  with  their 
heart,  and  be  converted,  and  I 
should  heal  them.  Acts  xxviii. 
25.  And  when  they  agreed  not 
among  themselves,  they  departed, 
after  that  Paul  had  spoken  one 
word,  Well  spake  the  Holy  Ghost 
by  Esaias  the  prophet  unto  our 
fathers,  Ver.  26.  Saying,  Go  unto 
this  people,  and  say,  Hearing  ye 
shall  hear,  and  shall  not  under- 
stand: and  seeing  ye  shall  see,  and 
not  perceive.  Ver.  27.  For  the 
heart  of  this  people  is  waxed 
gross,  and  their  ears  are  dull  of] 
hearing,  and  their  eyes  have  they 
closed  ;  lest  they  should  see  with 
their  eyes,  and  hear  with  their] 
ears,  and  understand  with  their 
heart,  and  should  be  converted, 
and  I  should  heal  them.  John 
vi.  G4.  But  there  are  some  of 
you  that  believe  not.  For  Jesus 
knew  from  the  beginning  who 
they  were  that  believed  not, 
and  who  should  he  tray  him. 
Ver.  65.  And  he  said,  Therefore 
said  I  unto  you^that  no  man  can 
come  unto  me,  except  it  were 
given  unto  him  of  my  Father. 
Psal.  lxxxi.  11.  But  my  peopl 
would  not  hearken  to  my  voice 
and  Israel  would  none  of  me 
Ver.  12.  So  I  gave  them  up  unto 
their  own  hearts' lust;  and  they 
walked  in  their  own  counsels. 


e 


The  Larger  Catechism, 


225 


Q.  69.  What  is  the  communion  in  grace  which  the 
members  of  the  invisible  church  have  with  Christ? 

A.  The  communion  in  grace  which  the  members  of  the 
invisible  church  have  with  Christ,  is  their  partaking  of  the 
virtue  of  his  mediation,  in  their  justification/  adoption/ 
sanctification,  and  whatever  else,  in  this  life,  manifests 
their  union  with  him.1'" 

Q.  70.    What  is  justification? 

Ji.  Justification  is  an  act  of  God's  free  grace  unto  sin- 
ners,3' in  which  he  pardoneth  all  their  sins,  accepteth  and 
accounteth  their  persons  righteous  in  his  sight;7  not  for 
any  thing  wrought  in  them,  or  done  by  them,z  but  only 


69.  '  Rom.  viii.  30.  Moreover, 
whom  he  did  predestinate,  them 
he  also  called ;  and  whom  he 
called,  them  he  also  justified;  and 
whom  he  justified,  them  he  also 
glorified. 

v  Eph.  i.  5.  Having  predesti- 
nated us  unto  the  adoption  of  chil- 
dren by  Jesus  Christ  to  himself, 
according  to  the  good  pleasure  of 
his  will. 

w  1  Cor.  i.  30.  But  of  him  are 
ye  in  Christ  Jesus,  who  of  God  is 
made  unto  us  wisdom,  and  right- 
eousness, and  sanctification,  and 
redemption. 

TO.  *  Rom.  iii.  22.  Even  the 
righteousness  of  God,  which  is  by 
faith  of  Jesus  Christ  unto  all  and 
upon  all  them  that  believe;  for 
there  is  no  difference.  Ver.  24.  Be- 
ing justified  freely  by  his  grace, 
through  the  redemption  that  is  in 
Jesus  Christ:  Ver.  25.  Whom  God 
hath  set  forth  to  be  a  propitiation 
through  faith  in  his  blood,  to  de- 
clare his  righteousness  for  the  re- 
mission of  sins  that  are  past, 
through  the  forbearance  of  God. 
Rom.  iv.  5.  But  to  him  that  work- 
eth  not,  but  believeth  on  him  that 
justifieth  th-e  ungodly,  his  faith  is 
counted  for  righteousness. 


r  2  Cor.  v.  19.  To  wit,  that 
God  was  in  Christ,  reconciling  the 
world  unto  himself,  not  imputing 
their  trespasses  unto  them ;  and 
hath  committed  unto  us  the  word 
of  reconciliation.  Ver.  21.  For  he 
hath  made  him  to  be  sin  for  us, 
who  knew  no  sin;  that  we  might 
be  made  the  righteousness  of  God 
in  him.  Rom.  iii.  22.  Even  the 
righteousness  of  God,  which  is  by 
faith  of  Jesus  Christ  unto  all  and 
upon  all  them  that  believe;  for 
there  is  no  difference.  Ver.  24. 
Being  justified  freely  by  his  grace, 
through  the  redemption  that  is  in 
Jesus  Christ:  Ver.  25.  Whom 
God  hath  set  forth  to  be  a  propi- 
tiation through  faith  in  his  blood, 
to  declare  his  righteousness  for 
the  remission  of  sins  that  are  past, 
through  the  forbearance  of  God. 
Ver.  27.  Where  is  boasting  then  ? 
It  is  excluded.  By  what  law?  of 
works?  Nay;  but  by  the  law  of 
faith.  Ver.  28-  Therefore  we  con- 
clude, that  a  man  is  justified  by 
faith  without  the  deeds  of  the 
law. 

z  Tit.  iii.  5.  Not  by  works  of 
righteousness  which  we  have 
done,  but  according  to  his  mercy 
he  saved  us,  by  the  washing  of  re- 


226 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


for  the  perfect  obedience  and  full  satisfaction  of  Christ,  b 
God  imputed  to  them,a  and  received  by  faith  alone.b 

Q.  71.  How  is  justified  lion  an  act  of  God's  free  gracei 
*/2.  Although  Christ,  by  his  obedience  and  death,  did  make  a 
proper,  real,  and  full  satisfaction  to  God's  justice  in  the  behal: 
of  them  that  are  justified  ;c  yet  in  as  much  as  God  accepted] 
the  satisfaction  from  a  surety,  which  he  might  have  demand 
ed  of  them,  and  did  provide  this  surety,  his  own  only  Son,d 


generation,  and  renewing  of  the 
Holy  Ghost.  *  Ver.  7.  That  being 
justified  by  his  grace,  we  should 
be  made  heirs  according-  to  the 
hope  of  eternal  life.  Eph.  i.  7. 
In  whom  wo  have  redemption 
through  his  blood,  the  forgiveness 
of  sins,  according  to  the  riches  of 
his  grace. 

a  *  Rom.  v.  17.  For  if  by  one 
man's  offence  death  reigned  by 
one;  much  more  they  which  re- 
ceive abundance  of  grace,  and  of 
the  gift  of  righteousness,  shall 
reign  in  life  by  one,  Jesus  Christ. 
Ver.  18.  Therefore  as  by  the  of- 
fence of  one  judgment  came  upon 
all  men  to  condemnation ;  even  so 
by  the  righteousness  of  one,  the 
free  gift  came  upon  all  men  unto 
justification  of  life.  Ver.  19.  For 
as  by  one  man's  disobedience  many 
were  made  sinners;  so  by  the  obe- 
dience of  one  shall  many  be  made 
righteous.  Rom.  iv.  6.  Even  as 
David  also  describeth  the  blessed- 
ness of  the  man  unto  whom  God 
imputeth  righteousness  without 
works,  Ver.  7.  Saying,  Blessed  are 
they  whose  iniquities  are  forgiven, 
and  whose  sins  are  covered.  Ver. 
8.  Blessed  is  the  man  to  whom  the 
Lord  will  not  impute  sin. 

b  Acts  x.  43.  To  him  give  all  the 
prophets  witness,  that  through  his 
name,  whosoever  believeth  in  him 
shall  receive  remission  of  sins. 
Gal.  ii.  16.   Knowing  that  a  man 


is  not  justified  by  the  works  of  tho 
law,  but  by  the  faith  of  Jesua 
Christ,  even  we  have  believed  in 
Jesus  Christ,  that  we  might  be 
justified  by  the  faith  of  Christ,  and 
not  by  the  works  of  the  law :  for 
by  the  works  of  the  law  shall  no 
flesh  be  justified.  Phil.  iii.  9.  And 
be  found  in  him,  not  having  mirt^ 
own  righteousness,  which  is  of  th 
law,  but  that  which  is  through  th€ 
faith  of  Christ,  the  righteousness 
which  is  of  God  by  faith. 

71.  c  Rom.  v.  8.  But  God  corrt- 
mendeth  his  love  towards  us,  i 
that  while  we  were  yet  sinners] 
Christ  died  for  us.  Ver.  9.  Mud 
more  then,  being  now  justifiei 
by  his  blood,  we  shall  be  savei 
from  wrath  through  him.  Ver.  1Q 
For  if,,  when  we  were  enemie! 
we  were  reconciled  to  God  bl 
the  death  of  his  Son;  much  more 
being  reconciled,  we  shall 
saved  by  his  life.  Ver.  19.  Foi 
as  by  one  man's  disobedienc 
many  were  made  sinners;  so  b; 
the  obedience  of  one  shall  man 
be  made  righteous. 

d  1  Tim.  ii.  5.  For  there  is  on 
God,  and  one  Mediator  betwee 
God  and  men,  the  man  Chri 
Jesus;  Ver.  6.  Who  gave  himse 
a  ransom  for  all,  to  be  testifi 
in  due  time.  Ileb.  x.  10.  B; 
the  which  will  we  are  sanctifiei 
through  the  offering  of  the  bod, 
of  Jesus  Christ  once  for  all.     Mat. 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


S&7 


[imputing  his  righteousness  to  them,6  and  requiring  nothing 
of  them  for  their  justification  but  faith/  which  also  is  his 
| gift,8  their  justification  is  to  them  of  free  grace.h 


I xx.  28.  Even  as  the  Son  of  man 
came  not  to  be  ministered  unto, 
but  to  minister,  and  to  give  his 
life  a  ransom  for  many.  Dan. 
ix.  24.  Seventy  weeks  are  deter- 
mined upon  thy  people,  and  upon 
thy  holy  city,  to  finish  the  trans- 
gression, and  to  make  an  end 
of  sins,  and  to  make  reconci- 
liation for  iniquity,  and  to  bring 
in  everlasting  righteousness,  and 
to  seal  up  the  vision  and  pro- 
phecy, and  to  anoint  the  most 
holy.  Ver.  26.  And  after  three- 
score and  two  weeks  shall  Messiah 
be  cut  off,  but  not  for  himself: 
and  the  people  of  the  prince 
that  shall  come  shall  destroy  the 
city,  and  the  sanctuary,  and  the 
end  thereof  shall  be  with  a  flood, 
and  unto  the  end  of  the  war 
delations  are  determined.  Isa. 
liii.  4.  Surely  he  hath  borne  our 
griefs,  and  carried  our  sorrows: 
yet  we  did  esteem  him  stricken, 
smitten  of  God,  and  afflicted. 
Ver.  5.  But  he  was  wounded  for 
our  transgressions,  he  was  bruised 
for  our  iniquities:  the  chastise- 
ment of  our  peace  was  upon 
him;  and  with  his  stripes  we 
are  healed.  Ver.  6.  All  we,  like 
sheep,  have  gone  astray :  we  have 
turned  every  one  to  his  own 
way;  and  the  Lord  hath  laid 
on  him  the  iniquity  of  us  all. 
Ver.  10.  Yet  it  pleased  the  Lord  to 
bruise  him;  he  hath  put  him  to 
grief:  when  thou  shalt  make  his 
soul  an  offering  for  sin,  he  shall 
see  his  seed,  he  shall  prolong  his 
days,  and  the  pleasure  of  the  "Lord 
shall  prosper  in  his  hand.  Ver.  11. 
He  shall  see  of  the  travail  of  his 
eoul,  and  shall  be  satisfied  :  by  his 


knowledge  shall  my  righteous  ser- 
vant justify  many;  fur  he  shall  bear 
their  iniquities.  Ver.  12.  Therefore 
will  I  divide  him  a  portion  with 
the  great,  and  he  shall  divide  the 
spoil  with  the  strong;  because  he 
hath  poured  out  his  soul  unto 
death:  and  he  was  numbered  with 
the  transgressors;  and  he  bare  the 
sin  of  many,  and  made  intercession 
for  the  transgressors.  Heb.  vii.  22. 
By  so  much  was  Jesus  made  a 
surety  of  a  better  testament.  Rom. 
viii.  32.  He  that  spared  not  his  own 
Son,  but  delivered  him  up  for  us 
all,  how  shall  he  not  with  him  also 
freely  give  us  all  things?  1  Pet.  i. 
18.  Forasmuch  as  ye  know  that 
ye  were  not  redeemed  with  cor- 
ruptible things,  as  silver  and  gold, 
from  your  vain  conversation  re- 
ceived by  tradition  from  your 
fathers;  Ver.  19.  But  with  the 
precious  blood  of  Christ,  as  of  a 
lamb  without  blemish  and  with- 
out spot. 

e  2  Cor.  v.  21.  For  he  hath  made 
him  to  be  sin  for  us,  who  knew  no 
sin ;  that  we  might  be  made  the 
righteousness  of  God  in  him. 

fRom.  iii.  24.  Being  justified 
freely  by  his  grace,  through  the 
redemption  that  is  in  Jesus  Christ; 
Ver.  25.  Whom  God  hath  set  forth 
to  be  a  propitiation  through  faith 
in  his  blood,  to  declare  his  right- 
eousness for  the  remission  of  sins 
that  are  past,  through  the  forbear- 
ance of  God. 

s  Eph.  ii.  8.  For  by  grace  are  ye 
saved,  through  faith;  and  that  not 
of  yourselves:  it  is  the  gift  of 
God. 

h  Eph.  i.  7.  In  whom  we  have 
redemption  through  his  blood,  the 


228 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


Q.  72.    What  is  justifying  faith? 

J2.  Justifying  faith  is  a  saving  grace,1  wrought  in  the  heart 
of  a  sinner  by  the  Spirit k  and  word  of  God,1  whereby  he, 
being  convinced  of  his  sin  and  misery,  and  of  the  disability 
in  himself  and  all  other  creatures  to  recover  him  out  of  his 
lost  condition,1"  not  only  assenteth  to  the  truth  of  the  pro- 
mise of  the  gospel,"  but  receiveth  and  resteth  upon  Christ 
and  his  righteousness,  therein  held  forth,  for  pardon  of  sin,0 


forgiveness  of  sins,  according  to 
the  riches  of  his  grace. 

72.  {  Heb.  x.  39.  But  we  are  not 
of  them  who  draw  back  unto  per- 
dition ;  but  of  them  that  believe,  to 
the  saving  of  the  soul. 

k  2  Cor.  iv.  13.  We  having  the 
same  spirit  of  faith,  according  as 
it  is  written,  I  believed,  and  there- 
fore have  I  spoken :  we  also  be- 
lieve, and  therefore  speak.  Eph. 
i.  17.  That  the  God  of  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  the  Father  of  glory, 
may  give  unto  you  the  Spirit  of 
wisdom  and  revelation  in  the 
knowledge  of  him:  Ver.  18.  The 
eyes  of  your  understanding  being 
enlightened;  that  ye  may  know 
what  is  the  hope  of  his  calling, 
and  what  the  riches  of  the  glory 
of  his  inheritance  in  the  saints, 
Ver.  19.  And  what  is  the  ex- 
ceeding greatness  of  his  power 
to  us-ward  who  believe,  accord- 
ing to  the  working  of  his  mighty 
power. 

1  Rom.  x.  14.  How  then  shall 
they  call  on  him  in  whom  they 
have  not  believed]  and  how  shall 
they  believe  in  him  of  whom  they 
have  not  heard]  and  how  shall 
they  hear  without  a  preacher] 
*  Ver.  17.  So  then  faith  cometh 
by  hearing,  and  hearing  by  the 
word  of  God. 

m  Acts  ii.  37.  Now  when  they 
heard  this,  they  were  pricked  in 
their  heart,  and  said  unto  Peter, 


and  to  the  rest  of  the  apostles, 
Men  and  brethren,  what  shall  we 
do]  Acts  xvi.  30.  And  brought 
them  out,  and  said,  Sirs,  what 
must  I  do  to  be  saved  ]  John 
xvi.  8.  And  when  he  is  come,  he 
will  reprove  the  world  of  sin,  and 
of  righteousness,  and  of  judg- 
ment: Ver.  9.  Of  sin,  because 
they  believe  not  in  me.  Rom.  v. 
6.  For  when  we  were  yet  without 
strength,  in  due  time  Christ  died 
for  the  ungodly.  Eph.  ii.  1.  And 
you  hath  he  quickened,  who  were 
dead  in  trespasses  and  sins.  Acts 
iv.  12.  Neither  is  there  salvation 
in  any  other:  for  there  is  none 
other  name  under  heaven  given 
among  men  whereby  we  must  be 
saved. 

n  Eph.  i.  13.  In  whom  ye  also 
trusted,  after  that  ye  heard  the 
w7ord  of  truth,  the  gospel  of  your 
salvation:  in  whom  also,  after  that 
ye  believed,  ye  were  sealed  with 
that  Holy  Spirit  of  promise. 

0  John  i.  12.  But  as  many  as 
received  him,  to  them  gave  he 
power  to  become  the  sons  of  God, 
even  to  them  that  believe  on  his 
name.  Acts  xvi.  31.  AnjJ  they 
said,  Believe  on  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  and  thou  shalt  be  saved, 
and  thy  house.  Acts  x.  43.  To 
him  gave  all  the  prophets  witness, 
that  through  his  name,  whosoever 
belie veth  in  him  shall  receive  re- 
mission of  sins. 


I 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


£29 


and  for  the  accepting  and  accounting  of  his  person  righteous 
in  the  sight  of  God  for  salvation.* 

Q.  73.  Hozc  doth  faith  justify  a  sinner  in  the  sight  of  God? 

A.  Faith  justifies  a  sinner  in  the  sight  of  God,  not  because 
of  those  other  graces  which  do  always  accompany  it,  or  of 
good  works  that  are  the  fruits  of  it,q  nor  as  if  the  grace  of 
faith,  or  any  act  thereof,  were  imputed  to  him  for  his  justi- 
fication:1 but  only  as  it  is  an  instrument  by  which  he  re- 
ceiveth  and  applieth  Christ  and  his  righteousness.5 

Q.  74.   What  is  adoption  ? 

Ji.  Adoption  is  an  act  of  the  free  grace  of  God,1  in  and 
for  his  only  Son  Jesus  Christ/  whereby  all  those  that  are 
justified  are  received  into  the  number  of  his  children/  have 


/Phil,  iii.  9.  And  be  found  in 
him,  not  having  mine  own  righte- 
ousness, which  is  of  the  law,  but 
that  which  is  through  the  faith  of 
Christ,  the  righteousness  which  is 
of  God  by  faith.  Acts  xv.  11. 
But  we  believe  that,  through  the 
grace  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
we  shall  be  saved,  even  as  they. 

73.  *  Gal.  iii.  11.  But  that  no 
man  is  justified  by  the  law  in  the 
sight  of  God,  it  is  evident:  for, 
The  just  shall  live  by  faith.  Rom. 
.  Therefore  we  conclude  that 
a  man  is  justified  by  faith  without 
the  deeds  of  the  law. 

r  Rom.  iv.  5.  But  to  him  that 
worketh  not,  but  believeth  on 
him  that  justifieth  the  ungodly, 
his  faith  is  counted  for  righteous- 
ness. Compared  with  Rom.  x.  10. 
For  with  the  heart  man  believeth 
unto  righteousness,  and  with  the 
mouth  confession  is  made  unto 
salvation. 

*  John  i.  12.  But  as  many  as 
received  him,  to  them  gave  he 
power  to  become  the  sons  of  God, 
even  to  them  that  believe  on  his 
name.  Phil.  iii.  9.  And  be  found 
in  him,  not  having  mine  own  right- 
eousness, which  is  of  the  law, 
20 


but  that  which  is  through  the 
faith  of  Christ,  the  righteous- 
ness which  is  of  God  by  faith. 
Gal.  ii.  16.  Knowing  that  a  man 
is  not  justified  by  the  works  of 
the  law,  but  by  the  faith  of  Jesus 
Christ,  even  we  have  believed 
in  Jesus  Christ,  that  we  might  be 
justified  by  the  faith  of  Christ, 
and  not  by  the  works  of  the  law: 
for  by  the  works  of  the  law  shall 
no  flesh  be  justified. 

74.  *  1  John  iii.  1.  Behold  what 
manner  of  love  the  Father  hath 
bestowed  upon  us,  that  we  should 
be  called  the  sons  of  God  ! 

vEph.  i.  5.  Having  predestinated 
us  to  the  adoption  of  children  by 
Jesus  Christ  to  himself,  accord- 
ing to  the  good  pleasure  of  his 
will.  Gal.  iv.  4.  But  when  the 
fulness  of  the  time  was  come,  God 
sent  forth  his  Son,  made  of  a  wo- 
man, made  under  the  law,  Ver.  5. 
To  redeem  them  that  were  under 
the  law,  that  we  might  receive  the 
adoption  of  sons. 

w  John  i.  12.  But  as  many  as 
received  him,  to  them  gave  he 
power  to  become  the  sons  of  God, 
even  to  them  that  believe  on  his 
name. 


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The  Larger  Catechism. 


his  name  put  upon  them,*  the  Spirit  of  his  Son  given  to 
them,y  are  under  his  fatherly  care  and  dispensations,2  ad- 
mitted to  all  the  liberties  and  privileges  of  the  sons  of  God, 
made  heirs  of  all  the  promises,  and  fellow-heirs  with  Christ 
in  glory.a 

Q.  75.  What  is  sanctijication? 

A.  Sanctification  is  a  work  of  God's  grace,  whereby  they 
whom  God  hath  before  the  foundation  of  the  world,  chosen 
to  be  holy,  are  in  time,  through  the  powerful  operation  of 
his  Spirit b  applying  the  death  and  resurrection  of  Christ 
unto  them,c  renewed  in  their  whole  man  after  the  image 


1  2  Cor.  vi.  18.  And  will  be  a 
Father  unto  you,  and  ye  shall  be 
my  sons  and  daughters,  saith  the 
Lord  Almighty.  Rev.  iii.  12. 
Him  that  overcometh  will  I  make 
a  pillar  in  the  temple  of  my  God, 
and  he  shall  go  no  more  out:  and 
J  will  write  upon  him  the  name 
of  my  God,  and  the  name  of  the 
city  of  my  God,  which  is  new 
Jerusalem,  which  cometh  down 
out  of  heaven  from  my  God  :  and 
I  will  write  upon  him  my  new 
name. 

y  Gal.  iv.  6.  And  because  ye  are 
sons,  God  hath  sent  forth  the  Spi- 
rit of  his  Son  into  your  hearts,  cry- 
ing, Abba,  Father. 

z  Psal.  ciii.  13.  Like  as  a  fa- 
ther pitieth  his  children;  so  the 
Lord  pitieth  them  that  fear  him. 
Prov.  xiv-  26.  In  the  fear  of  the 
Lord  is  strong  confidence;  and 
his  children  shall  have  a  place 
of  refuge.  Mat.  vi.  32. — For 
your  heavenly  Father  knoweth 
that  ye  have  need  of  all  these 
things. 

a  Heb.  vi.  12.  That  ye  be  not 
slothful,  but  followers  of  them, 
who  through  faith  and  patience 
inherit  the  promises.  Rom.  viii. 
17.  And  if  children,  then  heirs; 
heirs  of  God,  and  joint-heirs  with 
Christ:    if  bo   be  that  we  suffer 


with   him,  that  we   may  be   also 
glorified  together. 

75.  b  Eph.  i.  4.  According  as 
he  hath  chosen  us  in  him  before 
the  foundation  of  the  world,  that 
we  should  be  holy,  and  without 
blame  before  him  in  love.  1  Cor. 
vi.  11.  And  such  were  some  of 
you :  but  ye  are  washed,  but  ye 
are  sanctified,  but  ye  are  justi- 
fied in  the  name  of  the  Lord 
Jesus,  and  by  the  Spirit  of  our 
God.  2  Thess.  ii.  13.  But  we  are 
bound  to  give  thanks  to  God  al- 
way  for  you,  brethren,  beloved 
of  the  Lord,  because  God  hath 
from  the  beginning  chosen  you 
to  salvation,  through  sanctification 
of  the  Spirit,  and  belief  of  the 
truth. 

c  Rom.  vi.  4.  Therefore  we 
are  buried  with  him  by  baptism 
into  death:  that  like  as  Christ 
was  raised  up  from  the  dead  by 
the  glory  of  the  Father,  even  so 
we  also  should  walk  in  nevvnes 
of  life.  Ver.  5.  For  if  we  have 
been  planted  together  in  the  like- 
ness of  his  death,  we  shall  be  also 
in  the  likeness  of  his  resurrection' 
Ver.  6.  Knowing  this,  that  our  old 
man  is  crucified  with  him,  that 
the  body  of  sin  might  be  destroyed, 
that  henceforth  we  should  not 
B^rve  sin. 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


231 


ofGod;d  having  the  seeds  of  repentance  unto  life,  and  all 

other  saving  graces,  put  into  their  hearts,6  and  those  graces 

I  so   stirred   up,  increased,  and  strengthened/  as   that   they 

more  and  more  die  unto  sin,  and  rise  unto  newness  of  life. s 

Q.  70.    What  is  repentance  unto  life? 

A.   Repentance  unto    life   is   a  saving  grace 

in    the    heart   of    a    sinner    by  the    Spirit1    and 


h  wrought 

word    of 


d  Eph.  iv.  23.  And  be  renewed 
in  the  spirit  of  your  mind  ;  Ver.  24. 
And  that  ye  put  on  the  new  man, 
which  after  God  is  created  in  right- 
teousness  and  true  holiness. 

e  Acts  xi.  18.  When  they  heard 
these  things,  they  held  their  peace, 
and  glorified  God,  saying,  Then 
hath  God  also  to  the  Gentiles 
granted  repentance  unto  life. 
1  John  iii.  9.  Whosoever  is  born 
of  God  doth  not  commit  sin ; 
for  his  seed  remaineth  in  him: 
and  he  cannot  sin,  because  he  is 
born  of  God. 

[Jude,  Ver.  20.  But  ye,  beloved, 
building  up  yourselves  on  your 
most  holy  faith,  praying  in  the 
Holy  Ghost.  Heb.  vi.  11.  And 
we  desire  that  every  one  of  you 
do  show  the  same  diligence,  to  the 
full  assurance  of  hope  unto  the 
end:  Ver.  12.  That  ye  be  not 
slothful,  but  followers  of  ihem, 
who  through  faith  and  patience 
inherit  the  promises.  Eph.  iii.  16. 
That  he  would  grant  you,  ac- 
cording to  the  riches  of  his  glory, 
to  be  strengthened  with  might 
by  his  Spirit  in  the  inner  man ; 
Ver.  17.  That  Christ  may  dwell 
in  your  hearts  by  faith;  that  ye, 
being  rooted  and  grounded  in 
love,  Ver.  18.  May  be  able  to  com- 
prehend with  all  saints,  what  is 
the  breadth,  and  lenoth,  and 
depth,  and  height;  Ver.  19.  And 
to  know  the  love  of  Christ,  which 


passeth  knowledge,  that  ye  might 
be  filled  with  all  the  fulness  or 
God.  Col.  i.  10.  That  ye  might 
walk  worthy  of  the  Lord  unto  all 
pleasing,  being  fruitful  in  ever, 
good  work,  and  increasing  in  the 
knowledge  of  God;  Ver.  11 
Strengthened  with  all  might,  ac- 
cording to  his  glorious  power,  unto 
all  patience  and  long  suffering 
with  joy  fulness. 

s  Rom.  vi.  4.  Therefore  we  are 
buried  with  him  by  baptism  into 
death:  that  like  as  Christ  was 
raised  up  from  the  dead  by  the 
glory  of  the  Father,  even  so  we 
also  should  walk  in  newness  of 
life.  Ver.  6.  Knowing  this,  that  our 
old  man  is  crucified  with  him,  that 
the  body  of  sin  might  be  destroyed, 
that  henceforth  we  should  not 
serve  sin.  Ver.  14.  For  sin  shall 
not  have  dominion  over  you:  for 
ye  are  not  under  the  law,  but  under 
grace.  Gal.  v.  24.  And  they  that 
are  Christ's  have  crucified  the 
flesh,  with  the  affections  and  lusts. 

76.  h  2  Tim.  ii.  25.  In  meek- 
ness instructing  those  that  oppose 
themselves;  if  God  peradvcnlure 
will  give  them  repentance  to  the 
acknowledging  of  the  truth. 

1  Zech.  xii.  10.  And  I  will  pour 
upon  the  house  of  David,  and 
upon  the  inhabitants  of  Jerusa- 
lem, the  spirit  of  grace  and  of 
supplications,  and  they  shall  look 
upon  me  whom  they  have  pierced,. 


232 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


God,k  whereby  out  of  the  sight  and  sense,  not  only  of  the 
danger,1  but  also  of  the  filthiness  and  odiousness  of  his 
sins,m  and  upon  the  apprehension  of  God's  mercy  in  Christ 
to  such   as  are  penitent,11  he  so   grieves  for0   and  hates 


and  they  shall  mourn  for  him,  as 
one  mourneth  for  his  only  son, 
and  shall  be  in  bitterness  for  him, 
as  one  that  is  in  bitterness  for  his 
first-born. 

k  Acts  xi.  18.  When  they  heard 
these  thing's,  they  held  their  peace, 
and  glorified  God,  saying1,  Then 
hath  God  also  to  the  Gentiles 
granted  repentance  unto  life. 
Ver.  20.  And  some  of  them  were 
men  of  Cyprus  and  Cyrene, 
which,  when  they  were  come  to 
Antioch,  spake  unto  the  Grecians, 
preaching  the  Lord  Jesus.  Ver.  21. 
And  the  hand  of  the  Lord  was  with 
them :  and  a  great  number  be- 
lieved, and  turned  unto  the  Lord. 

1  Ezek.  xviii.  28.  Because  he 
considereth,  and  turneth  away 
from  all  his  trangressions  that  he 
hath  committed,  he  shall  surely 
live,  he  shall  not  die.  Ver.  30. 
Therefore  T  will  judge  you,  O 
house  of  Israel,  every  one  ac- 
cording to  his  ways,  saith  the 
Lord  God:  repent,  and  turn  your- 
selves from  all  your  trangres- 
sions; so  iniquity  shall  not  be 
your  ruin.  Ver.  32.  For  I  have 
no  pleasure  in  the  death  of  him 
that  dietb,  saith  the  Lord  God: 
wherefore  turn  yourselves,  and 
live  ye.  Luke  xv.  17.  And  when 
he  came  to  himself,  he  said, 
How  many  hired  servants  of  my 
father's" have  bread  enough  and  to 
spare,  and  I  perish  with  hunger! 
Ver.  18.  I  will  arise,  and  go 
to  my  father,  and  will  say  unto 
him,  Father,  I  have  sinned  against 
Heaven,  and  before  thee.  Hos. 
ii,  6.      Therefore,  behold,  I  will 


hedge  up  thy  way  with  thorns, 
and  make  a  wall  that  she  shall 
not  find  her  paths.  Ver.  7.  And 
she  shall  follow  after  her  lovers, 
but  she  shall  not  overtake  them  ; 
and  she  shall  seek  them,  but  shall 
not  find  them:  then  shall  she  say, 
I  will  go  and  return  to  my  first 
husband,  for  then  was  it  better 
with  me  than  now.. 

m  Ezek.  xxxvi.  31-  Then  shall 
ye  remember  your  own  evil  ways, 
and  your  doings  that  were  not 
good,  and  shall  loathe  yourselves 
in  your  own  sight,  for  your  ini- 
quities, and  for  your  abomi- 
nations. Isa.  xxx.  22.  Ye  shall 
defile  also  the  covering  of  thy 
graven  images  of  silver,  and 
the  ornament  of  thy  molten 
images  of  gold :  thou  shalt  cast 
them  away  as  a  menstruous  cloth: 
thou  shalt  say  unto  it,  Get  thee 
hence. 

n  Joel  ii.  12.  Therefore  also 
now,  saith  the  Lord,  Turn  ye 
even  to  me  with  all  your  heart, 
and  with  fasting,  and  with  weep.- 
ing,  and  with  mourning;  Ver.  13. 
And  rend  your  heart,  and  not  your 
g-anjients,  and  turn  unto  the  Lord 
your  God :  for  he  is  gracious  and 
merciful,  slow  to  anger,  and  of 
great  kindness,  and  repenteth  him 
of  the  evil. 

0  Jer.  xxxi.  18.  I  have  surely 
heard  Ephraim  bemoaning  him- 
self thus,  Thou  hast  chastised  me, 
and  I  was  chastised,  as  a  bullock 
unaccustomed  to  the  yoke :  turn 
thou  me,  and  I  shall  be  turned ; 
for  thou  art  the  Lord  my  God. 
Ver.  19.  Surely  after  that  I  was 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


235 


his  sins,p  as  that  he  turns  from  them  all  to  God,q  purposing 
and  endeavouring  constantly  to  walk  with  him  in  all  the 
ways  of  new  obedience.1" 
Q.  77.  Wherein  do  justification  and  sanctification  differ7 
tl.  Although  sanctification  be  inseparably  joined  with  jus- 
tification,5 yet  they  differ,  in  that  God  in  justification  im- 
puteth  the  righteousness  of  Christ;*  in  sanctification  his  Spirit 


I    repented ;     and     after 

that    I    was    instructed    I    emote 

upon  ray  thigh;   I    was  ashamed, 

ven     confounded,    because 

t  did    bear  the    reproach   of   my 

i  2  Cor.  vii.  11.  For  behold, 
this  self-simc  thing-,  that  ye  sor- 
rowed after  a  godly  sort,  what 
carefulness  it  wrought  in  you; 
lat  clearing  of  yourselves; 
yea,  what  indignation  ;.  yea,  what 


fear 


yea, 


what  vehement  desire 


all  their  heart,  and  with  all  their 

soul. 

r  Psal.  cxix.  G.  Then  shall  I 
not  be  ashamed,  when  1  have  re- 
spect unto  all  thy  commandments. 
Ver.  59.  I  thought  on  my  ways, 
and  turned  my  feet  unto  thy  testi- 
monies. Ver.  12S.  Therefore  I 
esteem  a'«'{  thy  precepts  concern- 
ing all  things  to  be  right;  and  I 
hate  every  false  way.  Luke  i.  0. 
And  they  were  both  righteous 
before   God,    walking    in    all    the 


yea,    what    zeal;    yea,    what   re-      commandments     and     ordinances 


venge!  In  all  tilings  ye  have  ap- 
proved yourselves  to  be  clear  in 
this  matter. 

a  xx vi.  18.  To  open  their 
aid  to  turn  them  from 
33  to  light,  and  from  the 
power  of  Satan  unto  God,  that 
they  may  receive  forgiveness  of 
sins,  and  inheritance  among  them 
which  are  sanctified  by  faith  that 
is  in  me.  Ezek.  xiv.  6.  1 
fore  say  unto  the  house  of  I 
Thus  saith  the  Lord  God,  Repent, 
and  turn  yourselves  from  your 
idols,  and  turn  away  your  faces 
from  all  your  abominations.  1 
Kings  viii.  47.  Yet  : 
bethink  themselves  in  the  land 
whither  they  were  carried  cap- 
tives, and  repent,  and  make  sup- 
pfffation  unto  thee,  in  the  land 
of  th?m  that  carried  them  cap- 
saying,  We  have  sinned, 
and  have  done  pc:  e  have 

committed  wickedness;  Ver.  48. 
And  so  return    unto    thee 


of  the  Lord  blameless.  2  Kings 
xxiii.  25.  And  like  unto  him  was 
there  no  king  before  hitn,  that 
turned  to  the  Lord  with  all  his 
heart,  and  with  all  his  soul,  and 
with  ail  his  might,  according  to 
all  the  law  of  Moses;  neither 
him  arose  there  any  like 
him. 

77.  5  1  Cor.  vi.  11.  And -such, 
were  some  of  you :  but  ye  are 
ied,  but  ye  are  sanctified,  but 
ye  are  justified  in  the  name  of 
the  Lord  Jesus,  and  bv  the  Spirit 
of  our  God.  1  Cor.  i.'30.  But  of 
him  are  ye  in  Christ  Jesus,  who 
of  God  is  made  unto  us  wisdom, 
and  righteousness,  and  sanctifica- 
tion, and  redemption. 

*  Rom.  iv.  6.  Even  as  David 
also  describeth  the  blessedness  of 
the  man  unto  whom  God  im- 
puteth  righteousness  without 
works.  Ver.  8.  Blessed  is  the  mar. 
to  whom  the.  Lord  will  not  impute 
sin. 


234 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


infuseth  grace,  and  enableth  to  the  exercise  thereof  ;v  in  the 
former,  sin  is  pardoned  ;w  in  the  other,  it  is  subdued :x  the 
one  doth  equally  free  all  believers  from  the  revenging  wrath 
of  God,  and  that  perfectly  in  this  life,  that  they  never  fall 
into  condemnation;7  the  other  is  neither  equal  in  all,2  nor 
in  this  life  perfect  in  any,a  but  growing  up  to  perfection.b 


v  Ezek.  xxxvi.  27.  And  I  will- 
put  my  Spirit  within  you,  and 
cause  you  to  walk  in  my  statutes, 
and  ye  shall  keep  my  judgments, 
and  do  them. 

w  Rom.  iii.  24.  Being  justified 
freely  by  his  grace,  through  the 
redemption  that  is  in  Jesus  Christ: 
Ver.  25.  Whom  God  hath  set  forth 
to  be  a  propitiation  through  faith 
in  his  blood,  to  declare  his  right- 
eousness for  the  remission  of  sins 
that  are  past,  through  the  forbear- 
ance of  God. 

x  Rom.  vi.  6.  Knowing  this, 
that  our  old  man  is  crucified  with 
him,  that  the  body  of  sin  might 
be  destroyed,  that  henceforth  we 
should  not  serve  sin.  Ver.  14.  For 
sin  shall  not  have  dominion  over 
you:  for  ye  are  not  under  the 
law,  but  under  grace. 

y  Rom.  viii.  83.  Who  shall  lay 
any  thing  to  the  charge  of  God's 
elect?  It  is  God  that  justifieth, 
Ver.  34.  Who  is  he  that  condemn- 
ed !  It  is  Christ  that  died,  yea 
rather,  that  is  risen  again,  who  is 
even  at  \he  right  hand  of  God,  who 
also  maketh  intercession  for  us. 

z  I  John  ii.  12.  I  write  unto  you, 
little  children,  because  your  sins 
are  forgiven  you  for  his  name's 
sake.  Ver.  13.  I  write  unto  you, 
fathers,  because  ye  have  known 
him  that  is  from  the  beginning. 
I  write  unto  you,  young  men, 
because  ye  have  overcome  the 
wicked  one.  I  write  unto,  you, 
little  children,  because  ye  have 
known   the   Father.    Ver.    14.  I 


have  written  unto  you,  fathers, 
because  ye  have  known  him  that 
is  from  the  beginning.  I  have 
written  unto  you,  young  men, 
because  ye  are  strong,  and  the 
word  of  God  abideth  in  you,  and 
ye  have  overcome  the  wicked 
one.  Heb.  v.  12.  For  when  for 
the  time  ye  ought  to  be  teach- 
ers, ye  have  need  that  one  teach 
you  again  which  be  the  first  prin* 
ciples  of  the  oracles  of  God; 
and  are  become  such  as  have 
need  of  milk,  and  not  of  strong 
meat.  Ver.  13.  For  every  one  that 
useth  milk  is  unskilful  in  the 
word  of  righteousness :  for  he  is 
a  babe.  Ver,  14.  But  strong  meat 
belongeth  to  them  that  are  of  full 
age,  even  those  who  by  reason 
of  use  have  their  senses  exercised 
to  discern  both  good  and  evil. 

a  1  John  i.  8.  And  if  we  say  that 
we  have  no  sin,  we  deceive  our- 
selves, and  the  truth  is  not  in  us. 
Ver.  10.  If  we  say  that  we  have  not 
sinned,  we  make  him  a  liar,  and 
his  wqrd  is  not  in  us. 

b  2  Cor.  vii.  1.  Having  there- 
fore these  promises,  dearly  beloved, 
let  us  cleanse  ourselves  from  all 
filthiness  of  the  flesh  and  spirit, 
perfecting  holiness  in  the  fear  of 
God.  Phil.  iii.  12.  Not  as  though 
I  had  already  attained,  either 
were  already  perfect;  but  I  follow 
after,  if  that  I  may  apprehend  that 
for  which  also  I  am  apprehended  of 
Christ  Jesus.  Ver.  13.  Brethren, 
I  count  not  myself  to  have  appre- 
hended :  but  this  one  thing  I  do ; 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


235 


Q.  78.  Whence  ariseth  the  imperfection  of  sanctijication 
in  believers  ? 

A.  The  imperfection  of  sanctification  in  believers  ariseth 
from  the  remnants  of  sin  abiding  in  every  part  of  them,  and 
the  perpetual  lustings  of  the  flesh  against  the  spirit;  whereby 
they  are  often  foiled  with  temptations,  and  fall  into  many 
sins,c  are  hindered  in  all  their  spiritual  services,*  and  their 
best  works  are  imperfect  and  defiled  in  the  sight  of  God.e 

Q.  79.  May  not  fme  believers,  by  reason  of  their  im- 
perfections, and  the  many  temptations  and  sins  they  are 
overtaken  with,  fall  away  from  the  state  of  grace? 

A.  True  believers,  by  reason  of  the  unchangeable  love  of 
God/  and  his  decree  and  covenant  to  give  them  perseverance,5 


forgetting  those  things  which  are 
behind,  and  reaching  forth  unto 
those  things  which  are  before, 
Ver.  14.  I  press  toward  the  mark, 
for  the  prize  of  the  high  calling  of 
God  in  Christ  Jesus. 

78.  Rom.  vii,  13.  For  I  know 
that  in  me  (that  is,  in  my  flesh) 
dwelleth  no  good  thing:  for  to 
will  is  present  with  me,  but  how 
to  perform  that  which  is  good  I 
find  not.  Ver.  23.  But  I  see  an- 
other law  in  my  members  warring 
against  the  law  of  my  mind,  and 
bringing  me  into  captivity  to  the 
law  of  sin  which  is  in  my  members. 
Mark  xiv.  66,  to  the  end.  And  as 
Peter  was  beneath  in  the  palace, 
there  coineth  one  of  the  maids  of  the 
high  priest,  &c.  Gal.  ii.  11.  But 
when  Peter  was  come  to  Antioch, 
I  withstood  him  to  the  face,  because 
he  was  to  be  blamed.  Ver.  12.  For 
before  that  certain  came  from  James, 
he  did  eat  with  the  Gentiles:  but 
when  they  were  come,  he  withdrew 
and  separated  himself,  fearing  them, 
which  were  of  the  circumcision. 

d  Heb.  xii.  1.  Wherefore,  see- 
ing we  also  are  compassed  about 
with  so  great  a  cloud  of  witnesses, 
let  us  lay  aside  every  weight,  and 


the  sin  which  doth  so  easily  beset 
us,  and  let  us  run  with  patience 
the  race  that  is  set  before  us. 

e  Isa.  Ixiv.  6.  But  we  are  all  as 
an  unclean  thing,  and  all  our  righ- 
teousnesses are  as  filthy  rags,  and 
we  all  do  fade  as  a  leaf,  and  our 
iniquities,  like  the  wind,  have 
taken  us  away.  Exod.  xxviii.  38. 
And  it  shall  be  upon  Aaron's 
forehend,  that  Aaron  may  bear 
the  iniquity  of  the  holy  things, 
which  the  children  of  Israel  shall 
hallow  in  all  their  holy  gifts;  and 
it  shall  be  always  upon  his  fore- 
head, that  they  may  be  accepted 
before  the  Lord. 

79.  f  Jer.  xxxi.  3.  The  Lord  hath 
appeared  of  old  unto  me,  say- 
ing, Yea,  I  have  loved  thee  with 
an  everlasting  love :  therefore  with 
loving-kindness  have  I  drawn  thee. 
Tim.  ii.  19.  Nevertheless, 
the  foundation  of  God  standeth 
sure,  having  this  seal,  The  Lord 
knoweth  them  that  are  his.  And, 
Let  every  one  that  nameth  the 
name  of  Christ  depart  from  ini- 
quity. Heb.  xiii.  20.  Now  the 
God  of  peace,  that  brought  again 
from  the  dead  our  Lord  Jesus, 
that  great  Shepherd  of  the  sheep. 


236 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


their  inseparable  union  with  Christ,h  his  continual  interces- 
sion for  them/  and  the  Spirit  and  seed  of  God  abiding  in 
them,k  can  neither  totally  nor  finally  fall  away  from  the 
state  of  grace,1  but  are  kept  by  the  power  of  God  through 
faith  unto  salvation."1 

Q.  80.  Can  true  believers  be  infallibly  assured  that  they 
are  in  the  estate  of  grace,  and  that  they  shall  persevere 
therein  unto  salvation? 

A.  Such  as  truly  believe  in  Christ,.and  endeavour  to  walk 
in  all  good  conscience  before  him,n  may,  without  extraordi- 
nary revelation,  by  faith  grounded  upon  the  truth  of  God's 
promises,  and  by  the  Spirit  enabling  them  to  discern  in  them- 
selves those  graces  to  which  the  promises  of  life  are  made-,0. 


through  the  blood  of  the  everlast- 
ing covenant,  Ver.  21.  Make  you 
perfect  in  every  good  work  to  do 
his  will,  working  in  you  that 
which  is  well-pleasing  in  his  sight, 
through  Jesus  Christ;  to  whom  be 
glory  for  ever  and  ever.  Amen. 
2  Sam.  xxiii.  5.  Although  my 
house  be  not  so  with  God,  yet  he 
hath  made  with  me  an  everlasting 
covenant,  ordered  in  all  things 
and  sure:  fir  this  is  all  my  salva- 
tion, and  all  my  desire,  although 
he  make  it  not  to  grow. 

h  1  Cor.  i.  8.  Who  shall  a;so 
confirm  you  unto  the  end,  that 
ye  may  be  blameless  in  the  day  of 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  Ver.  9.  God 
is  faithful,  by  whom  ye  were 
called  unto  the  fellowship  of  his 
Son  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord. 

»  Heb.  vii.  25.  Wherefore  he  is 
able  also  to  save  them  to  the  utter- 
most that  come  unto  God  by  him, 
seeing  he  ever  liveth  to  make  inter- 
cession for  them.  Luke  xxii.  32.  But 
I  have  prayed  for  thee,  that  thy 
faith  fail  not;  and  when  thou  art 
converted,  strengthen  thy  brethren. 

k  1  John  iii.  9.  Whosoever  is 
born  of  God  doth  not  commit 
sin;    for   his   seed    rcrnainetb   in- 


hirn  :  and  he  cannot  sin,  because 
he  is  born  of  God.  1  John  ii.  27. 
But  the  anointing  which  ye  have 
received  of  him  abideth  in  you; 
and  ye  need  not  that  any  man 
teach  you :  but  as  the  same 
anointing  teacheth  you  of  all 
things,  and  is  truth,  and  is  no 
lie,  and  even  as  it  hath  taught 
you,  ye  shall  abide  in  him. 

1  Jer.  xxxii.  40-.  And  I  will  make 
an  everlasting  covenant  with  them, 
that  I  will  not  turn  away  from, 
them  to  do  them  good;  but  I  will 
put  my  fear  in  their  hearts,  that 
they  shall  not  depart  from  me. 
John  x.  28.  And  I  give  unto  them 
eternal  life,  and  they  shall  never 
perish,  neither  shall  any  pluck 
them  out  of  my  hand. 

m  1  Pet.  i.  5.  Who  are  kept  by 
the  power  of  God  through  faith 
unto  salvation,  ready  to  be  reveal- 
ed in  the  last  time. 

80.  a  1  John  ii.  3.  And  hereby 
we  do  know  that  we  know  him.- 
if  wo  keep  his  commandments. 

c  1  Cor.  ii.  12.  Now  we  have* 
received,  not  the  spirit  of  the 
world,  but  the  Spirit  which-  is  of- 
God;  that  we  might  know  the 
things  that  are  freely  given  to  us 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


237 


and  bearing  witness  with  their  spirits  that  they  are  the 
children  of  GoaV  be  infallibly  assured  that  they  are  in 
the  estate  of  grace,  and  shall  persevere  therein  unto  salva- 
tions 

Q.  81.  Are  all  true  believers  at  all  times  assured  of  their  pre- 
sent being  in  the  estate  of  grace,  and  that  they  shall  be  saved? 

A.  Assurance  of  grace  and  salvation  not  being  of  the  essence 
of  faith/  true  believers  may  wait  long  before  they  obtain  it; 5 


of  God.  1  John  iii.  14.  We  know 
that  we  have  passed  from  death 
unto  life,  because  we  love  the 
brethren  :  he  that  loveth  not  his 
brother,  abideth  in  death.  Ver.  15. 
-ittle  children,  let  us  not  love 
in  word,  neither  in  tongue,  but 
in  deed,  and  in  truth.  Ver.  19.  And 
hereby  we  know  that  we  are  of 
the  truth,  and  shall  assure  our 
hearts  before  him.  Ver.  21.  Be- 
loved, if  our  heart  condemn  us  not, 
then  have  we  confidence  towards 
God.  Ver.  24.  And  he  that  keepeth 
his  commandments  dwelleth  in 
him,  and  he  in  him :  and  hereby 
we  know  that  he  abideth  in  us, 
by  the  Spirit  which  he  hath  given 
us.  1  John  iv.  13.  Hereby  know 
we  that  we  dwell  in  him,  and  he 
in  us,  because  he  hath  given  us  of 
his  Spirit.  Ver.  16.  And  we  have 
known  and  believed  the  love  that 
God  hath  to  us.  God  is  love;  and 
he  that  dwelleth  in  love  dwelleth 
in  God,  and  God  in  him.  Heb. 
vi.  11.  And  we  desire  that  every 
one  of  you  do  show  the  same  di- 
ligence, to  the  full  assurance  of 
hope  unto  the  end:  Ver.  12.  That 
ye  be  not  slothful,  but  followers 
of  them,  who  through  faith  and 
patience  inherit  the  promises. 

p  Rom.  viii.  16.  The  Spirit  it- 
self beareth  witness  with  our  spi- 
rit, that  we  are  the  children  of  God. 

q  1  John  v.  13.  These  things 
have  I  written  unto  you  that  be- 


lieve on  the  name  of  the  Son  of 
God,  that  ye  may  know  that  ye 
have  eternal  life,  and  that  ye  may 
believe  on  the  name  of  the  Son  of 
God. 

31.  "  Eph.  i.  13.  In  whom  ye 
also  trusted,  after  that  ye  heard 
the  word  of  truth,  the  gospel  of 
your  salvation  ;  in  whom  aiso,  after 
that  ye  believed,  ye  were  sealed 
with  that  Holy  Spirit  of  promise. 

s  Isa.  1.  10.  Who  is  among  you 
that  feareth  the  Lord,  that  obeyeth 
the  voice  of  his  servant,  that  walk- 
eth  in  darkness,  and  hath  no  light  ? 
let  him  trust  in  the  name  of  the 
Lord,  and  stay  upon  his  God. 
Psal.  lxxxviii.  throughout.  Ver.  1. 

0  Lord  God  of  my  salvation,  I  have 
cried  day  and  night  before  thee: 
Ver.  2.  Let  my  prayer  come  before 
thee :  incline  thine  ear  unto  my  cry; 
Ver.  3.  For  my  soul  is  full  of  troubles, 
and  my  life  draweth  nigh  unto  the 
grave. — Ver.  6.  Thou  hast  laid  me 
in  the  lowest  pit,  in  darkness,  in 
the  deeps.  Ver.  7.  Thy  wrath  lieth 
hard  upon  me,  and  thou  hast  afflict- 
ed me  with  all  thy  waves.  Selah. — 
Ver.  9.  Mine  eye  mourneth  by  rea- 
son of  affliction :  Lord,  I  have  called 
daily  upon  thee;  I  have  stretched 
out  my  hands  unto  thee.  Ver.  10. 
Wilt  thou  show  wonders  to  the 
dead? — Ver.  13.  But  unto  thee  have 

1  cried,  O  L^rd;  and  in  the  morn- 
ing shall  my  prayer  prevent  thee. 
Ver.  14.  Lord,  why  easiest  thou  off 


238 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


and  after  the  enjoyment  thereof,  may  have  it  weakened 
and  intermitted,  through  manifold  distempers,  sins,  temp- 
tations, -and  desertions ;  *  yet  are  they  never  left  without 
such  a  presence  and  support  of  the  Spirit  of  God  as  keeps 
them  from  sinking  into  utter  despair/ 


I 


my  soul?  why  hidest  thou  thy 
face  from  me?  Ver.  15.  I  am  afflict- 
ed and  ready  to  die  from  my 
youth  up:  while  I  suffer  th}  ter- 
rors I  am  distracted,  &c. 

*  [Psal.  Ixxvii.  1,  to  the  12th 
Verse.]  Ver.  1.  I  cried  unto  God 
with  my  voice,  even  unto  God 
with  my  voice;  and  he  gave  ear 
unto  me.  Ver.  2.  In  the  day  of  my 
trouble  I  sought  the  Lord :  my 
sore  ran  in  the  night,  and  ceased 
not:  my  soul  refused  to  be  com- 
forted. Ver.  3.  I  remembered  God, 
and  was  troubled :  I  complained, 
and  my  spirit  was  overwhelmed. — 
Ver.  7.  Will  the  Lord  cast  off  for 
ever?  and  will  he  be  favourable 
no  more?  &c.  Cant.  v.  2.  I  sleep, 
but  my  heart  wakelh  :  it  is  the 
voice  of  my  beloved  that  knock- 
eth,  saying,  Opon  to  me,  my  sister, 
my  love,  my  dove,  my  undefiled : 
for  my  head  is  filled  with  dew, 
and  my  locks  with  the  drops  of  the 
night.  Ver.  3.  I  have  put.  off  my 
coat,  how  shall  I  put  it  on?  I  have 
washed  my  feet,  how  shall  I  defile 
them  ?  Ver.  6.  I  opened  to  my  be- 
loved;  hut  my  beloved  had  with- 
drawn himself,  and  was  gone: 
my  soul  failed  when  he  spake:  I 
sought  him,  but  I  could  not  find 
him:  I  called  him,  but  he  gave 
me  no  answer.  Psal.  li.  8.  Make 
me  to  hear  joy  and  gladness:  that 
the  bones  which  thou  hast  broken 
may  rejoice.  Ver.  12.  Restore  unto 
me  the  joy  of  thy  salvation ;  and 
uphold  me  with  thy  free  Spirit. 
Psal.  xxxi.  22.  For  I  said  in  my 
haste,  I   am   cut  off  from   before 


thine  eyes;  nevertheless,  thou 
heardest  the  voice  of  my  suppli- 
cations when  I  cried  unto  thee. 
Psal  xxii.  1.  My  God,  My  God, 
why  hast  thou  forsaken  me?  why 
art  thou  so  far  from  helping  me, 
and  from  the  words  of  my  roar- 
ing? 

T  1  John  iii.  9.  Whosoever  is 
born  of  God  doth  not  commit  sin ; 
for  his  seed  remaineth  in  him:  and 
he  cannot  sin,  because  he  is  born 
of  God.  Job  xiii.  15.  Though 
he  slay  me,  yet  will  I  trust  in  him  : 
but  I  will  maintain  mine  own 
ways  before  him.  Psal.  Ixxiii.  15. 
If  I  say,  I  will  speak  thus;  be- 
hold, I  should  offend  against  the 
generation  of  thy  children.  Ver.  23. 
Nevertheless,  I  am  continually 
with  thee :  thou  hast  holden  me 
by  my  right  hand.  Isa.  liv.  7. 
For  a  small  moment  have  I  for- 
saken thee;  hut  with  great  mer- 
cies will  I  gather  thee.  Ver.  8.  In 
a  little  wrath  I  hid  my  face  from 
thee  for  a  moment;  but  with  ever- 
lasting kindness  will  I  have  mercy 
on  thee,  saith  the  Lord  thy  Re- 
deemer. Ver.  9.  For  this  is  as  the 
waters,  of  Noah  unto  me:  for  as 
I  have  sworn  that  the  waters  of 
Noah  should  no  more  go  over  the 
earth ;  so  have  I  sworn  that  I 
would  not  be  wroth  with  thee, 
nor  rebuke  thee.  Ver,  10.  For  the 
mountains  shall  depart,  and  the 
hills  be  removed;  but  my  kind- 
ness shall  not  depart  from  thee, 
neither  shall  the  covenant  of  my 
peace  be  removed,  saith  the  Lord, 
that  hath  mercy  on  thee. 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


239 


Q.  82.  What  is  the  communion  in  vlory  which  the  mem- 
bers of  the  invisible  church  have  with  Christ? 

«.?.  The  communion  in  glory  which  the  members  of  the 
invisible  church  have  with  Christ,  is  in  this  life,'  imme- 
diately after  death, x  and  at  last  perfected  at  the  resurrec- 
tion and  day  of  judgment.7 

Q.  83.  What  is  the  communion  in  glory  with  Christ 
which  the  members  of  the  invisible  church  enjoy  in  this  life? 

tl,  The  members  of  the  invisible  church  have  communi- 
cated to  them  in  this  life  the  first-fruits  of  glory  with  Christ, 
as  they  are  members  of  him  their  head,  and  so  in  him  are 
interested  in  that  glory  which  he  is  fully  possessed  of; z  and, 
as  an  earnest  thereof,  enjoy  the  sense  of  God's  love,a  peace 
of  conscience,  joy  in  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  hope  of  glory; '- 
as,  on  the  contrary,  ?.ense  of  God's  revenging  wrath,  horror 
of  conscience,  and  a  fearful  expectation  of  judgment,  are  to 
the  wicked  the  beginning  of  their  torments  which  they  shall 
endure  after  death,0 


2  Cor.  iii.  IS.  But  we  all 
with  open  face,  beholding  as  in  a 
glass  the  glory  of  the  Lord,  are 
changed  into  the  same  image, 
from  glory  to  glory,  even  as  by 
the  Spirit  of  the  Lord. 

x  Luke  xxiii.  43.  And  Je-us  said 
(into  him,  Verily  I  say  unto  thee, 
To-day  shalt  thou  be  with  me  in 
parad  ise. 

>'  1  Thess.  iv.  17.  Then  we 
which  are  alive  and  remain  shall 
be  caught  up  together  with  them 
in  the  clouds,  to  meet  the  Lord 
in  the  air:  and  so  shall  we  ever 
be  with  the  Lord. 

63. z  Eph.  ii.  5.  Even  when  we 
were  dead  in  sins,  hath  quickened 
us  together  with  Christ,  (by  grace 
ye  are  saved.)  Ver.  6.  And  hath 
raised  us  up  together,  and  made 
us  sit  together  in  heavenly  places 
in  Christ  Jesus. 

*  Rom.  v.  5.  And  hope  maketh 
not  ashamed,  because  the  love  of 
God  is  shed  abroad  in  cur  hearts 


by  the  Holy  Ghost  which  is  given 
imto  us.  Compared  with  2  Cor.  i. 
22.  Who  hath  also  sealed  us,  and 
given  the  earnest  of  the  Spirit  in 
our  hearts. 

b  Rom.  v.  1.  Therefore  being 
justified  by  faith,  we  have  peace 
w  th  God,  through  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ.  Ver.  2.  By  whom  also  we 
have  access  by  faith  into  this  grace 
wherein  we  stand,  and  rejoice  in 
hope  of  the  glory  of  God.  Rom. 
xiv.  17.  For  the  kingdom  of  God 
is  not  meat  and  drink,  but  right- 
eousness, and  peace,  and  joy  in  the 
Holy  Ghost. 

c  Gen.  iv.  13.  And  Cain  said 
unto  the  Lord,  My  punishment  is 
greater  than  I  can  bear.  Mat. 
xxvii.  4.  Saying,  I  have  sinned,  in 
that  I  have  betrayed  the  innocent 
blood.  And  they  said,  What  is 
that  to  us?  see  thou  to  that.  Heb. 
x.  27.  But  a  certain  fearful  look- 
ing for  of  judgment,  and  fiery  in- 
dignation, which  shall  devour  the 


240 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


Q,  84.  Shall  all  men  die  ? 

A.  Death  being  threatened  as  the  wages  of  sin,d  it  is  ap 
pointed  unto  all  men  once  to  die  ;e  for  that  all  have  sinned.* 

Q.  85.  Death  being  the  zcages  of  sin,  zvhy  are  not  the  right 
eous  delivered  from  death,  seeing  all  their  sifts  are  forgiven  in 
Christ  ? 

A.  The  righteous  shall  be  delivered  from  death  itself  at 
the  last  day,  and  even  in  death  are  delivered  from  the  sting 
and  curse  of  it;g  so  that,  although  they  die,  yet  it  is  out  of  j 
God's  love,h  to  free  them  perfectly  from  sin  and  misery,1 
and  to  make  them  capable  of  farther  communion  with 
Christ  in  glory,  which  they  then  enter  upon.k 


adversaries.  Rom.  ii.  9.  Tribulation 
and  anguish  upon  every  soul  of 
man  that  doeth  evil,  of  the  Jew  first, 
and  also  of  the  Gentile.  Mark  ix.44. 
Where  the  worm  diethnot,  and  the 
fire  is  not  quenched. 

84.  d  Rom.  vi.  23.  For  the  wages 
of  sin  is  death:  but  the  gift  of  God 
is  eternal  life,  through  Jesus  Christ 
our  Lord. 

e  Heb.  ix.  27.  And  as  it  is  ap- 
pointed unto  men  once  to  die,  but 
after  this  the  judgment. 

f  Rom.  v.  12.  Wherefore,  as  by- 
one  man  sin  entered  into  the  world, 
and  death  by  sin ;  and  so  death  pass- 
ed upon  all  men,  for  that  all  have 
sinned. 

85.  s  1  Cor.  xv.  26.  The  last 
enemy  that  shall  be  destroyed  is 
death.  *  Ver.  55.  O  death  !  where 
is  thy  sting  1  O  grave  !  where  is  thy 
victory?  Ver.  56.  The  sting  of  death 
is  sin ;  and  the  strength  of  sin  is  the 
law.  Ver.  57.  But  thanks  be  to 
God,  which  giveth  us  the  victory, 
through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 
Heb.  ii.  15.  And  deliver  them  who 
through  fear  of  death,  were  all  their 
lifetime  subject  to  bondage. 

h  Isa.  lvii.  1.  The  righteous  pe- 
risheth,  and  no  man  layeth  it  to 


heart;  and  merciful  men  are  taken 
away,  none  considering  that  the 
righteous  is  taken  away  from  the 
evil  to  come.  Ver.  2.  He  shall 
enter  into  peace,  they  shall  rest  in 
their  beds,  each  one  walking"  in  his 
uprightness.  2  Kings  xxii.  20.  Be- 
hold, therefore  I  will  gather  thee 
unto  thy  fathers,  and  thou  shalt  be 
gathered  into  thy  grave  in  peace, 
and  thine  eyes  shall  not  see  all  the 
evil  which  I  will  bring  upon  this 
place. 

'  Rev.  xiv.  13.  And  I  heard  a  voice 
from  heaven  saying  unto  me,  Write, 
Blessed  are  the  dead  which  die  in 
the  Lord  from  henceforth :  Yea, 
saith  the  Spirit,  that  they  may  rest 
from  their  labours ;  and  their  works 
do  follow  them.  Eph.  v.  27.  That  he 
might  present  it  to  himself  a  glo- 
rious church,  not  having  spot,  or, 
wrinkle,  or  any  such  thing ;  but  that 
it  should  be  holy,  and  without  ble* 
mish. 

k  Luke  xxiii.  43.  And  Jesus  said 
unto  him,  Verily  I  say  unto  thee*; 
To-day  shalt  thou  be  with  me  in 
paradise.  Phil.  i.  23.  For  I  am  in  a 
strait  betwixt  two,  having  a  desire 
to  depart,  and  to  be  with  Christ; 
which  is  far  better. 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


241 


Q.  86.  What  is  the  communion  in  glory  ivith  Christ, 
which  the  members  of  the  invisible  church  enjoy  immedi- 
ately after  death? 

%ft.  The  communion  in  glory  with  Christ,  which  the  mem- 
bers of  the  invisible  church  enjoy  immediately  after  death,  is, 
in  that  their  souls  are  then  made  perfect  in  holiness,1  and  re- 
ceived into  the  highest  heavens,111  where  they  behold  the  face 
of  God  in  light  and  glory ,n  waiting  for  the  full  redemption 
of  their  bodies,0  which  even  in  death  continue  united  to 
Christ,?  and  rest  in  their  graves  as  in  their  beds,q  till  at  the 
last  day  they  be  again  united  to  their  souls.r     Whereas  the 


86.  »  Heb.  xii.  23.  To  the  ge- 
neral assembly  and  church  of  the 
first-born,  which  are  written  in 
heaven,  and  to  God  the  judge  of 
all,  and  to  the  spirits  of  just  men 
made  perfect. 

m2  Cor.  v.  1.  For  we  know> 
that  if  our  earthly  house  of  this 
tabernacle  were  dissolved,  we 
have  a  building  of  God,  a  house 
not  made  with  hands,  eternal  in 
the  heavens.  Ver.  6.  Therefore 
we  are  always  confident,  knowing 
that  whilst  we  are  at  home  in  the 
body,  we  are  absent  from  the 
Lord.  Ver.  8.  We  are  confident,  I 
say,  and  willing  rather  to  be  ab- 
sent from  the  body,  and  to  be 
present  with  the  Lord.  Phil.  i. 
23.  For  I  am  in  a  strait  betwixt 
two,  having  a  desire  to  depart, 
and  to  be  with  Christ;  which  is 
far  better.  Compared  with  Acts 
iii.  21.  Whom  the  heaven  must 
receive  until  the  times  of  restitu- 
tion of  all  things,  which  God 
hath  spoken  by  the  mouth  of  all 
his  holy  prophets  since  the  world 
began.  And  with  Eph.  iv.  10. 
He  that  descended  is  the  same 
also  that  ascended  up  far  above 
all  heavens,  that  he  might  fill  all 
things. 

■  1  John  iii.  2.  Beloved,   now 
are  we  the  sons  of  God;  and  it 
21 


doth  not  yet  appear  what  we  shall 
be:  but  we  know  that,  when  he 
shall  appear,  we  shall  be  like  him  ; 
for  we  shall  see  him  as  he  is.  1 
Cor.  xiii.  12.  For  now  we  see 
through  a  glass,  darkly;  but  then 
face  to  face:  now  1  know  in  part; 
but  then  shall  I  know  even  as  also 
I  am  known. 

0  Rom.  viii.  23.  And  not  only 
they,  but  ourselves  also,  which 
have  the  first-fruits  of  the  Spirit, 
even  we  ourselves  groan  within 
ourselves,  waiting  for  the  adop- 
tion, to  wit,  the  redemption  of  our 
body.  Psal.  xvi.  9.  Therefore  my 
heart  is  glad,  and  my  glory  re- 
joiceth :  my  flesh  also  shall  rest  in 
hope. 

p  1  Thess.  iv.  14.  For  if  we  be- 
lieve  that  Jesus  died,  and  rose 
again,  even  so  them  also  which 
sleep  in  Jesus  will  God  bring  with 
him. 

«  Isa.  Ivii.  2.  He  shall  enter  into 
peace  ;  they  shall  rest  in  their  beds, 
each  one  walking  in  his  upright- 
ness. 

r  Job  xix.  26.  And  though  after 
my  skin  worms  destroy  this  bodv, 
yet  in  my  flesh  shall  I  see  God : 
Ver.  27.  Whom  I  shall  see  for  mv- 
self,  and  mine  eyes  shall  behold, 
and  not  another;  though  my  rein3 
be  consumed  within  me. 


242 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


souls  of  the  wicked  are  at  their  death  cast  into  hell,  where 
they  remain  in  torments  and  utter  darkness,  and  their  bo- 
dies kept  in  their  graves,  as  in  their  prisons,  till  the  resur- 
rection and  judgment  of  the  great  day.8 

Q.  87.  What  are  ive  to  believe  concerning  the  resurrec- 
tion? 

</2.  We  are  to  believe,  that  at  the  last  day  there  shall  be 
a  general  resurrection  of  the  dead,  both  of  the  just  and 
unjust ;*  when  they  that  are  then  found  alive  shall  in  a 
moment  be  changed;  and  the  self-same  bodies  of  the 
dead  which  were  laid  in  the  grave,  being  then  again  united 
to  their  souls  for  ever,  shall  be  raised  up  by  the  power  of 
Christ.7  The  bodies  of  the  just,  by  the  Spirit  of  Christ,  and 
by  virtue  of  his  resurrection  as  their  head,  shall  be  raised  in 


s  Luke  xvi.  23.  And  in  hell  he 
lifted  up  his  eyes,  being  in  tor- 
ments, and  seeth  Abraham  afar 
off,  and  Lazarus  in  his  bosom. 
Ver.  24.  And  he  cried,  and  said, 
Father  Abraham,  have  mercy  on 
me,  and  send  Lazarus,  that  he 
may  dip  the  tip  of  his  finger  in 
water,  and  cool  my  tongue;  for 
I  am  tormented  in  this  flame. 
Acts  i.  25.  That  he  may  take 
part  of  this  ministry  and  apostle- 
ship,  from  which  Judas  by  trans- 
gression fell,  that  he  might  go  to 
his  own  place.  Jude,  Ver.  6.  And 
the  angels  which  kept  not  their 
first  estate,  but  left  their  own 
habitation,  he  hath  reserved  in 
everlasting  chains,  under  dark- 
ness, unto  the  judgment  of  the 
great  day.  Ver.  7.  Even  as  Sodom 
and  Gomorrha,  and  the  cities 
about  them,  in  like  manner  giving 
themselves  over  to  fornication, 
and  going  after  strange  flesh,  are 
set  forth  for  an  example,  suffer- 
ing the  vengeance  of  eternal  fire. 

87.  l  Acts  xxiv.  15.  And  have 
hope  towards  God,  which  they 
themselves  also  allow,  that  there 
shall  be  a  resurrection  of  the 
dead,  both  of  the  just  and  unjust. 


v  1  Cor.  xv.  51.  Behold,  I  show 
you  a  mystery :  We  shall  not  all 
sleep,  but  we  shall  all  be  changed, 
Ver.  52.  In  a  moment,  in  the  twink- 
ling of  an  eye,  at  the  last  trump: 
(for  the  trumpet  shall  sound,)  and 
the  dead  shall  be  raised  incor- 
ruptible, and  we  shall  be  changed. 
Ver.  53.  For  this  corruptible  must 
put  on  incorruption,  and  this 
mortal  must  put  on  immortality. 
1  Thess.  iv.  15.  For  this  we  say 
unto  you  by  the  word  of  the 
Lord,  That  we  which  are  alive, 
and  remain  unto  the  coming  of 
the  Lord,  shall  not  prevent  them 
which  are  asleep.  Ver.  16.  For 
the  Lord  himself  shall  descend  from 
heaven  with  a  shout,  with  the  voice 
of  the  archangel,  and  with  the  trump 
of  God ;  and  the  dead  in  Christ  shall 
rise  first:  Ver.  17.  Then  we  which 
are  alive  and  remain  shall  be  caught 
up  together  with  them  in  the  clouds, 
to  meet  the  Lord  in  the  air :  and 
so  shall  we  ever  be  with  the 
Lord.  John  v.  28.  Marvel  not 
at  this;  for  the  hour  is  coming, 
in  the  which  all  that  are  in  the 
graves  shall  hear  his  voice,  Ver.  29. 
And  shall  come  forth ;  they  that 
have  done  good,  unto  the  resur- 


The  Larger  Catechism, 


243 


power,  spiritual,  incorruptible,  and  made  like  to  his  glorious 
body  ;w  and  the  bodies  of  the  wicked  shall  be  raised  up  in 
dishonour  by  him,  as  an  offended  judge.x 

Q,.  88.  What  shall  immediately  follow  after  the  resurrection  ? 

A.  Immediately  after  the  resurrection  shall  follow  the 
general  and  final  judgment  of  angels  and  men;7  the  day 
and  hour  whereof  no  manknoweth,  that  all  may  watch  and 
pray,  and  be  ever  ready  for  the  coming  of  the  Lord.2 


rection  of  life;  and  they  that  have 
done  evil  unto  the  resurrection  of 
damnation. 

w  1  Cor.  xv.  21.  For  since  by 
man  came  death,  by  man  came 
also  the  resurrection  of  the  dead. 
Ver.  22.  For  as  in  Adam  all  die, 
even  so  in  Christ  shall  all  be  made 
alive.  Ver.  23.  But  every  man  in 
his  own  order;  Christ  the  first- 
fruits,  afterward  they  that  are 
Christ's  at  his  coming.  Ver.  42.  So 
also  is  the  resu  r rection  of  the  dead . 
It  is  sown  in  corruption,  it  is 
raised  in  incorruption:  Ver.  43.  It 
is  sown  in  dishonour,  it  is  raised 
in  glory  :  it  is  sown  in  weakness, 
it  is  raised  in  power:  Ver.  44.  It  is 
sown  a  natural  body,  it  is  raised  a 
spiritual  body.  Phil.  iii.  21.  Who 
shall  change  our  vile  body,  that 
it  may  be  fashioned  like  unto  his 
glorious  body,  according  to  the 
working  whereby  he  is  able  even 
to  subdue  all  things  unto  himself. 

x  John  v.  27.  And  hath  given 
him  authority  to  execute  judg- 
ment also,  because  he  is  the  Son 
of  man.  Ver.  23.  Marvel  not  at 
this:  for  the  hour  is  coming,  in 
the  which  all  that  are  in°  the 
graves  shall  hear  his  voice,  Ver.  29. 
And  shall  come  forth  ;  they  that 
have  done  good  unto  the  resur- 
rection of  life;  and  they  that  have 
done  evil,  unto  the  resurrection 
of  damnation.  Mat.  xxv.  33. 
And  he  shall  set  the  sheep  on  his 


right  hand,  but  the  goats  on  the 
left. 

83.  y  2  Pet.  ii.  4.  For  if  God 
spared  not  the  angels  that  sinned, 
but  cast  them  down  to  hell,  and 
delivered  them  into  chains  of 
darkness,  to  be  reserved  unto 
judgment,  Jude,  Ver.  6.  And  the 
angels  which  kept  not  their  first 
estate,  but  left  their  own  habita- 
tion, he  hath  reserved  in  everlast- 
ing chains,  under  darkness,  unto 
the  judgment  of  the  great  day: 
Ver.  7.  Even  as  Sodom  and  Go- 
morrha,  and  the  cities  about  them, 
in  like  manner  giving  themselves 
over  to  fornication,  and  going  after 
strange  flesh,  are  set  forth  for  an 
example,  suffering  the  vengeance 
of  eternal  fire.  Ver.  14.  And  Enoch 
also,  the  seventh  from  Adam, 
prophesied  of  these,  saying,  Be- 
hold, the  Lord  cometh  with  ten 
thousand  of  his  saints,  Ver.  15. 
To  execute  judgment  upon  all, 
and  to  convince  all  that  are  un- 
godly among  them  of  all  their 
ungodly  deeds  which  they  have 
ungodly  committed,  and  of  all 
their  hard  speeches  which  ungodly 
sinners  have  spoken  against  him. 
Mat.  xxv.  46.  And  these  shall  go 
away  into  everlasting  punishment: 
but  the  righteous  into  life  eternal. 

2  Mat.  xxiv.  36.  But  of  that  day 
and  hour  knoweth  no  man,  no, 
not  the  angels  of  heaven,  but  my 
Father  only.  Ver.  42.  Watch  there- 


244 


The  Larger  Catechism, 


Q.  89.  What  shall  be  done  to  the  wicked  at  the  day  of  judg- 
ment ? 

A.  At  the  day  of  judgment,  the  wicked  shall  be  set  on 
Christ's  left  hand,a  and,  upon  clear  evidence,  and  full  con- 
viction of  their  own  consciences,b  shall  have  the  fearful  but 
just  sentence  of  condemnation  pronounced  against  them;c 
and  thereupon  shall  be  cast  out  from  the  favourable  pre- 
sence of  God,  and  the  glorious  fellowship  with  Christ,  his 
saints,  and  all  his  holy  angels,  into  hell,  to  be  punished 
with  unspeakable  torments,  both  of  body  and  soul,  with  the 
devil  and  his  angels  for  ever.d 

Q.  90.  What  shall  be  done  to  the  righteous  at  the  day  of 
judgment  ? 

A.  At  the  day  of  judgment,  the  righteous,  being  caught 
up  to  Christ  in  the  clouds,6  shall  be  set  on  his  right  hand, 


fore,  for  ye  know  not  what  hour 
your  Lord  doth  come.  Ver.  44. 
Therefore  be  ye  also  ready:  for 
in  such  an  hour  as  ye  think  not 
the  Son  of  man  cometh.  Luke 
xxi.  35.  For  as  a  snare  shall  it 
come  on  ail  them  that  dwell  on  the 
face  of  the  whole  earth.  Ver.  36. 
Watch  ye  therefore,  and  pray 
always  that  ye  may  be  accounted 
worthy  to  escape  all  these  things 
that  shall  come  to  pass,  and  to 
stand  before  the  Son  of  man. 

89.  a  Mat.  xxv.  33.  And  he  shall 
set  the  sheep  on  his  right  hand, 
but  the  goats  on  the  left. 

b  Rom.  ii.  15.  Which  show 
the  work  of  the  law  written  in 
their  hearts,  their  conscience  al- 
so bearing  witness,  and  their 
thoughts  the  mean  while  accus- 
ing or  else  excusing  one  another, 
Ver.  16.  In  the  day  when  God 
shall  judge  the  secrets  of  men  by 
Jesus  Christ,  according  to  my  gos- 
pel. 

c  Mat.  xxv.  41.  Then  shall  he 
say  also  unto  them  on  the  left 
hand,  Depart  from  me,  ye  cursed, 


into  everlasting  fire,  prepared  for 
the  devil  and  his  angels.  Ver.  42. 
For  I  was  a  hungered,  and  ye  gave 
me  no  meat :  I  was  thirsty,  and  ye 
gave  me  no  drink:  Ver.  43. 1  was  a 
stranger,  and  ye  took  me  not  in : 
naked,  and  ye  clothed  me  not:  sick, 
and  in  prison,  and  ye  visited  me  not. 

d  Luke  xvi.  26.  And  besides 
all  this,  between  us  and  you 
there  is  a  great  gulf  fixed :  so 
that  they  which  would  pass  from 
hence  to  you  cannot;  neither 
can  they  pass  to  us  that  would 
come  from  thence.  2  Thess.  i.  8. 
In  flaming  fire,  taking  vengeance 
on  them  that  know  not  God,  and 
that  obey  not  the  gospel  of  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ:  Ver.  9.  Who 
shall  be  punished  with  everlasting 
destruction  from  the  presence  of 
the  Lord,  and  from  the  glory  of  his 
power. 

90.  e  1  Thess.  iv.  17.  Then  we 
which  are  alive  and  remain  shall 
be  caught  up  together  with  them 
in  the  clouds,  to  meet  the  Lord 
in  the  air:  and  so  shall  we  ever  be 
with  the  Lord. 


i 


. 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


245 


and  there  openly  acknowledged  and  acquitted/  shall  join 
with  him  in  the  judging  of  reprobate  angels  and  men,8  and 
shall  be  received  into  heaven,h  where  they  shall  be  fully 
and  for  ever  freed  from  all  sin  and  misery;1  filled  with  in- 
conceivable joys,k  made  perfectly  holy  and  happy  both  in 
body  and  soul,  in  the  company  of  innumerable  saints  and 
angels,1  but  especially  in  the  immediate  vision  and  frui- 
tion of  God  the  Father,  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  of 
the  Holy  Spirit,  to  all  eternity.10  And  this  is  the  perfect 
and  full  communion,  which  the  members  of  the  invisible 
church  shall  enjoy  with  Christ  in  glory,  at  the  resurrection 
and  day  of  judgment. 


r  Mat.  xxv.  33.  And  he  shall  set 
the  sheep  on  his  right  hand,  but  the 
goats  on  the  left.  .Mat.  x.32.  Who- 
soever therefore  shall  confess  me 
before  men,  him  will  I  confess  also 
before  my  Father  which  is  in  hea- 
ven. 

E 1  Cor.  vi.  2.  Do  ye  not  know 
that  the  saints  shall  judge  the 
world?  and  if  the  world  shall  be 
judged  by  you,  are  ye  unworthy 
to  judge  the  smallest  matters] 
Ver.  3.  Know  ye  not  that  we  shall 
judge  angels'?  how  much  more 
things  that  pertain  to  this  life  ] 

h  Mat.  xxv.  34.  Then  shall  the 
King  say  unto  them  on  his  right 
hand,  Come,  ye  blessed  of  my 
Father,  inherit  the  kingdom  pre- 
pared for  you  from  the  founda- 
tion of  the  world.  Ver.  46.  And 
these  shall  go  away  into  everlast- 
ing punishment:  but  the  righteous 
into  life  eternal. 

!  Eph.  v.  27.  That  he  might 
present  it  to  himself  a  glorious 
church,  not  having  spot,  or  wrinkle, 
or  any  such  thing ;  but  that  it  should 
be  holy,  and  without  blemish. 
Rev.  xiv.  13.  And  I  heard  a  voice 
from  heaven,  saying  unto  me, 
Write,  Blessed  are  the  dead  which 
die  in  the  Lord,  from  henceforth : 
21* 


Yea,  saith  the  Spirit,  that  they 
may  rest  from  their  labours;  and 
their  works  do  follow  them. 

k  Psal.  xvi.  11.  Thou  wilt  show 
me  the  path  of  life :  in  thy  pre- 
sence is  fulness  of  joy,  at  thy 
right  hand  there  are  pleasures  for 
evermore. 

1  Heb.  xii.  22.  But  ye  are  come 
unto  mount  Zion,  and  unto  the 
city  of  the  living  God,  the  hea- 
venly Jerusalem,  and  to  an  in- 
numerable company  of  angels, 
Ver.  23.  To  the  general  assem- 
bly and  church  of  the  first-born, 
which  are  written  in  heaven, 
and  to  God  the  judge  of  all,  and 
to  the  spirits  of  just  men  made 
perfect. 

m  1  John  iii.  2.  Beloved,  now 
are  we  the  sons  of  God;  and  it 
doth  not  yet  appear  what  we  shall 
be :  but  we  know  that,  when  he 
shall  appear,  we  shall  be  like  him; 
for  we  shall  see  him  as  he  is.  1  Cor. 
xiii.  12.  For  now  we  see  through 
a  glass,  darkly;  but  then  face  to 
face :  now  I  know  in  part ;  but 
then  shall  I  know  even  as  also  I 
am  known.  1  Thess.  iv.  17.  Then 
we  which  are  alive  and  remain 
shall  be  caught  up  together  with 
them  in  the  clouds,  to  meet  the 
Lord  in  the  air ;  and  so  shall  we 


246 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


Having  seen  what  the  Scriptures  principally  teach 
us  to  believe  concerning  God,  it  follows  to  con- 
sider what  they  require  as  the  Duty  of  Man. 

Q.  9 1 .    What  is  the  duly  which  God  requirelh  of  man  ? 

A.  The  duty  which  God  requireth  of  man,  is  obedience 
to  his  revealed  will." 

Q.  92.  What  did  God  at  first  reveal  unto  man  as  the  rule 
of  his  obedience? 

A.  The  rule  of  obedience  revealed  to  Adam  in  the~estate 
of  innocence,  and  to  all  mankind  in  him,  besides  a  special 
command  not  to  eat  of  the  fruit  of  the  tree  of  the  know- 
ledge of  good  and  evil,  was  the  moral  law.0 

Q.  93.    What  is  the  moral  law? 

A.  The  moral  law  is  the  declaration  of  the  will  of  God  to 
mankind,  directing  and  binding  every  one  to  personal,  per- 


ever  be  with  the  Lord.  Ver.  18. 
Wherefore  comfort  one  another 
with  these  words. 

91.  n  Rom.  xii-  1.  I  beseech  you 
therefore,  brethren,  by  the  mer- 
cies of  God,  that  ye  present  your 
bodies  a  living  sacrifice,  holy,  ac- 
ceptable unto  God,  which  is  your 
reasonable  service.  Ver.  2.  And 
be  not  conformed  to  this  world ; 
but  be  ye  transformed  by  the  re- 
newing of  your  mind,  that  ye  may 
prove  what  is  that  good,  and  ac- 
ceptable, and  perfect  will  of  God, 
Micah  vi.  8.  He  hath  showed  thee, 
O  man,  what  is  good ;  and  what 
doth  the  Lord  require  of  thee,  but 
to  do  justly,  and  to  love  mercy, 
and  to  walk  humbly  with  thy 
Godf  1  Sam.  xv.  22.  And  Samuel 
said,  Hath  the  Lord  as  great  de- 
light in  burnt-offerings  and  sacri- 
fices, as  in  obeying  the  voice  of 
the  Lord  1  Behold,  to  obey  is  bet- 
ter than  sacrifice  ;  and  to  hearken 
than  the  fat  of  rams. 


92.  °  Gen.  i.  26.  And  God  said, 
Let  us  make  man  in  our  image, 
after  our  likeness:  and  let  them 
have  dominion  over  the  fish  of  the 
sea,  and  over  the  fowl  of  the  air, 
and  over  the  cattle,  and  over  all  the 
earth,  and  over  every  creeping 
thing  that  creepeth  upon  the  earth. 
Ver.  27.  So  God  created  man  in  his 
own  image,  in  the  image  of  God 
created  he  him  ;  male  and  female 
created  he  them.  Rom.  ii.  14.  For 
when  the  Gentiles,  which  have  not 
the  law,  do  by  nature  the  things 
contained  in  the  law,  these,  having 
not  the  law,  are  a  law  unto  them- 
selves: Ver.  15.  Which  show  the 
work  of  the  law  written  in  their 
hearts,  their  conscience  also  bear- 
ing witness,  and  their  thoughts  the 
mean  while  accusing  or  else  excus- 
ing one  another.  Rom.  x.  5.  For 
Moses  describeth  the  righteous- 
ness which  is  of  the  law,  That 
the  man  which  doeth  those  things 
shall  live  by  them.    Gen.  ii.  17. 


: 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


247 


feet,  and  perpetual  conformity  and  obedience  thereunto,  in 
the  frame  and  disposition  of  the  whole  man,  soul  and  body,* 
and  in  performance  of  all  those  duties  of  holiness  and  righ- 
teousness which  he  oweth  to  God  and  man;q  promising 
life  upon  the  fulfilling,  and  threatening  death  upon  the 
breach  of  it.r 

Q.  94.  Is  there  a?iy  use  of  the  moral  law  to  man  since  the 
fall? 

A.  Although  no  man,  since  the  fall,  can  attain  to  righ- 
teousness and  life  by  the  moral  law  ;s  yet  there  is  great  use 


But  of  the  tree  of  the  knowledge  of 
good  and  evil,  thou  shalt  not  eat  of 
it;  for  in  the  day  that  thou  eatest 
thereof  thou  shaft  surely  die. 

93.  p  Deut,  v.  1.  And  Moses 
called  all  Israel,  and  said  unto  them, 
Hear,  O  Israel,  the  statutes  and 
judgments  which  I  speak  in  your 
ears  this  day,  that  ye  may  learn 
them,  and  keep,  and  do  them. 
Ver,  2.  The  Lord  cur  God  made  a 
covenant  with  us  in  Horeb.  Ver. 
3.  The  Lord  made  not  this  cove- 
nant with  our  fathers,  but  with 
us,  even  us,  who  are  all  of  us  here 
alive  this  day.  Ver."  31.  But  as  for 
thee,  stand  thou  here  by  me,  and 
I  will  speak  unto  thee  all  the  com- 
mandments, and  the  statutes,  and 
the  judgments  which  thou  shalt 
teach  them,  that  they  may  do  them 
in  the  land  which  I  give  them  to 
possess  it.  Ver.  33.  Ye  shall  walk 
in  all  the  ways  which  the  Lord 
your  God  hath  commanded  you, 
that  ye  may  live,  and  that  it  may 
be  well  with  you,  and  that  ye  may 
prolong  your  days  in  the  land 
which  ye  shall  possess.  Luke  x. 
26.  He  said  unto  him,  What  is 
written  in  the  law?  how  readest 
thou]  Ver.  27.  And  he  answering, 
said,  Thou  shalt  love  the  Lord  thy 
God  with  all  thy  heart,  and  with 
all   thy  soul,  and   with    all    thy 


strength,  and  with  all  thy  mind  ; 
and  thy  neighbour  as  thyself. 
Gal.  iii.  10.  For  as  many  as  are  of 
the  works  of  the  law  are  under  the 
curse :  for  it  is  written,  Cursed  is 
every  one  that  continueth  not  in 
all  things  which  are  written  in 
the  book  of  the  law  to  do  them. 
1  Thess.  v.  23.  And  the  very  God 
of  peace  sanctify  you  wholly:  and 
I  pray  God  your  whole  Spirit  and 
soul  and  body  be  preserved  blame- 
less unto  the  coming  of  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ. 

i  Luke  i.  75.  In  holiness  and 
righteousness  before  him,  all  the 
clays  of  our  life.  Acts  xxiv.  16. 
And  herein  do  I  exercise  myself, 
to  have  always  a  conscience  void 
of  offence  toward  God,  and  to- 
ward men. 

r  Rom.  x.  5.  For  Moses  describ- 
eth  the  righteousness  which  is  of 
the  law,  That  the  man  which  doeth 
those  things  shall  live  by  them. 
Gal.  iii.  10.  For  as  many  as  are  of 
the  works  of  the  law  are  under 
the  curse :  for  it  is  written,  Cursed 
is  every  one  that  continueth  not  in 
all  things  which  are  written  in  the 
book  of  the  law  to  do  them.  Ver. 
12.  And  the  law  is  not  of  faith : 
but,  the  man  that  doeth  them 
shall  live  in  them. 

94.  *  Rom.  viii.  3.  For  what 


248 


The  Larger  Catechism, 


thereof,  as  well  common  to  all  men,  as  peculiar  either  to 
the  unregenerate,  or  the  regenerate.' 

Q.  95.   Of  what  use  is  the  moral  law  to  all  men? 

A.  The  moral  law  is  of  use  to  all  men,  to  inform  them 
of  the  holy  nature  and  will  of  God,v  and  of  their  duty, 
binding  them  to  walk  accordingly ; w  to  convince  them  of 
their  disability  to  keep  it,  and  of  the  sinful  pollution  of 
their  nature,  hearts,  and  lives  ;  x  to  humble  them  in  the  sense 
of  their  sin  and  misery ,y  and  thereby  help  them  to  a  clearer 


the  law  could  not  do,  in  that  it 
was  weak  through  the  flesh,  God 
sending  his  own  Son  in  the  like- 
ness of  sinful  flesh,  and  for  sin 
condemned  sin  in  the  flesh.  Gal. 
ii.  16.  Knowing  that  a  man  is  not 
justified  by  the  works  of  the  law, 
but  by  the  faith  of  Jesus  Christ, 
even  we  have  believed  in  Jesus 
Christ,  that  we  might  be  justified 
by  the  faith  of  Christ,  and  not  by 
the  works  of  the  law :  for  by  the 
works  of  the  law  shall  no  flesh  be 
justified. 

1 1  Tim.  i.  8.  But  we  know  that 
the  law  is  good,  if  a  man  use  it 
lawfully. 

95.  y  Lev.  xi.  44.  For  I  am 
the  Lord  your  God;  ye  shall 
therefore  sanctify  yourselves,  and 
ye  shall  be  holy ;  for  I  am  holy : 
neither  shall  ye  defile  yourselves 
with  any  manner  of  creeping  thing 
that  creepeth  upon  the  earth. 
Ver.  45.  For  I  am  the  Lord  that 
bringeth  you  up  out  of  the  land 
of  Egypt,  to  be  your  God :  ye 
shall  therefore  be  holy;  for  I  am 
holy.  Lev.  xx.  7.  Sanctify  your- 
selves therefore,  and  be  ye  holy; 
for  1  am  the  Lord  your  God. 
Ver.  8.  And  ye  shall  keep  my  sta- 
tutes, and  do  them:  I  am  the 
Lord  which  sanctify  you.  Rom. 
vii.  12.  Wherefore  the  law  is  holy; 
and  the  commandment  holy,  and 
just,  and  good. 


w  Micah  vi.  8.  He  hath  showed 
thee,  O  man,  what  is  good ;  and 
what  doth  the  Lord  require  of 
thee,  but  to  do  justly,  and  to  love 
mercy,  and  to  walk  numbly  with 
thy  God  }  James  ii.  10.  For  who- 
soever shall  keep  the  whole  law, 
and  yet  offend  in  one  point,  he  is 
guilty  of  all.  Ver.  11.  For  he  that 
said,  Do  not  commit  adultery, 
said  also,  Do  not  kill.  Now,  if 
thou  commit  no  adultery,  yet  if 
thou  kill,  thou  art  become  a  trans- 
gressor of  the  law. 

1  Psal.  xix.  11.  Moreover,  by 
them  is  thy  servant  warned:  and 
in  keeping  of  them  there  is  great 
reward.  Ver.  12,  Who  can  under- 
stand his  errors'?  cleanse  thou  me 
from  secret  faults.  Rom.  iii.  20. 
Therefore  by  the  deeds  of  the 
law  there  shall  no  flesh  be  jus- 
fied  in  his  sight:  for  by  the  law 
is  the  knowledge  of  sin.  Rom. 
vii.  7.  What  shall  we  say  then1? 
Is  the  law  sin  1  God  forbid.  Nay, 
I  had  not  known  sin  but  by  the 
law:  for  I  had  not  known  lust, 
except  the  law  had  said,  Thou 
shalt  not  covet. 

y  Rom.  iii.  9.  What  then?  are 
we  better  than  they  1  No,  in  no 
wise:  for  we  have  before  proved 
both  Jews  and  Gentiles,  that  they 
are  all  under  sin.  Ver.  23.  For  all 
have  sinned,  and  come  short  of 
the  glory  of  God. 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


249 


sight  of  the  need  they  have  of  Christ,2  and  of  the  perfection 
of  his  obedience.* 

Q.  96.  What  'particular  use  is  there  of  the  moral  laic  to  un- 
regenerate  men  ? 

A.  The  moral  law  is  of  use  to  unregenerate  men,  to 
awaken  their  consciences  to  flee  from  wrath  to  come,b  and 
to  drive  them  to  Christ;0  or,  upon  their  continuance  in  the 
estate  and  way  of  sin,  to  leave  them  inexcusable/  and  under 
the  curse  thereof.6 

Q.  97.  What  special  use  is  there  of  the  moral  law  to  the  re- 
generate ? 

A.  Although  they  that  are  regenerate,  and  believe  in 
Christ,  be  delivered  from  the  moral  law  as  a  f  covenant  of 


z  Gal.  iii.  21.  Is  the  law  then 
against  the  promises  of  God?  God 
forbid;  for  if  there  had  been  a  law 
given  which  could  have  given  life, 
verily  righteousness  should  have 
been  by  the  law.  Ver.  22.  But 
the  scripture  hath  concluded  all 
under  sin,  that  the  promise  by 
faith  of  Jesus  Christ  might  be  given 
to  them  that  believe. 

a  Rom.  x.  4.  For  Christ  is  the 
end  of  the  law  for  righteousness 
to  everv  one  that  believeth. 

96.  b  1  Tim.  i.  9.  Knowing 
this,  that  the  law  is  not  made  for 
a  righteous  man,  but  for  the  law- 
less and  disobedient,  for  the  ungod- 
ly and  for  sinners,  for  unholy°and 
profane,  for  murderers  of  fathers, 
and  murderers  of  mothers,  for  man- 
elayers,  Ver.  10.  For  whoremon- 
gers, for  them  that  defile  them- 
selves with  mankind,  for  men-steal- 
ers,  for  liars,  for  perjured  persons, 
and  if  there  be  any  other  thino- 
that  is  contrary  to  sound  doctrine.° 

c  Gal.  iii.  24.  Wherefore  the  law 
was  our  schoolmaster  to  bring  us 
unto  Christ,  that  we  might  be°jus- 
tified  by  faith. 

d  Rom.  i.  20.  For  the  invisible 


things  of  him  from  the  creation  of 
the  world  are  clearly  seen,  being 
understood  by  the  things  that  are 
made,  even  his  eternal  power  and 
Godhead :  so  that  they  are  without 
excuse.  Compared  with  Rom.  ii.  15. 
Which  show  the  work  of  the  law 
written  in  their  hearts,  their  con- 
science also  bearing  witness,  and 
their  thoughts  the  mean  while  ac- 
cusing or  else  excusing  one  another. 

e  Gal.  iii.  10.  For  as  many  as 
are  of  the  works  of  the  law  are 
under  the  curse :  for  it  is  written, 
Cursed  is  every  one  that  continu- 
eth  not  in  all  things  which  are 
written  in  the  book  of  the  law  to 
do  them. 

97.  fRom.  vi.  14.  For  sin  shall 
not  have  dominion  over  you  :  for 
ye  are  not  under  the  law,  but 
under  grace.  Rom.  vii.  4.  Where- 
fore, my  brethren,  ye  also  are 
become  dead  to  the  law  by  the 
body  of  Christ;  that  ye  should  be 
married  to  another,  even  to  him 
who  is  raised  from  the  dead,  that 
we  should  bring  forth  fruit  unto 
God.  Ver.  6.  But  now  we  are 
delivered  from  the  law,  that  be- 
ing dead  wherein  we  were4  held; 


250 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


works,  so  as  thereby  they  are  neither  justified6  nor  con- 
demned;11 yet,  besides  the  general  uses  thereof  common  to 
them  with  all  men,  it  is  of  special  use,  to  show  them  how 
much  they  are  bound  to  Christ  for  his  fulfilling  it,  and  en- 
during the  curse  thereof  in  their  stead,  and  for  their  good;1 
and  thereby  to  provoke  them  to  more  thankfulness,k  and  to 
express  the  same  in  their  greater  care  to  conform  them- 
selves thereunto  as  the  rule  of  their  obedience.1 


that  we  should  serve  in  newness 
of  spirit,  and  not  in  the  oldness  of 
the  letter.  Gal.  iv.  4.  But  when 
the  fulness  of  the  time  was 
come,  God  sent  forth  his  Son, 
made  of  a  woman,  made  under 
the  law,  Ver.  5.  To  redeem  them 
that  were  under  the  law,  that 
we  might  receive  the  adoption  of 
sons. 

s  Rom.  iii.  20.  Therefore  by 
the  deeds  of  the  law  there  shall 
no  flesh  be  justified  in  his  sight: 
for  by  the  law  is  the  knowledge 
of  sin. 

h  Gal.  v.  23.  Meekness,  tem- 
perance: against  such  there  is  no 
law.  Rom.  viii.  1.  There  is  there- 
fore now  no  condemnation  to  them 
which  are  in  Christ  Jesus,  who 
walk  not  after  the  flesh,  but  after 
the  Spirit. 

1  Rom.  vii.  24.  O  wretched  man 
that  I  am  !  who  shall  deliver  me 
from  the  body  of  this  death  1 
Ver.  25.  I  thank  God,  through  Je- 
sus Christ  our  Lord.  So  then 
with  the  mind  I  myself  serve  the 
law  of  God,  but  with  the  flesh 
the  law  of  sin.  Gal.  iii.  13.  Christ 
hath  redeemed  us  from  the  curse 
of  the  law,  being  made  a  curse  for 
us:  for  it  is  written,  Cursed  is 
every  one  that  hangeth  on  a  tree: 
Ver.  14.  That  the  blessing  of  Abra- 
ham might  come  on  the  Gentiles 
through  Jesus  Christ;  that  we 
might  receive  the  promise  of  the 
Spirit  through  faith.    Rom.  viii.  3. 


For  what  the  law  could  not  do,  in 
that  it  was  weak  through  the  flesh, 
God  sending  his  own  Son  in  the 
likeness  of  sinful  flesh,  and  for  sin 
condemned  sin  in  the  flesh:  Ver. 
4.  That  the  righteousness  of  the 
law  might  be  fulfilled  in  us,  who 
walk  not  after  the  flesh,  but  after 
the  Spirit. 

kLuke  i.  68.  Blessed  be  the 
Lord  God  of  Israel;  for  he  hath 
visited  and  redeemed  his  people, 
Ver.  69.  And  hath  raised  up  a 
horn  of  salvation  for  us  in  the 
house  of  his  servant  David.  Ver. 
74.  That  he  would  grant  unto  us, 
that  we,  being  delivered  out  of 
the  hands  of  our  enemies,  might 
serve  him  without  fear,  Ver.  75. 
In  holiness  and  righteousness  be- 
fore him,  all  the  days  of  our  life. 
Col.  i.  12.  Giving  thanks  unto  the 
Father,  which  hath  made  us  meet 
to  be  partakers  of  the  inheritance 
of  the  saints  in  light:  Ver.  13. 
Who  hath  delivered  us  from  the 
power  of  darkness,  and  hath  trans- 
lated us  into  the  kingdom  of  his 
dear  Son  :  Ver.  14.  In  whom  we 
have  redemption  through  his 
blood,  even  the  forgiveness  of 
sins. 

'Rom.  vii.  22.  For  I  delight 
in  the  law  of  God  after  the  in- 
ward man.  Rom.  xii.  2.  And  be 
not  conformed  to  this  world  :  but 
be  ye  transformed  by  the  renew- 
ing of  your  mind,  that  ye  may 
prove   what    is    that    good,    and 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


251 


Q.  98.  Where  is  the  moral  law  summarily  comprehend- 
ed? 

A.  The  moral  law  is  summarily  comprehended  in  the  ten 
commandments,  which  were  delivered  by  the  voice  of  God 
upon  mount  Sinai,  and  written  by  him  in  two  tables  of 
stone  ;m  and  are  recorded  in  the  twentieth  chapter  of  Exo- 
dus. The  first  four  commandments  containing  our  duty  to 
God,  and  the  other  six  our  duty  to  man." 

Q.  99.  What  rules  are  to  be  observed  for  the  right  un- 
derstanding of  the  ten  commandments  ? 

A.  For  the  ri^ht  understandino-  of  the  ten  command- 
ments,  these  rules  are  to  be  observed : 

1 .  That  the  law  is  perfect,  and  bindeth  every  one  to  full 
conformity  in  the  whole  man  unto  the  righteousness  there- 
of, and  unto  entire  obedience  for  ever ;  so  as  to  require  the 
utmost  perfection  of  every  duty,  and  to  forbid  the  least  de- 
gree of  every  sin.0 


acceptable,  and  perfect  will  of  God. 
Tit.  ii.  11.  For  the  grace  of  God 
thatbringeth  salvation  hath  appear- 
ed to  all  men,  Yer.  12.  Teaching 
us,  that,  denying  ungodliness  and 
worldly  lusts,  we  should  live  so- 
berly, righteously,  and  godly,  in 
this  present  world ;  Ver.  13.  Look- 
ing for  that  blessed  hope,  and  the 
glorious  appearing  of  the  great  God 
and  our  Saviour  Jesus  Christ ;  Ver. 
14.  Who  gave  himself  for  us,  that 
he  might  redeem  us  from  all  ini- 
quity, and  purify  unto  himself  a  pe- 
culiar people,  zealous  of  good 
works. 

93.  m  Deut.  x.  4.  And  he  wrote 
on  the  tables  according  to  the  first 
writing,  the  ten  commandments, 
which  the  Lord  spake  unto  you  in 
the  mount,  out  of  the  midst  of  the 
fire,  in  the  day  of  the  assembly;  and 
the  Lord  gave  them  unto  me.  Exod. 
xxxiv.  1.  And  the  Lord  said  unto 
Moses,  Hew  thee  two  tables  of 
stone,  like  unto  the  first ;  and  I  will 
write  upon  these  tables  the  words 


that  were  in  the  first  tables,  which 
thou  brakest.  Ver.  2.  And  be  ready 
in  the  morning,  and  come  up  in 
the  morning  unto  mount  Sinai,  and 
present  thyself  there  to  me  in  the 
top  of  the  mount.  Ver.  3.  And  no 
man  shall  come  up  with  thee,  &c. 
Ver.  4.  And  he  hewed  two  tables 
of  stone,  like  unto  the  first;  and 
Moses  rose  up  early  in  the  morn- 
ing, and  went  up  unto  mount  Si- 
nai, as  the  Lord  had  commanded 
him,  and  took  in  his  hand  the  two 
tables  of  stone. 

n  Mat  xxii.  37.  Jesus  said  unto 
him,  Thou  shalt  love  the  Lord  thy 
God  with  all  thy  heart,  and  with  all 
thy  soul,  and  with  all  thy  mind. 
Ver.  33.  This  is  the  first  and  great 
commandment.  Ver.  39.  And  the 
second  is  like  unto  it,  Thou  shalt 
love  thy  neighbour  as  thyself.  Ver. 
40.  On  these  two  commandments 
hang  all  the  law  and  the  prophets. 

99.  °  Psal.  xix.  7.  The  law  of 
the  Lord  is  perfect,  converting  the 
soul ;   the  testimony  of  the   Lord 


252 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


2.  That  it  is  spiritual,  and  so  reacheth  the  understand 
ing,  will,  affections,  and  all  other  powers  of  the  soul;  as 
well  as  words,  works,  and  gestures.1? 

3.  That  one  and  the  same  thing,  in  divers  respects,  is 
required  or  forbidden  in  several  commandments.q 


; 


is  sure,  making  wise  the  simple. 
James  ii.  10.  For  whosoever  shall 
keep  the  whole  law,  and  yet  offend 
in  one  point,  he  is  guilty  of  all. 
Mat.  v.  21,  [to  the  end.]  Ye  have 
heard  that  it  was  said  by  them  of 
old  time,  Thou  shalt  not  kill ;  and 
whosoever  shall  kill  shall  be  in 
danger  of  the  judgment:  Ver.  22. 
But  1  say  unto  you,  That  whoso- 
ever is  angry  with  his  brother 
without  a  cause,  shall  be  in  danger 
of  the  judgment:  and  whosoever 
shall  Day  to  his  brother,  Raca,  shall 
be  in  danger  of  the  council :  but 
whosoever  shall  say,  Thou  fool, 
shall  be  in  danger  of  hell-fire. — 
Ver.  27.  Ye  have  heard  that  it  was 
said  by  them  of  old  time,  Thou 
shalt  not  commit  adultery:  Ver. 
28.  But  I  say  unto  you,  That  who- 
soever looketh  on  a  woman  to  lust 
after  her,  hath  committed  adultery 
with  her  already  in  his  heart. — 
Ver.  33.  Again,  ye  have  heard  that 
it  hath  been  said  by  them  of  old 
time,  Thou  shalt  not  forswear  thy- 
self, but  shalt  perform  unto  the 
Lord  thine  oaths:  Ver.  34.  But  I 
say  unto  you,  Swear  not  at  all : 
neither  by  heaven ;  for  it  is  God's 
throne: — Ver.  37.  But  let  your 
communication  be,  Yea,  yea, 
Nay,  nay :  for  whatsoever  is  more 
than  these  cometh  of  evil,  Ver.  38. 
Ye  have  heard  that  it  hath  been 
said,  An  eye  for  an  eye,  and  a 
tooth  for  a  tooth :  Ver.  39.  But  I 
say  unto  you,  That  ye  resist  not 
evil. — Ver.  43.  Ye  have  heard  that 
it  hath  been  said,  Thou  shalt  love 
thy   neighbour,   and    hate    thine 


enemy :  Ver.  44.  But  I  say  unto  you 
you,    Love    your    enemies,    bless 
them  that  curse  you,  do  good  to 
them  that  hate  you,  and  pray  for 
them  which  despitefully  use  you, 
and  persecute  you,  &c. 
-P  Rom.  vii.   14.  For  we  know 
that  the  law  is  spiritual:  but  I  am 
carnal,  sold  under  sin.     Deut.  vi. 
5.  Thou  shalt  love  the  Lord   thy 
God  with  all  thine  heart,  and  with   * 
all  thy  soul,  and  with  all  thy  might.  | 
Compared  with  Mat.  xxii.  37.  Je-  J 
sus  said  unto  him,  Thou  shalt  love  jk 
the    Lord    thy   God  with  all  thy    I 
heart,  and  with  all  thy  soul,  and  1 
with  all  thy  mind.     Ver.  38.  This  1 
is  the  first   and   great   command- 
ment.     Ver.  39.  And  the  second  ■ 
is  like  unto  it,  Thou  shalt  love  thy  *J 
neighbour  as  thyself. 

i  Col.   iii.  5.  Mortify  therefore 
your  members  which  are  upon  the  1 
earth:  fornication,  uncleanness,  in-  * 
ordinate    affection,  evil   concupis- ■ 
cence,    and    covetousness,   which  1 
is  idolatry.     Amos  viii.  5.  Saying,  ■ 
When  will  the  new  moon  be  gone,   : 
that  we  may  sell  corn  1  and  the  | 
sabbath,   that    we    may    set  forth 
wheat,  making   the   ephah  small, 
and  the  shekel  great,  and  falsify 
ing  the  balances  by  deceit?  Prov. 
i.  19.  So  are  the  ways  of  every  one 
that  is  greedy  of  gain;  which  taketh 
away  the  life  of  the  owners  there- 
of.    1  Tim.  vi.  10.  For  the  love  of 
money   is  the  root    of  all    evil: 
which  while  some  coveted  after, 
they   have  erred  from  the  faith, 
and    pierced  themselves  through 
with  many  sorrows. 


The  Larger  Catechism.  £55 

4.  That  as,  where  a  duty  is  commanded,  the  contrary  sin 
is  forbidden;1  and,  where  a  sin  is  forbidden,  the  contrary 
duty  is  commanded:5  so,  where  a  promise  is  annexed,  the 
contrary  threatening  is  included  ; t  and,  where  a  threatening 
is  annexed,  the  contrary  promise  is  included.v 


r  Isa.  Iviii.  13.  If  thou  turn  away 
thy  foot  from  the  sabbath,  from 
doing-  thy  pleasure  on  my  holy 
day,  and  call  the  sabbath  a  delight, 
the  holy  of  the  Lord,  honourable, 
and  shalt  honour  him,  not  doing 
thine  own  ways,  nor  finding  thine 
own  pleasure,  nor  speaking  thine 
own  words.  Deut.  vi.  13.  Thou 
shalt  fear  the  Lord  thy  God,  and 
serve  him,  and  shalt  swear  by  his 
name.  Compared  with  Mat.  iv.  9. 
And  saith  unto  him,  All  these 
things  will  I  give  thee,  if  thou 
wilt  fall  down  and  worship  me. 
Ver.  10.  Then  saith  Jesus  unto 
him,  Get  thee  hence,  Satan :  for 
it  is  written,  Thou  shalt  worship 
the  Lord  thy  God,  and  him  only 
shalt  thou  serve.  Mat.  xv.  4.  For 
God  commanded,  saying,  Honour 
thy  father  and  mother:  and,  He 
that  curseth  father  or  mother,  let 
him  die  the  death.  Ver.  5.  But 
ye  say,  Whosoever  shall  say  to 
his  father  or  his  mother,  It  is  a 
gift,  by  whatsoever  thou  mightest 
be  profited  by  me;  Ver.  6.  And 
honour  not  his  father  or  his  mo- 
ther, he  shall  be  free.  Thus  have 
ye  made  the  commandment  of 
God  of  none  effect  by  your  tra- 
dition. 

•Mat,  v.  21,  22.  [See  letter0.] 
Ver.  23.  Therefore,  if  thou  bring 
thy  gift  to  the  altar,  and  there  re- 
memberest  that  thy  brother  hath 
ought  against  thee;  Ver.  24.  Leave 
there  thy  gift  before  the  altar,  and 
go  thy  way ;  first  be  reconciled 
to  thy  brother,  and  then  come  and 
offer  thy  gift.  Eph.  iv.  28.  Let 
22 


him  that  stole  steal  no  more ;  but 
rather  let  him  labour,  working 
with  his  hands  the  thing  which  is 
good,  that  he  may  have  to  give  to 
him  that  needeth. 

*  Exod.  xx.  12.  Honour  thy  fa- 
ther and  thy  mother;  that  thy 
days  may  be  long  upon  the  land 
which  the  Lord  thy  God  giveth 
thee.  Compared  with  Proiv,  xxx. 
17.  The  eye  that  mocketh  at  his 
father,  and  despiseth  to  obey  his 
mother,  the  ravens  of  the  valley 
shall  pick  it  out,  and  the  young 
eagles  shall  eat  it. 

v  Jer.  xviii.  7.  At  what  instant 
I  shall  speak  concerning  a  nation, 
and  concerning  a  kingdom,  to 
pluck  up,  and  to  pull  down,  and 
to  destroy  it:  Ver.  8.  If  that  na- 
tion, against  whom  I  have  pro- 
nounced, turn  from  their  evil,  I 
will  repent  of  the  evil  that  I 
thought  to  do  unto  them.  Exod. 
xx.  7.  Thou  shalt  not  take  the 
name  of  the  Lord  thy  God  in 
vain  ;  for  the  Lord  will  not  hold 
him  guiltless  that  taketh  his  name 
in  vain.  Compared  with  Psal.  xv. 
1.  Lord,  who  shall  abide  in  thy 
tabernacle]  who  shall  dwell  in 
thy  holy  hill  1  Ver.  4.  In  whose 
eyes  a  vile  person  is  contemned; 
but  he  honoureth  them  that  fear 
the  Lord  :  he  that  sweareth  to 
his  own  hurt,  and  changeth  not. 
Ver.  5.  He  that  putteth  not  out 
his  money  to  usury,  nor  taketh 
reward  against  the  innocent.  He 
that  doeth  these  things  shall  never 
be  moved.  And  with  Psal.  xxiv.  4. 
He  that  hath  Clean  hands,  and  a 


254 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


5.  That  what  God  forbids,  is  at  no  time  to  be  done ;  - 
what  he  commands,  is  always  our  duty ;  x  and  yet  every 
particular  duty  is  not  to  be  done  at  all  times. y 

6.  That  under  one  sin  or  duty,  all  of  the  same  kind  are 
forbidden  or  commanded ;   together  with  all  the  causes,  I 
means,  occasions,  and  appearances  thereof,  and  provoca- 
tions  thereunto.2 

7.  That  what  is  forbidden  or  commanded  to  ourselves,    : 
we  are  bound,  according  to  our  places,  to  endeavour  that  it  I 


pure  heart:  who  hath  not  lifted 
up  his  soul  unto  vanity,  nor  sworn 
deceitfully.  Ver.  5.  He  shall  re- 
ceive the  blessing  from  the  Lord, 
and  righteousness  from  the  God 
of  his  salvation. 

w  Job  xiii.  7.  Will  ye  speak 
wickedly  for  God!  and  talk 
deceitfully  for  him !  Ver.  8.  Will 
ye  accept  his  person]  will  ye 
contend  for  God!  Rom.  iii.  8. 
And  not  rather,  (as  we  be  slan- 
derously reported,  and  as  some 
affirm  that  we  say,)  Let  us  do  evil, 
that  good  m;iy  come!  whose 
damnation  is  just.  Job  xxxvi.  21. 
Take  heed,  regard  not  iniquity; 
for  this  hast  thou  chosen  rather 
than  affliction.  Heb.  xi.  25.  Choos- 
ing rather  to  suffer  affliction  with 
the  people  of  God,  than  to  en- 
joy the  pleasures  of  sin  for  a  sea- 
son. 

x  Deut.  iv.  8.  And  what  nation 
is  there  so  great,  that  hath  sta- 
tutes and  judgments  so  right- 
eous, as  all  this  law,  which  I  set 
before  you  this  day!  Ver.  9-  Only 
take  heed  to  thyself,  and  keep 
thy  soul  diligently,  lest  thou  for- 
get the  things  which  thine  eyes 
have  seen,  and  lest  they  depart 
from  thy  heart  all  the  days  of  thy 
life:  but  teach  them  thy  sons, 
and  thy  sons'  sons. 

y  Mat.  xii.  7.  But  if  ye  had 
known  what  this  meaneth,  I  will 


have  mercy  and  not  sacrifice,  ye 
would  not  have  condemned  the 
guiltless. 

2  Mat.  v.  21,  22,  27,  28.  [See 
in  letter  °  before.]  Mat.  xv.  4.  For 
God  commanded,  saying,  Ho- 
nour thy  father  and  mother;  and 
He  that  curseth  father  or  mother, 
let  him  die  the  death.  Ver.  5. 
But  ye  say,  Whosoever  shall  say 
to  his  father  or  his  mother,  It  is  a 
gift,  by  whatsoever  thou  mightes 
be  profited  by  me;  Ver.  6.  An 
honour  not  his  father  or  his  mo 
ther,  he  shall  be  free.  Thus 
have  ye  made  the  commandment 
of  God  of  none  effect  by  your 
tradition.  Heb.  x.  24.  And  let 
us  consider  one  another,  to  pro- 
voke unto  love  and  to  good 
works;  Ver.  25.  Not  forsaking  the 
assembling  of  ourselves  together, 
as  the  manner  of  some  is;  but 
exhorting  one  another;  and  so 
much  the  more,  as  ye  see  the 
day  approaching.  1  Thess.  v.  22. 
Abstain  from  all  appearance  of 
evil.  Judo,  Ver.  23.  And  others 
save  with  roar,  pulling  them  out 
of  the  fire;  hating  even  the  gar- 
ment spotted  by  the  flesh.  Gal. 
v.  -6.  Let  us  not  be  desirous  of 
vain-glory,  provoking  one  another, 
envying  one  another.  Col.  iii.  21. 
Fathers,  provoke  not  your  chil- 
dren to  anger,  lest  they  be  dis- 
couraged. 


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9,55 


may  be  avoided  or  performed  by  others,  according  to  the 
duty  of  their  places/ 

8.  That  in  what  is  commanded  to  others,  we  are  bound, 
according  to  our  places  and  callings,  to  be  helpful  to  them  ;b 
and  to  take  heed  of  partaking  with  others  in  what  is  for- 
bidden them.c 

Q.  100.  What  special  things  are  zee  to  consider  in  the  ten 
commandments  ? 

A.  We  are  to  consider,  in  the  ten  commandments,  the 
preface,  the  substance  of  the  commandments  themselves, 
and  several  reasons  annexed  to  some  of  them,  the  more  to 
enforce  them. 

Q.   101.  What  is  the  preface  to  the  ten  commandments? 

A.  The  preface  to  the  ten  commandments  is  contained  in 
these  words;  1  am  the  Lord  thy  God,  which  have  brought  thee 
out  of  the  land  of  Egypt,  out  of  the  house  of  bo?idage.A 
Wherein  God  manifesfeth  his  sovereignty,  as  being  JEHO- 
VAH, the  eternal,  immutable,  and  Almighty  God;e  having 


*  Exod.  xx.  10.  But  the  seventh 
day  is  the  sabbath  of  the  Lord  thy 
God :  in  it  thou  shalt  not  do  any 
Work,  mou,  nor  thy  son,  nor  thy 
daughter,  thy  man-servant,  nor 
thy  maid-servant,  nor  thy  cattle, 
nor  thy  stranger  that  is  within  thy 
gates.  Lev.  xix.  17.  Thou  shalt 
not  hate  thy  brother  in  thine  heart: 
thou  shalt  in  any  wise  rebuke  thy 
neighbour,  and  not  suffer  sin  upon 
him.  Gen.  xviii.  19.  For  I  know 
him,  that  he  will  command  his 
children  and  his  household  after 
him,  and  they  shall  keep  the  way 
of  the  Lord,  to  do  justice  and 
judgment:  that  the  Lord  may 
bring  upon  Abraham  that  which 
he  hath  spoken  of  him.  Josh* 
xxiv.  15.  And  if  it  seem  evil  unto 
you  to  serve  the  Lord,  choose  you 
this  day  whom  ye  will  serve; 
whether  the  gods  which  your  fa- 
thers served,  that  were  on  the 
other  side  of  the  flood,  or  the 
gods  of  the  Amorites,  in  whose 


land  ye  dwell:  but  as  for  me  and 
my  house,  we  will  serve  the  Lord. 
Deut.  vi.  6.  And  these  words, 
which  I  command  thee  this  day, 
shall  be  in  thine  heart:  Ver,  7. 
And  thou  shalt  teach  them  dili- 
gently unto  thy  children,  and  shalt 
talk  of  them  when  thou  sittest 
in  thine  house,  and  when  thou 
walkest  by  the  way,  and  when 
thou  liest  down,  and  when  thou 
risest  up. 

b  2  Cor.  i.  24,  Not  for  that  we 
have  dominion  over  your  faith, 
but  are  helpers  of  your  joy:  for 
by  faith  ye  stand. 

c  1  Tim.  v.  22.  Lay  hands  sud- 
denly on  no  man,  neither  be  par- 
taker of  other  men's  sins:  keep 
thyself  pure.  Eph.  v.  11.  And 
have  no  fellowship  with  the  un- 
fruitful works  of  darkness,  but 
rather  reprove  them. 

101.  d  Exod.  xx.  2,. 

e  Isa.  xliv.  6.  Thus  saith  the 
Lord,  the  King  of  Israel,  and  his 


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his  being  in  and  of  himself/  and  giving  being  to  all  his 
words5  and  works:11  and  that  he  is  a  God  in  covenant,  as 
with  Israel  of  old,  so  with  all  his  people;*  who,  as  he 
brought  them  out  of  their  bondage  in  Egypt,  so  he  deli- 
vereth  us  from  our  spiritual  thraldom ; k  and  that  therefore 
we  are  bound  to  take  him  for  our  God  alone,  and  to  keep 
all  his  commandments.1 

Q.  102.  What  is  the  sum,  of  the  four  commandments 
which  contain  our  duly  to  God?x 

JJ.  The  sum  of  the  four  commandments  containing  our 
duty  to  God,  is,  to   love  the   Lord  our  God  with   all  our 


Redeemer,  the  Lord  of  hosts,  I 
am  the  first,  and  I  am  the  last, 
and  besides  me  there  is  no  god. 

f  Exod.  iii.  14.  And  God  said 
unto  Moses,  I  AM  THAT 
I  AM:  and  he  said,  Thus  shalt 
thou  say  unto  the  children  of 
Israel,  1  AM  hath  sent  me  unto 
you. 

5  Exod.  vi.  3.  And  I  appeared 
unto  Abraham,  unto  Isaac,  and 
unto  Jacob,  by  the  name  of  God 
Almighty,  but  by  my  name  JE- 
HOVAH was  I  not  known  to 
them. 

h  Acts  xvii.  24.  God,  that  made 
the  world,  and  all  things  therein, 
seeing  that  he  is  Lord  of  hea- 
ven and  earth,  dwelleth  not  in 
temples  made  with  hands:  Ver. 
28.  For  in  him  we  live,  and  move, 
and  have  our  being;  as  cer- 
tain also  of  your  own  poets  have 
said,  For  we  are  also  his  off- 
spring. 

1  Gen.  xvii.  7.  And  I  will 
establish  my  covenant  between 
me  and  thee,  and  thy  seed  after 
thee,  in  their  generations,  for 
an  everlasting  covenant;  to  be 
a  God  unto  thee,  and  to  thy 
seed  after  thee.  Compared  with 
Rom.  iii.  29.  Is  he  the  God  of 
the  Jews  only!     is   he  not  also 


of   the    Gentiles!      Yes,    of    the 
Gentiles  als  >. 

k  Luke  i.  74.  That  he  would 
grant  unto  us,  that  we,  being  de- 
livered out  of  the  hands  of  our 
enemies,  rninht  serve  him  without 
fear,  Ver.  75.  In  holiness  and  right- 
eousness before  him,  all  the  days 
of  our  life., 

1  1  Pet.  i.  15.  But  as  he  which 
hath  called  you  is  holy,  so  be  ye 
holy  in  all  manner  of  conversation  ;. 
Ver.  16.  Because  it  is  written,  Be 
ye  holy,  for  I  am  holy.  Ver.  17. 
And  if  ye  call  on  the  Father,  who 
without  respect  of  persons  judgeth 
according  to  every  man's  work, 
pass  the  time  of  your  sojourning 
here  in  fear.  Ver.  18.  Forasmuch 
as  ye  know  that  ye  were  not  re- 
deemed with  corruptible  things, 
as  silver  and  gold,  from  your  vain 
conversation  received  by  tradition 
from  ynur  fathers.  Lev.  xviii.  i30. 
Therefore  shall  ye  keep  mine  ordi- 
nance, that  ye  commit  not  any  one 
of  these  abominable  customs, 
which  were  committed  before  you, 
and  that  ye  defile  not  yourselves 
therein:  I  am  the  Lord  your  God. 
Lev.  xix.  37.  Therefore  shall  ye 
observe  all  my  statutes,  and  all 
my  judgments,  and  do  them:  I 
ai>]  the  Lord, 


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257 


heart,  and  with  all  our  soul,  and  with  all  our  strength,  and 
with  all  our  mind.m 

Q.  103.    Which  is  the  first  commandment? 

Ji.  The  first  commandment  is,  Thou  shalt  have  no  other 
gods  before  me?  n 

Q.  104.  What  are  the  duties  required  in  the  first  com- 
mandment ? 

Ji.  The  duties  required  in  the  first  commandment  are, 
the  knowing  and  acknowledging  of  God  to  be  the  only  true 
God,  and  our  God  ;  °  and  to  worship  and  glorify  him  accord- 
ingly,*   by   thinking,*1    meditating/   remembering,5    highly 


102.  m  Luke  x.  27.  And  he 
answering,  said,  Thou  shalt  love 
the  Lord  thy.  God  with  all  thy 
heart,  and  with  all  thy  soul,  and 
with  all  thy  strength,  and  with 
all  thy  mind;  and  thy  neighbour 
as  thyself. 

103.  n  Exod.  xx.  3. 

104.  °  1  Chron.  xxviii.  9.  And 
thou,  Solomon  my  son,  know  thou 
the  God  of  thy  father,  and  serve 
him  with  a  perfect  heart  and  with 
a  willing  mind:  for  the  Lord 
searcheth  all  hearts,  and  under- 
standeth  all  the  imaginations  of 
the  thoughts:  if  thou  seek  him, 
he  will  be  found  of  thee ;  but  if 
thou  forsake  him,  he  will  cast 
thee  off  for  ever.  Deut.  xxvi.  17. 
Thou  hast  avouched  the  Lord  this 
day  to  be  thy  God,  and  to  walk 
in  his  ways,  and  to  keep  his  sta- 
tutes, and  his  commandments, 
and  his  judgments,  and  to  hear- 
ken unto  his  voice.  Isa.  xliii.  10. 
Ye  are  my  witnesses,  saith  the 
Lord,  and  my  servant  whom  I 
have  chosen;  that  ye  may  know 
and  believe  me,  and  understand 
that  I  am  he :  before  me  there 
was  no  god  formed,  neither  shall 
there  be  after  me.  Jer,  xiv.  22. 
Are  there  any  among  the  vanities 
of  the  Gentiles  that  can  cause 
rain?    or   can  the   heavens    give 

22* 


showers  ?  Art  not  thou  he,  O  Lord 
our  God?  therefore  we  will  wait 
upon  thee ;  for  thou  hast  made 
all  these  things. 

p  Psal.  xcv.  6.  O  come,  let  us 
worship  and  bow  down;  let  us 
kneel  before  the  Lord  our  Maker. 
Ver.  7.  For  he  is  our  God,  and  we 
are  the  people  of  his  pasture,  and 
the  sheep  of  his  hand.  Mat.  iv. 
10.  Then  saith  Jesus  unto  him, 
Get  thee  hence,  Satan  :  for  it  is 
written,  Thou  shalt  worship  the 
Lord  thy  God,  and  him  only  shalt 
thou  serve.  Psal.  xxix.  2.  Give 
unto  the  Lord  the  glory  due  unto 
his  name;  worship  the  Lord  in 
the  beauty  of  holiness. 

i  Mai.  iii.  16.  Then  they  that 
feared  the  Lord  spake  often  one 
to  another,  and  the  Lord  hear- 
kened and  heard  it;  and  a  book 
of  remembrance  was  written  be- 
fore him  for  them  that  feared 
the  Lord,  and  that  thought  upon 
his-name. 

r  Psal.  lxiii.  6.  When  I  remem- 
ber thee  upon  my  bed,  and  medi- 
tate on  thee  in  the  night-watches. 

s  Eccl.  mi.  L  Remember  now 
thy  Creator  in  the  days  of  thy 
youth4,  while  the  evil  days  come 
not,  nor  the  years  draw  nigh, 
when  thou  shalt  say,  I  have  no> 
pleasure  in  them.. 


258 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


esteeming,*  honouring,'  adoring,*  choosing,x  loving,7  de- 
siring,2 fearing  of  him;a  believing  him  ;b  trusting,0  hoping,d 
delighting,6  rejoicing  in  him;f  being  zealous  for  him;g  call- 
ing upon  him,  giving  all  praise  and  thanks,h  and  yielding 
all  obedience  and  submission  to  him  with  the  whole  man  j.1 


1  Psal.  Ixxi.  19.  Thy  righteous- 
ness also,  O  God,  is  very  high, 
who  hast  done  great  things:  O 
God,  who  is  like  unto  thee? 

v  Mai.  i.  6.  A  son  honoureth  his 
father,  and  a  servant  his  master: 
if  then  I  be  a  father,  where  is  mine 
honour'?  and  if  I  be  a  master, 
where  is  my  fear?  saith  the  Lord 
of  hosts  unto  you,  O  priests,  that 
despise  my  name. 

w  Isa.  xlv.  23.  I  have  sworn.,  by 
myself,  the  word  is  gone  out  of  my 
mouth  in  righteousness,  and  shall 
not  return,  That  unto  me  every 
knee  shall  bow,  every  tongue  shall 
swear. 

x  Josh.  xxiv.  15.  And  if  it  seem 
evil  unto  you  to  serve  the  Lord, 
choose  you  this  day  whom  ye  will 
serve;  whether  the  gods  which 
your  fathers  served,  that  were  on 
the  other  side  of  the  flood,  or  the 
gods  of  the  Amorites,  in  whose 
land  ye  dwell:  but  as  fijr  me  and 
my  house,  we  will  serve  the  Lord. 
Ver.  22.  And  Joshua  said  unto  the 
people,  Ye  are  witnesses  against 
yourselves,  that  ye  have  chosen 
you  the  Lord,  to  serve  him.  And 
they  said,  We  are  witnesses. 

7  Deut.  vi.  5.  And  thou  slialt 
love  the  Lord  thy  God  with  all 
thine  heart,  and  with  all  thy  soul, 
and  with  all  thy  might. 

*  Psal.  Ixxiii.  25.  Whom  have  I 
in  heaven  but  the;]  and  there  is 
nor.e  upon  earth  that  I  desire  be- 
sides thee. 

aIsa.  viii.  13.  Sanctify  the  Lord 
of  hosts  himself,  and  let  him.be  your 
fear,  and  let  him  be  your  dread. 


b  Exod.  xiv.  31.  And  Israel  saw 
that  great  work  which  the  Lord 
did  upon  the  Egyptians:  and  the 
people  feared  the  Lord,  and  be- 
lieved the  Lord,  and  his  servant 
Moses. 

c  Isa.  xxvi.  4.  Trust  ye  in  the 
Lord  for  ever :  for  in  the  Lord  JE- 
HOVAH is  everlasting  strength. 

d  Psal.  exxx.  7.  Let  Israel  hope 
in  the  Lord:  for  with  the  Lord 
there  is  mercy,  and  with  him  is 
plenteous  redemption. 

e  Psal.  xxxvii.  4.  Delight  thyself 
also  in  the  Lord,  and  he  shall  give 
thee  the  desires  of  thine  heart. 

f  Psal.  xxxii.  11.  Be  glad  in  the 
Lord,  and  rejoice,  ye  righteous; 
and  shout  for  joy,  all  ye  that  are 
upright  in  heart. 

s  Rom.  xii.  11.  Not  slothful 
in  business;  fervent  in  spirit; 
serving  the  Lord.  Compared  with 
Num.  xxv.  11.  Phinehas,  the  sou 
of  Eleazar,  the  son  of  Aaron, 
the  priest,  hath  turned  my  wrath 
away  from  the  children  of  Israel, 
(while  he  was  zealous  for  my 
sake  among  them.)  that  I  con- 
sumed not  the  children  of  Israel 
in  my  jealousy. 

h  Phil.  iv.  6.  Be  careful  for 
nothing:  but  in  every  thing  by 
prayer  and  supplication,  with 
thanksgiving,  let  your  requests 
be  made  known  unto  God. 

1  Jer.  vii.  23.  But  this  thing 
commanded  I  them,  saying,  Obey 
my  voice,  and  I  will  be  your 
God,  and  ye  shall  be  my  people: 
and  walk  ye  in  all  the  ways  that 
I   have   commanded  you,  that   it 


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$59 


being  careful  in  all  things  to  please  him,*  and  sorrowful 
when  in  any  thing  he  is  offended ; '  and  walking  humbly 
with  him.m 

Q.  105.  What  are  the  sins  forbidden  in  the  first  com- 
mandment'? 

A.  The  sins  forbidden  in  the  first  commandment  are, 
Atheism,  in  denying  or  not  having  a  God;n  Idolatry,  in 
having  or  worshipping  more  gods  than  one,  or  any  with  or 
instead  of  the  true  God;0  the  not  having  and  avouching 
him  for  God,  and  our  God ;  *  the  omission  or  neglect  of 
any  thing  due  to  him,  required  in  this  commandment  ;q  ig- 


may  be  well  unto  you.  James 
iv.  7.  Submit  yourselves  therefore 
to  God;  resist  the  devil,  and  he  will 
flee  from  you. 

k  1  John  iii.  22.  And  whatsoever 
we  ask,  we  receive  of  him,  because 
wc  keep  his  commandments,  and 
do  those  things  that  are  pleasing 
in  his  sight. 

1  Jer.  xxxi.  18.  1  have  surely 
heard  Ephraim  bemoaning  him- 
self thus,  Thou  hast  chastised  me, 
and  I  was  chastised,  as  a  bullock 
unaccustomed  to  the  yoke:  turn 
thou  me,  and  I  shall  be  turned ; 
for  thou  art  the  Lord  my  God. 
Psal.  cxix.  136.  Rivers  of  waters 
run  down  mine  eyes;  because  they 
keep  not  thy  law. 

m  Micali  vi.  8.  He  hath  showed 
thee,  O  man,  what  is  good ;  and 
what  doth  the  Lord  require  of  thee, 
but  to  do  justly,  and  to  love  mercy, 
and  to  walk  humbly  with  thy  God  1 

105.  n  Psal.  xiv.  1.  The  fool  hath 
said  in  his  heart,  There  is  no  God  : 
they  are  corrupt,  they  have  done 
abominable  works,  there  is  none 
that  doeth  good.  Eph.  ii.  12. 
That  at  that  time  ye  were  without 
Christ,  being  aliens  from  the  com- 
monwealth of  Israel,  and  strangers 
from  the  covenants  of  promise, 
having  no  hope,  and  without  God 
in  the  world. 


0  Jer.  ii.  27.  Saying  to  a  stock, 
Thou  art  my  father;  and  to  a  stone, 
Thou  hast  brought  me  forth:  for 
they  have  turned  their  back  unto 
me,  and  not  their  face:  but  in  the 
time  of  their  trouble  they  will  say, 
Arise,  and  save  us.  Ver.  28.  But 
where  are  thy  gods  that  thou  hast 
made  thee?  let  them  arise,  if  they 
can  save  thee  in  the  time  of  thy 
trouble:  for  according  to  the  number 
of  thy  cities  are  thy  gods,  O  Judah ! 
Compared  with  1  Thess.  i.  9.  For 
they  themselves  show  of  us  what 
manner  of  entering  in  we  had  un- 
to you,  and  how  ye  turned  to  God 
from  idols,  to  serve  the  living  and 
true  God. 

p  Psal.  Ixxxi.  11.  But  my  people 
would  not  hearken  to  my  voice; 
and  Israel  would  none  of  me. 

i  Isa.  xliii.  22.  But.  thou  hast  not 
called  upon  me,  O  Jacob;  but  thou 
hast  been  weary  of  me,  O  Israel. 
Ver.  23.  Thou  hast  not  bought  me 
the  small  cattle  of  thy  burnt-offer- 
ings, neither  hast  thou  honoured 
me  with  thy  sacrifices.  I  have  not 
caused  thee  to  serve  with  an  offer- 
ing, nor  wearied  thee  with  incense. 
Ver.  24.  Thou  hast  bought  me  no 
sweet  cane  with  money,  neither 
hast  thou  filled  me  with  the  fat 
of  thy  sacrifices:  but  thou  hast 
made  me  to  serve  with  thy  sins, 


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norance,'  forgetfulness,8  misapprehensions,1  false  opinions/ 
unworthy  and  wicked  thoughts  of  him;w  bold  and  curious 
searching  into  his  secrets  ;x  all  profaneness,y  hatred  of  God; 7 
self-love/1  self-seeking,b  and  all  other  inordinate  and  im- 
moderate setting  of  our  mind,  will,  or  affections  upon  other 
things,  and  taking  them  off  from  him  in  whole  or  in  part ; c 


thou  hast  wearied  me  with  thine 
iniquities. 

r  Jer.  iv.  22.  For  my  people  is 
foolish,  they  have  not  known  rne; 
they  are  sottish  children,  and  they 
have  none  understanding:  they 
are  wise  to  do  evil,  but  to  do 
good  they  have  no  knowledge. 
Hos.  iv.  1.  Hear  the  word  of  the 
Lord,  ye  children  of  Israel:  for 
the  Lord  hath  a  controversy  with 
the  inhabitants  of  the  land,  be- 
cause there  is  no  truth,  nor  mercy, 
nor  knowledge  of  God  in  the  land. 
Ver.  6.  My  people  are  destroyed 
for  lack  of  knowledge:  because 
thou  hast  rejected  knowledge,  I 
also  will  reject  thee,  that  thou  shalt 
be  no  priest  to  me;  seeing  thou 
hast  forgotten  the  law  of  thy  God, 
I  will  also  forget  thy  children. 

s  Jer.  ii.  32.  Can  a  maid  forget 
her  ornaments,  or  a  bride  her  at- 
tire? yet  my  people  have  forgotten 
me  days  without  number. 

*  Acts  xvii.  23.  For  as  I  passed 
by,  and  beheld  your  devotions,  I 
found  an  altar  with  this  inscrip- 
tion, TO  THE  UNKNOWN 
GOD.  Whom  therefore  ye  ig- 
norantly  worship,  him  declare  I 
unto  you.  Ver.  29.  Forasmuch 
then  as  we  are  the  offspring  of 
God,  we  ought  not  to  think  that 
the  Godhead  is  like  unto  gold,  or 
silver  or  stone,  graven  by  art  and 
man's  device. 

v  Isa.  xl.  18.  To  whom  then  will 
yc  liken  God?  or  what  likeness 
will  ye  compare  unto  him? 

w  Psal.  1.  21.  These  things  hast 


thou   done,   and    I    kept   silence:, 
thou    thoughtest    that   I    was   al- 
together such   a    one   as  thyself;, 
but  I  will   reprove  thee,  and  set 
them  in  order  before  thino  eyes. 

*  Deut.  xxix.  29.  The  secret 
things  belong  unto  the  Lord  our 
God;  but  those  things  which, 
are  revealed  belong  unto  us,  and 
to  our  children  for  ever,  that  we 
may  do  all  the  words  of  this  law. 

y  Tit.  i.  16.  They  profess  that, 
they  know  God;  but  in  works  they 
deny  him,  being  abominable,  and 
disobedient,  and  unto  every  good 
work  reprobate.  Heb.  xii.  16. 
Lest  there  be  any  fornicator,  or  pro- 
fane person,  as  Esau,  who  for  one 
morsel  of  meat  sold  his  birthright.. 

z  Rom.  i.  30.  Backbiters,  ha- 
ters of  God,  despiteful,  proud,, 
boasters. — 

a  2  Tim.  iii.  2     For  men  shall 
be  lovers  of  their  ownselves,  co- 
vetous,   boasters,    proud,    blasphe- 
mers, disobedient  to  parents,  un-  \ 
thankful,  unholy. 

h  Phil,  ii.  21.  For  all  seek  their 
own,  not  the  things  which  are 
Jesus  Christ's. 

c  1  John  ii.  15.  Love  not  the 
world,  neither  the  things  that 
are  in  the  world.  If  any  man 
love  the  world,  the  love  of  the 
Father  is  not  in  him.  Ver.  16. 
For  all  that  is  in  the  world,  the 
lust  of  the  flesh,  and  the  lust  of 
the  eyes,  and  the  pride  of  life,  is 
not  of  the  Father,  but  is  of  the 
world.  1  Sam.  ii.  29.  Where- 
fore kick  ye  at  my  sacrifice,  and 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


261 


vain  credulity,6  unbelief,6  heresy/  misbelief,5  distrust,11 
despair:'  incorrigibleness,k  and  insensibleness  under  judg- 
ments,1 hardness  of  heart,m  pride,n  presumption,0  carnal 
security ,p  tempting  of  God;kq  using  unlawful  means/ and 


at  mine  offering  which  I  have 
commanded  in  my  habitation, 
and  honourest  thy  sons  above  me, 
to  make  yourselves  fat  with  the 
chiefest  of  all  the  offerings  of 
Israel  my  people?  Col.  iii.  2.  Set 
your  affection  on  things  above, 
not  on  tlnmrs  on  the  earth.  Ver.  5. 
Mortify  therefore  your  mem- 
bers which  are  upon  the  earth; 
fornication,  uneleanness,  inor- 
dinate affection,  evil  concupis- 
cence, and  covetousness,  which  is 
idolatry. 

d  1  John  iv.  1.  Beloved,  believe 
not  every  spirit,  but  try  the  spi- 
rits whether  they  are  of  God  ;  be- 
cause many  false  prophets  are 
gone  out  into  the  world. 

•  Heb.  iii.  12.  Take  heed,  bre- 
thren, lest  there  be  in  any  of  you 
an  evil  heart  of  unbelief,  in  de- 
parting from  the  living  God. 

r  Gal.  v.  20.  Idolatry,  witch- 
craft, hatred,  variance,  emula- 
tions, wrath,  strife,  seditions,  he- 
resies. Tit.  iii.  10.  A  man  that 
is  a  heretic,  after  the  first  and 
second  admonition,  reject. 

?  Acts  xxv i  9.  I  verily  thought 
with  myself,  that  I  ought  to  do 
many  things  contrary  to  the  name 
of  Jesus  of  Nazareth. 

h  Psal.  lxxviii.  22.  Because  they 
believed  not  in  God,  and  trusted 
not  in  his  salvation. 

1  Gen.  iv.  13.  And  Cain  said 
unto  the  Lord,  My  punishment 
is  greater  than  I  can  benr. 

k  Jer.    v.    3.    O    Lord,  are    not 

thine  eyes  upon  the  truth?    Thou 

hast  stricken  them,  but  they  have 

grieved;   thou  hast  consumed 


them,  but  they  have  refused  to 
receive  correction :  they  have 
made  their  faces  harder  than  a 
rock,  they  have  refused  to  re- 
turn. 

1  Isa.  xlii.  25.  Therefore  he  hath 
poured  upon  him  the  fury  of  his 
anger,  and  the  strength  of  battle: 
and  it  hath  set  him  on  fire  round 
about,  yet  he  knew  not;  and  it 
burned  him,  yet  he  laid  it  not  to 
heart. 

m  Rom.  ii.  5.  But  after  thy 
hardness  and  impenitent  heart, 
treasurest  up  unto  thyself  wrath 
against  the  day  of  wrath,  and  re- 
velation of  the  righteous  judgment 
of  God. 

n  Jer.  xiii.  15.  Hear  ye,  and  give 
ear,  be  not  proud :  for  the  Lord 
hath  spoken. 

0  Psal.  xix.  13.  Keep  back  thy 
servant  also  from  presumptuous 
sins;  let  them  not  have  dominion 
over  me:  then  shall  I  be  upright, 
and  I  shall  be  innocent  from  the 
great  transgression. 

p  Zoph.  i.  12.  And  it  shall  come 
to  pass  at  that  time,  that  I  will 
search  Jerusalem  with  candles,  and 
punish  the  men  that  are  settled  on. 
their  lees;  that  say  in  their  heart, 
The  Lord  will  not  do  good,  neither 
will  he  do  evil. 

i  Mat.  iv.  7.  Jesus  said  unto 
him,  It  is  written  again,  Thou 
shalt  not  tempt  the  Lord  thy 
God. 

r  Rom.  iii.  8.  And  not  rather, 
(as  we  be  slanderously  reported, 
and  as  some  affirm  that  we  say,) 
Let  us  do  evil,  that  good  may 
come7    whose  damnation   is  just, 


262 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


trusting  in  lawful  means;8  carnal  delights  and  joys;1  cor- 
rupt, blind,  and  indiscreet  zeal; v  lukewarmness,w  and  dead- 
ness  in  the  things  of  God ; x  estranging  ourselves,  and  apos- 
tatizing from  God  ;  y  praying,  or  giving  any  religious  wor- 
ship, to  saints,  angels,  or  any  other  creatures  ;z  all  com- 


s  Jer.  xvii.  5.  Thus  saith  the 
Lord,  Cursed  be  the  man  that 
trusteth  in  man,  and  maketh  flesh 
his  arm,  and  whose  heart  depart- 
eth  from  the  Lord. 

1  2  Tim.  iii.  4.  Traitors,  heady, 
high-minded,  lovers  of  pleasure 
more  than  lovers  of  God. 

Y  GaJ.  iv.  17.  They  zealously 
affect    you,    but    not    well;    yea, 


estranged  from  me  through  their 
idols.  Isa.  i.  4.  Ah,  sinful  nation,! 
a  people  laden  with  iniquity,  a 
seed  of  evil  doers,  children  that 
are  corrupters:  they  have  for- 
saken the  Lord,  they  have  pro- 
voked the  Holy  One  of  Israel  un- 
to anger,  they  are  gone  away 
backward!  Ver.  5.  Why  should  ye 
be  stricken  any  more?  ye  will  re 


they  would  exclude  you,  that  ye     volt  more  and  more:    the  whole 


might  affect  them.  John  xvi.  2. 
They  shall  put  you  out  of  the  sy- 
nagogues: yea,  the  time  cometh, 
that  whosoever  killeth  you  will 
think  that  he  doeth  God  service. 
Rom.  x.  2.  For  I  bear  them  re- 
cord, that  they  have  a  zeal  of 
God,  but  not  according  to  know- 
ledge. Luke  ix.  54.  And  when 
riis  disciples  James  and  John 
saw  this,  they  said,  Lord,  wilt 
thou  that  we  command  fire  to 
come  down  from  heaven,  and 
consume  them,  even  as  Elias 
did?  Ver.  55-  But  he  turned,  and 
rebuked  them,  r.nd  said,  Ye  know 
not  what  manner  of  spirit  ye  are  of. 

w  Rev.  iii.  16.  So  then,  because 
thou  art  lukewarm,  and  neither 
cold  nor  hot,  I  will  spew  thee  out 
of  my  mouth. 

x  Rev.  iii.  1.  And  unto  the  angel 
of  the  church  in  Sardis  write, 
These  things,  saith  he  that  hath 
the  seven  Spirits  of  God,  and  the 
seven  stars ;  I  know  thy  works, 
that  thou  hast  a  name  that  thou 
livest,  and  art  dead. 

>•  Ezek.  xiv.  5.  That  I  may 
take  the  house  of  Israel  in  their 
own  heart,   because  they  are  all 


head  is  sick,  and  the  whole  heart 
faint. 

z  Rom.   x.   13.    For  whosoever 
shall  call  upon  the  name  of  the 
Lord,  shall  be   saved.      Ver.    14. 
How  then  shall  they  call  on  himj 
in  whom  they  have  not  believed? 
and  how  shall  they  believe  in  him   I 
cf  whom   they   have   not   heard  I. 
and  how  shall  they  hear  without 
a  preacher?     Hosea  iv.   12.    My  1 
people  ask  counsel  at  their  stocks,  3 
a  nd  their  staff  declareth  unto  them :  a 
for  the  spirit  of  whoredoms  hath  1J 
caused  them  to  err,  and  they  have  1 
gone  a  whoring  from  under  their  '* 
God.     Acts  x.  25.    And  as  Peter  $ 
was  coming  in,  Cornelius  met  him,  * 
and  fell  down  at  his  feet,  and  wor-  l 
shipped  him,    Ver.  26.   But  Peter  4 
took  him  up,  saying,  Stand  up,  I J 
myself  also  am  a  man.     Rev.  xix.  <!j 
10.  And  I  fell  at  his  feet  to  worship 
him  :  and  he  said  unto  me,  See  thou 
do  it  not;  I  am  thy  fellow-servant, 
and  of  thy  brethren  that  have  the 
testimony  of  Jesus :   worship  God; 
for  the  testimony  of  Jesus  is  the 
spirit  of  prophecy.     Mat.   iv.  10. 
Then  saith  Jesus  unto  him,  Get  thee 
hence,  Satan ;  for  it  is  written,  Tho 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


26i 


science 


ts  and  consulting  with  the  devil,3  and  hearkening  to  his 
Tsestions ; b  making  men  the  lords  of  our  faith  and  con- 
slighting  and  despising  God  and  his  commands ; d 
listing  and  grieving  of  his  Spirit,6  discontent  and  impa- 
ence  at  his  dispensations,  charging  him  foolishly  for  the  evils 
3  inflicts  on  us ; f  and  ascribing  the  praise  of  any  good  we 


shalt  worship  the  Lord  thy  God, 
and  him  only  shalt  thou  serve. 
Col.  ii.  18.  Let  no  man  beguile 
you  of  your  reward,  in  a  voluntary 
humility,  and  worshipping  of  an- 
gels, intruding  into  those  things 
which  he  hath  not  seen,  vainly 
puffed  up  by  his  fleshly  mind. 
Rom.  i.  25.  *  Who  changed  the 
truth  of  God  into  a  lie,  and  wor- 
shipped and  served  the  creature 
more  than  the  Creator,  who  is 
blessed  for  ever.     Amen. 

»  Lev.  xx.  6.  And  the  soul  that 
turneth  after  such  as  have  familiar 
spirits,   and   after  wizards,  to   go 
a  whoring  after  them,  I  will  even 
Bet  my  face  against  that  soul,  and 
will  cut   him  off  from  among  his 
people.     1  Sam.  xxviii.  7.  Then 
said  Saul  unto  his  servants,  Seek 
me  a  woman  that  hath  a  familiar 
spirit,  that  I  may  go  to  her,  and 
inquire  of  her.     And  his  servants 
said   to  him,  Behold,    there    is    a 
woman  that  hath   a  familiar  spi- 
rit at  En-dor.     Ver.  11.  Then  said 
the  woman,   Whom   shall  I   bring 
up  unto  thee  1    And  he  said,  Bring 
me  up  Samuel.     Compared  with 
1  Chron.  x.  13.  So  Saul  died  for 
his  transgression   which   he  com- 
mitted   against    the    Lord,    even 
against  the    word    of    the    Lord, 
which  he  kept  not,  and  also  for 
asking  counsel  of  one  that  bad  a 
familiar   spirit,    to   inquire   of  it; 
Ver.  14.  And  inquired  not  of  the 
Lord:  therefore  he  slew  nun,  and 
turned  the  kingdom  unto  David  the 
Eon  of  Jesse. 


b  Acts  v.  3.  But  Peter  said, 
Ananias,  why  hath  Satan  filled 
thine  heart  to  lie  to  the  Holy 
Ghost,  and'to  keep  back  part  of  the 
price  of  the  land  ] 

c  2  Cor.  i.  24.  Not  for  that  we 
have  dominion  over  your  faith, 
but  are  helpers  of  your  joy:  for 
by  faith  ye  stand.  Mat.  xxiii.  9. 
And  call  no  man  your  father  up- 
on the  earth:  tor  one  is  your 
Father  which  is  heaven. 

d  Deut.    xxxii.    15.  But  Jeshu- 
run  waxed  fat,  and   kicked:  thou 
art   waxen   fat,   thou    art    grown 
thick,  thou  art  covered  with   fat- 
ness; then   he  forsook  God  which 
made  him,  and  lightly  esteemed 
the  Rock  of  his  salvation.     2  Sam. 
xii.  9.    W'herefore   hast  thou   de- 
spised the   commandment  of  the 
Lord,  to   do    evil    in    his    sight? 
thou  hast  killed  Uriah  the  Hittite 
with  the  sword,  and  hast  taken  his 
wife  to  be  thy  wife,  and  hast  slain 
him  with  the  sword  of  the  children 
of  Ammon.     Prov.  xiii.  13-  Whoso 
despiseth   the   word   shall   be   de- 
stroyed; but  he  that  feareth  the 
commandment  shall  be  rewarded. 
e  Acts  vii.  51.  Ye    stiff-necked 
and   uncircumcised  in   heart   and 
ears,  ye  do  always  resist  the  Holy 
Ghost:   as  your  fathers  did,  so  do 
ye.     Eph.  iv.  30.     And  grieve  not 
the  Holy  Spirit  of  God,  whereby 
ye  are  sealed  unto  the  day  of  re- 
demption. 

f  Psal.  Ixxiii.  2.  But  as  for  me, 
my  feet  were  almost  gone;  my 
steps  had  well  nigh  slipped.  Ver.  3. 


2'64 


Tlie  Larger  Catechism. 


either  are,  have,  or  can  do,  to  fortune,6  idols,h  ourselves,1 
or  any  other  creature. k 

Q.  106.  What  are  we  especially  taught  by  these  zvords  [before 
me]  in  the  first  commandment? 

Ji.  These  words  [before  me,]  or  before  my  face,  in  the  first 
commandment,  teach  us,  that  God,  who  seeth  all  things, 
taketh  special  notice  of,  and  is  much  displeased  with,  the 
sin  of  having  any  other  God  :  that  so  it  may  be  an  argument 
to  dissuade  from  it,  and  to  aggravate  it  as  a  most  ^mpu- 


For  I  was  envious  at  the  .foolish, 
when  I  saw  the  prosperity  of  the 
wicked.  Ver.  13.  Verily  I  have 
cleansed  my  heart  in  vain,  and 
washed  my  hands  in  innocency. 
Ver.  14.  For  all  the  day  long  have  1 
been  plagued,  and  chastened  every 
morning.  Ver.  15.  If  I  say,  I  will 
speak  thus,  behold  I  should  offend 
against  the  generation  of  thy  chil- 
dren. Ver. 22.  So  foolish  was  I,  and 
ignorant  :  I  was  as  a  beast  before 
thee.  Job  i.  22.  In  all  this  Job  sin- 
ned not,  nor  charged  God  foolishly. 

e  1  Sam.  vi.  7.  Now  therefore 
make  a  new  cart,  and  take  two 
milch-kine,  on  which  there  hath 
come  no  yoke,  and  tie  the  kine 
.to  the  cart,  and  bring  their  calves 
home  from  them:  Ver.  8.  And 
take  the  ark  of  the  Lord,  and 
lay  it  upon  the  cart,  and  put.  the 
jewels  of  gold  which  ye  return 
him  for  a  trespass-offering,  in  a 
coffer  by  the  side  thereof,  and 
send  it  away,  that  it  may  go. 
Ver.  9.  And  see  if  it  goeth  up  by 
the  way  of  his  own  coast  to  Beth- 
shemesh,  then  he  hath  done  us 
this  great  evil:  but  if  not,  then 
we  shall  know  that  it  is  not  his 
hand  that  smote  us ;  it  was  a 
chance  that  happened  to  us. 

h  Dan.  v.  23.  But  hast  lifted 
up  thyself  against  the  Lord  of 
heaven ;  and  they  have  brought 
the  vessels  of   his  house  "before 


thee,  and  thou  and  thy  lords,  thy 
wives,  and  thy  concubines,  have 
drunk  wine  in  them;  and  thou 
hast  praised  the  jgods  of  silver  and 
gold,  of  brass,  iron,  wood,  and 
stone,  which  see  not,  nor  hear,  nor 
know :  and  the  God  in  whose  hand 
thy  breath  is,  and  whose  are  all  thy 
ways,  hast  thou  not  glorified. 

5  Dent.  viii.  17.  And  thou  say 
in  thine  heart,  My  power  and  the 
might,  of  my  hand  hath  gotten  me 
this  wealth.  Dan.  iv.  30.  The 
king  spake,  and  said,  Is  not  this 
great  Babylon  that  I  have  built 
for  the  house  of  the  kingdom,  by 
the  might  of  my  power,  and  for 
the  honour  of  my  majesty  1 

k  Hab.  i.  16.  Therefore  they 
sacrifice  unto  their  net,  and  burn 
incense  unto  their  drag:  because 
by  them  their  portion  is  fat,  and 
their  meat  plenteous. 

106.  '  Ezek.  viii.  5.  Then  said 
he  unto  me,  Son   of  man,  lift  up  I 
thine  eyes  now  the  way  towards* 
the  nonh.  So  I  lifted  up  mine  eyes  j| 
the   way   towards   the  north,  and 
behold  northward,  at  the  gate  of 
the  altar,  this  image   of  jealousy 
in  the  entry.     Ver.  6.  He  said  fur- 
thermore  unto  me,  Son  of  man, 
seest  thou    what  they  do?   even 
the   great   abominations  that  the 
house  of  Israel   committeth  here, 
that  I  should  go  far  off  from  my 
sanctuary  1  but  turn  thee  yet  again, 


The  Larger  Catechism, 


265 


dent  provocation :  as  also  to  persuade  us  to  do  as  in  his 
sight,  whatever  we  do  in  his  service.111 

Q.  107.    Which  is  the  second  commandment? 

A.  The  second  commandment  is,  Thou  shalt  not  make  unto 
thee  any  graven  image,  or  any  likeness  of  any  thing  that  is  in 
heaven  above,  or  that  is  in  the  earth  beneath,  or  that  is  in  the 
water  under  the  earth.  Thou  shalt  not  bow  down  thyself  to  them, 
nor  serve  them :  for  I  the  Lord  thy  God  am  a  jealous  God,  vi- 
siting the  iniquity  of  the  fathers  upon  the  children  unto  the  third 
and  fourth  generations  of  them  that  hate  me ;  and  showing  mer- 
cy unto  thousands  of  them  that  love  me,  and  keep  my  command- 
ments.a 

Q.  108.  What  are  the  duties  required  in  the  second  command- 
ment? 

A.  The  duties  required  in  the  second  commandment 
are,  the  receiving,  observing,  and  keeping  pure  and  en- 
tire, all  such  religious  worship  and  ordinances  as  God 
hath   instituted   in    his   word;0    particularly   prayer    and 


and  thou  shalt  see  greater  abomi- 
nations,  cf-c.  [to  the  end  of  the 
Chapter.']  Psal.  xliv.  20.  If  we 
have  forgotten  the  name  of  our 
God,  or  stretched  out  our  hands 
to  a  strange  god :  Ver.  21.  Shall 
not  God  search  this  out?  for 
he  knoweth  the  secrets  of  the 
heart. 

m  1  Chron.  xxviii.  9.  And  thou, 
Solomon  my  son,  know  thou  the 
God  of  thy  father,  and  serve  him 
with  a  perfect  heart,  and  with  a 
willing  mind  :  for  the  Lord  search- 
eth  all  hearts,  and  understand- 
eth  all  the  imaginations  of  the 
thoughts:  if  thou  seek  him,  he 
will  be  found  of  thee;  but  if  thou 
forsake  him,  he  will  cast  thee  off 
for  ever. 

107.  n  Exod.  xx.  4,  5,  6. 

10S.  °  Deut.  xxxii.  46.  And  he 

said  unto  them,  Set  your  hearts 

unto  all  the  words  which  I  testify 

among  you  this  day;    which    ye 

23 


shall  command  your  children  to 
observe  to  do  all  the  words  of  this 
law.  Ver.  47.  For  it  is  not  a  vain 
thing  for  you :  because  it  is  your 
life;  and  through  this  thing  ye 
shall  prolong  your  days  in  the 
land  whither  ye  go  over  Jordan 
to  possess  it.  Mat.  xxviii.  20.  Teach- 
ing them  to  observe  all  things  what- 
soever I  have  commanded  you : 
and,  lo,  I  am  with  you  alway, 
even  unto  the  end  of  the  world. 
Amen.  Acts  ii.  42.  And  they 
continued  steadfastly  in  the  apos- 
tles' doctrine  and  fellowship,  and  in 
breaking  of  bread,  and  in  prayers. 
1  Tim.  vi.  13.  I  give  thee  charge 
in  the  sight  of  God,  who  quicken- 
eth  all  things,  and  before  Christ 
Jesus,  who  before  Pontius  Pilate 
witnessed  a  good  confession  ;  Ver. 
14.  That  thou  keep  this  com- 
mandment without  spot,  unrebuka- 
ble,  until  the  appearing  of  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ. 


266 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


thanksgiving  in  the  name  of  Christ ;  p  the  reading,  preach- 
ing, and  hearing  of  the  word;q  the  administration  and 
receiving  of  the  sacraments ; r  church  government  and  dis- 
cipline;5   the  ministry    and    maintenance    thereof;1    reli- 


p  Phil.  iv.  6.  Be  careful  for 
nothing :  but  in  every  thing  by 
prayer  and  -supplication,  with 
thanksgiving,  let  your  requests 
be  made  known  unto  God.  Eph. 
v.  20.  Giving  thanks  always  for 
all  things  unto  God  and  the  Fa- 
ther, in  the  name  of  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ. 

i  Deut.  xvii.  18.  And  it  shall 
be,  when  he  sitteth  upon  the 
throne  of  his  kingdom,  that  he 
shall  write  him  a  copy  of  this  law 
in  a  book,  out  of  that  which  is 
before  the  priests  the  Levites: 
Ver.  19.  And  it  shall  be  with  him, 
and  he  shall  read  therein  all  the 
days  of  his  life:  that  he  may  learn 
to  fear  the  Lord  his  God,  to  keep 
all  the  words  of  this  law,  and  these 
statutes,  to  do  them.  Acts  xv.  21. 
For  Moses  of  old  time  hath  in 
every  city  them  that  preach  him, 
being  read  in  the  synagogues  every 
sabbath-day.  2  Tim.  iv.  2.  Preach 
the  word,  be  instant  in  season, 
out  of  season ;  reprove,  rebuke, 
exhort,  with  all  long-suffering  and 
doctrine.  James  i.  21.  Where- 
fore lay  apart  all  filthiness  and 
superfluity  of  naughtiness,  and 
receive  with  meekness  the  ingraft- 
ed word,  which  is  able  to  save 
your -souls.  Ver.  22.  But  be  ye 
doers  of  the  word,  and  not  hear- 
ers only,  deceiving  your  own 
selves.  Acts  x.  33.  Immediately 
therefore  I  sent  to  thee ;  and  thou 
hast  well  done  that  thou  art  come. 
Now  therefore  are  we  all  here 
present  before  God,  to  hear  all 
things  that  are  commanded  thee 
of  God. 


r  Mat.  xxviii.  19.  Go  ye  there- 
fore, and  teach  all  nations,  bap- 
tizing them  in  the  name  of  the 
Father,  and  of  the  Son,  and  of 
the  Holy  Ghost.  1  Cor.  xi.  from 
Verse  23,  to  Verse  30.  For  I  have 
received  of  the  Lord  that  which 
also  I  delivered  unto  yon,  That 
the  Lord  Jesus,  the  same  night 
in  which  he  was  betrayed,  took 
bread,  &c. 

■  Mat.  xviii.  15.  Moreover,  if 
thy  brother  shall  trespass  against 
thee,  go  and  tell  him  his  fault 
between  thee  and  him  alone:  if 
he  shall  hear  thee,  thou  hast  gain- 
ed thy  brother.  Ver.  16.  But  if 
he  will  not  hear  thee,  then  take 
with  thee  one  or  two  more,  that 
in  the  mouth  of  two  or  three 
witnesses  every  word  may  be  es- 
tablished. Ver.  17.  And  if  he 
shall  neglect  to  hear  them,  tell  it 
unto  the  church;  but  if  he  ne- 
glect to  hear  the  church,  let  him, 
be  unto  thee  as  a  heathen  man 
and  a  publican.  Mat.  xvi.  19. 
And  I  will  give  unto  thee  the 
keys  of  the  kingdom  of  heaven: 
and  whatsoever  thou  shalt  bind  i 
on  earth,  shall  be  bound  in  hea- 
ven;, and  whatsoever  thou  shalt 
loose  on  earth,  shall  be  loosed 
in  heaven.  1  Cor.  Chapter  v.\ 
1  Cor.  xii.  28.  And  God  hathi 
set  some  in  the  church:  first, 
apostles;  secondarily,  prophets; 
thirdly,  teachers;  after  that  mi- 
racles; then  gifts  of  healings, 
helps,  governments,  diversities  of 
tongues. 

1  Eph.  iv.  11.  And  he  gave  some, 
apostles;    and    some,    prophets; 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


267 


gious  fasting;7  swearing  by  the  name  of  God,"  and  vowing 
unto  him:*  as  also  the  disapproving,  detesting,  opposing, 
all  false  worship ;y  and,  according  to  each  one's  place  and 
calling,  removing  it,  and  all  monuments  of  idolatry.2 

Q.  109.  What  are  the  sins  forbidden  in  the  second  command- 
ment P 

A.  The  sins  forbidden  in  the  second  commandment  are, 


and  some,  evangelists;  and  some, 
irs  and  teachers;  Ver.  12.  For 
the  perfecting-  of  the  saints,  for 
the  work  of  the  ministry,  for  the 
edifying  of  the  body  of  Christ. 
1  Tim.  v.  17.  Let  the  elders  that 
rule  well  be  counted  worthy  of 
double  honour,  especially  they 
who  labour  in  the  word  and  doc- 
trine. Ver.  18.  For  the  scripture 
saith,  Thou  shalt  not  muzzle  the 
ox  that  treadeth  out  the  corn : 
and,  The  labourer  is  worthy  of 
his  reward.  1  Cor.  ix.  7, — 15. 
Who  goeth  a  warfare  any  time 
at  his  own  charges'?  who  planteth 
a  vineyard,  and  eateth  not  of  the 
fruit  thereof]  or  who  feedeth  a 
flock,  and  eateth  not  of  the  milk 
of  the  flock]  &c. 

T  Joel  ii.  12.  Therefore  also 
now,  saith  the  Lord,  turn  ye  even 
to  me  with  all  your  heart,  and 
with  fasting,  and  with  weeping, 
and  with  mourning.  Ver.  13. 
And  rend  your  heart,  and  not  your 
garments,  and  turn  unto  the  Lord 
your  God:  for  he  is  gracious  and 
merciful. — 1  Cor.  vii.  5.  Defraud 
ye  not  one  the  other,  except  it  be 
with  consent  for  a  time,  that  ye 
may  give  yourselves  to  fasting  and 
prayer. — 

w*  Deut  vi.  13.  Thou  shalt 
fear  the  Lord  thy  God,  and 
serve  him,  and  shalt  swear  by  his 
name. 

1  Isa.  xix.  21.     And   the   Lord 


shall  be  known  to  Egypt,  and  the 
Egyptians  shall  know  the  Lord  in 
that  day,  and  shall  do  sacrifice 
and  oblation ;  yea,  they  shall  vow 
a  vow  unto  the  Lord,  and  perform 
it.  Psal.  lxxvi.  11.  Vow  and  pay 
unto  the  Lord  your  God  ;  let  all 
that  be  round  about  him  bring  pre- 
sents unto  him  that  ought  to  be 
feared. 

'  Acts  xvii.  16.  Now  while  Paul 
waited  for  them  at  Athens,  his 
spirit  was  stirred  in  him,  when 
he  saw  the  city  wholly  given  to 
idolatry.  Ver.  17.  Therefore  dis- 
puted he  in  the  synagogue  with 
the  Jews,  and  with  the  devout 
persons,  and  in  the  market  daily 
with  them  that  met  with  him. 
Psal.  xvi.  4.  Their  sorrows  shall 
be  multiplied  that  hasten  after 
another  god :  their  drink-offer- 
ings of  blood  will  I  not  offer, 
nor  take  up  their  names  into  my 
lips. 

r  Deut.  vii.  5.  But  thus  shall 
ye  deal  with  them :  ye  shall 
destroy  their  altars,  and  break 
down  their  images,  and  cut  down 
their  groves,  and  burn  their  gra- 
ven images  with  fire.  Isa.  xxx. 
22.  Ye  shall  defile  also  the  cover- 
ing of  thy  graven  images  of  silver, 
and  the  ornament  of  thy  molten 
images  of  gold:  thou  shalt  cast 
them  away  as  a  menstruous  cloth: 
thou  shalt  say  unto  it,  Get  thee 
hence. 


268 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


all  devising,*  counselling,1*  commanding,0  using,d  and  any 
wise  approving,  any  religious  worship  not  instituted  by  God 
himself;6  tolerating  a  false  religion; f  the  making  any  re- 


109.  a  Numb.  xv.  39.  And  it 
shall  be  unto  you  for  a  fringe, 
that  ye  may  look  upon  it,  and  re- 
member all  the  commandments  of 
the  Lord,  and  do  them  :  and  that 
ye  seek  not  after  your  own  heart, 
and  your  own  eyes,  after  which  ye 
use  to  go  a  whoring. 

b  Deut.  xiii.  6.  If  thy  brother,  the 
son  of  thy  mother,  or  thy  son,  or  thy 
daughter,  or  the  wife  of  thy  bosom, 
or  thy  friend,  which  is  as  thine  own 
soul,  entice  thee  secretly,  saying, 
Let  us  go  and  serve  other  gods, 
which  thou  hast  not  known,  thou, 
nor  thy  fathers ;  Ver.  7.  Namely,  of 
the  gods  of  the  people  which  are 
round  about  you,  nigh  unto  thee,  or 
far  off  from  thee,  from  the  one  end 
of  the  earth  even  unto  the  other  end 
of  the  earth ;  Ver.  8.  Thou  shalt 
not  consent  unto  him,  nor  hearken 
unto  him;  neither  shall  thine  eye 
pity  him,  neither  shalt  thou  spare, 
neither  shalt  thou  conceal  him. 

c  Hosea  v.  11.  Ephraim  is  op- 
pressed and  broken  in  judgment, 
because  he  willingly  walked  after 
the  commandment.  Micah  vi.  16. 
For  the  statutes  of  Omri  are  kept, 
and  all  the  works  of  the  house  of 
Ahab,  and  ye  walk  in  their  coun- 
sels; that  I  should  make  thee  a 
desolation,  and  the  inhabitants 
thereof  a  hissing:  therefore  ye 
shall  bear  the  reproach  of  my 
people. 

d  *  1  Kings  xi.  33.  Because 
that  they  have  forsaken  me,  and 
have  worshipped  Ashtoreth  the 
goddess  of  the  Zidonians,  Che- 
mosh  the  god  of  the  Moabites, 
and  Milcom  the  god  of  the  chil- 


dren of  Ammon,  and  have  not 
walked  in  my  ways,  to  do  that 
which  is  right  in  mine  eyes,  and 
to  keep  my  statutes  and  my  judg- 
ments, as  did  David  his  father. 
1  Kings  xii.  33.  So  he  offered 
upon  the  altar  which  he  had  made 
in  Beth-el,  the  fifteenth  day  of  the 
eighth  month,  even  in  the  month 
which  he  had  devised  of  his  own 
heart;  and  ordained  a  feast  unto 
the  children  of  Israel:  and  he 
offered  upon  the  altar,  and  burnt 
incense. 

e  Deut.  xii.  30.  Take  heed  to  thy- 
self that  thou  be  not  snared  by  fol- 
lowing them,  after  that  they  be  de- 
stroyed from  before  thee;  and  that 
thou  inquire  not  after  their  gods, 
saying,  How  did  these  nations  serve 
their  gods?  even  so  will  I  do  like- 
wise. Ver.  31.  Thou  shalt  not 
do  so  unto  the  Lord  thy  God  :  for 
every  abomination  to  the  Lord: 
which  he  hateth  have  they  done 
unto  their  gods;  for  even  their 
sons  and  their  daughters  they  have 
burnt  in  the  fire  to  their  gods. 
Ver.  32.  What  thing  soever  I  com- 
mand you,  observe  to  do  it:  thou 
shalt  not  add  thereto,  nor  diminish 
from  it. 

f  Deut.  xiii.  from  Verse  6  to 
12.  [See  letter  \]  Zech.  xiii.  2. 
And  it  shall  come  to  pass  in  that 
day,  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts,  that 
I  will  cut  off  the  names  of  the 
idols  out  of  the  land,  and  they 
shall  no  more  be  remembered: 
and  also  I  will  cause  the  prophets 
and  the  unclean  spirit  to  pass  out 
of  the  land.  Ver.  3.  And  it  shall 
come  to  pass,  that  when  any  shall 


i  . 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


269 


presentation  of  God,  of  all  or  of  any  of  the  three  persons, 
cither  inwardly  in  our  mind,  or  outwardly  in  any  kind  of 
image  or  likeness  of  any  creature  whatsoever;8  all  worship- 


yet  prophesy,  then  his  father  and 
his  mother  that  begat  him  shall 
unto  him,  Thou  shalt  not  live; 
for  thou  speakest  lies  in  the  name 
of  the  Lord:  and  his  father  and  his 
mother  that  begat  him  shall  thrust 
him  through  when  he  prophesieth. 
Rev.  ii.  2.  I  know  thy  works,  and 
thy  labour,  and  thy  patience,  and 
how  thou  canst  not  bear  them 
which  are  evil:  and  thou  hast  tried 
them  which  say  they  are  apostles, 
and  are  not,  and  hast  found  them 
liars.  Ver.  14.  But  I  have  a  few 
things  against  thee,  because  thou 
hast  there  them  that  hold  the  doc- 
trine of  Balaam,  who  taught  Balac 
to  cast  a  stumbling-block  before 
the  children  of  Israel,  to  eat  things 
sacrificed  unto  idols,  and  to  commit 
fornication.  Ver.  15.  So  hast  thou 
also  them  that  hold  the  doctrine  of 
the  Nicolaitanes,  which  thing  1 
hate.  Ver.  20.  Notwithstanding, 
I  have  a  few  things  against  thee, 
because  thou  sufferest  that  woman 
Jezebel,  which  calleth  herself  a 
prophetess,  to  teach  and  to  seduce 
my  servants  to  commit  fornication, 
and  to  eat  things  sacrificed  unto 
idols.  Rev.  xvii.  12.  And  the 
ten  horns  which  thou  sawest  are 
ten  kings,  which  have  received  no 
kingdom  as  yet;  but  receive  power 
as  kings  one  hour  with  the  beast. 
Ver.  16.  And  the  ten  horns  which 
thou  sawest  upon  the  beast,  these 
shall  hate  the  whore,  and  shall 
make  her  desolate  and  naked,  and 
shall  eat  her  flesh,  and  hum  her 
with  fire.  Ver.  17.  For  Gqd  hath 
put  in  their  hearts  to  fulfil  his  will, 
and  to  agree,  and  give  their  king- 
dom unto  the  beast,  until  the  words 
of  God  shall  be  fulfilled. 
23* 


g  Deut.  iv.  15.  Take  ye  there- 
fore good  heed  unto  yourselves, 
(for  ye  saw  no  manner  of  simi- 
litude on  the  day  that  the  Lord 
spake  unto  you  in  Horeb  out  of 
the  midst  of  the  fire;)  Ver.  16 
Lest  ye  corrupt  yourselves,  and 
make  you  a  graven  image,  the 
similitude  of  any  figure,  the  like- 
ness of  male  or  female;  Ver.  17. 
The  likeness  of  any  beast  that  is 
on  the  earth,  the  likeness  of  any 
winged  fowl  that  flieth  in  the 
air;  Ver.  18.  The  likeness  of  any- 
thing that  creepeth  on  the  ground, 
the  likeness  of  any  fish  that  is 
in  the  waters  beneath  the  earth: 
Ver.  19.  And  lest  thou  lift  up  thine 
eyes  unto  heaven,  and  when  thou 
seest  the  sun,  and  the  moon,  and 
the  stars,  even  all  the. host  of  hea- 
ven, shouldest  be  driven  to  wor- 
ship them,  and  serve  them,  which 
the  Lord  thy  God  hath  divided 
unto  all  nations  under  the  whole 
heaven.  Acts  xvii.  29.  Forasmuch 
then  as  we  are  the  offspring  of 
God,  we  ought  not  to  think  that  the 
Godhead  is  like  unto  gold,  or  silver, 
or  stone,  graven  by  art  and  man's 
device.  Rom.  i.  21.  Because  that, 
when  they  knew  God,  they  glorified 
him  not  as  God,  neither  were  thank- 
ful ;  but  became  vain  in  their  ima- 
ginations, and  their  foolish  heart 
was  darkened.  Ver.  22.  Profess- 
ing themselves  to  be  wise,  they 
became  fools.-  Ver.  23.  And 
changed  the  glory  of  the  uncor- 
ruptible God  into  an  image  made 
like  to  corruptible  man,  and  to 
birds,  and  four-footed  beasts,  and 
creeping  things.  Ver.  25.  Who 
changed  the  truth  of  God  into 
a  lie,  and  worshipped  and  served 


270 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


ping  of  it,h  or  God  in  it  or  by  it ; \  the  making  of  any  re- 
presentation of  feigned  deities,k  and  all  worship  of  them, 
or  service  belonging  to  them ; !  all  superstitious  devices,01 
corrupting  the  worship  of  God,n  adding  to  it,  or  taking 
from  it,0  whether  invented  and  taken  up  of  ourselves,p  or 


the  creature  more  than  the  Crea- 
tor, who  is  blessed  for  ever. 
Amen. 

h  Dan.  iii.  18.  But  if  not,  be  it 
known  unto  thee,  O  king,  that 
we  will  not  serve  thy  gods,  nor 
worship  the  golden  image  which 
thou  hast  set  up.  Gal.  iv.  8.  How- 
beit  then,  when  ye  knew  not  God, 
ye  did  service  unto  them  which 
by  nature  are  no  gods. 

1  Exod.  xxxii.  5.  And  when 
Aaron  saw  it,  he  built  an  altar 
before  it;  and  Aaron  made  pro- 
clamation, and  said,  To-morrow 
is  a  feast  to  the  Lord. 

k  Exod.  xxxii.  8.  They  have 
turned  aside  quickly  out  of  the 
way  which  I  commanded  them: 
they  have  made  them  a  molten 
calf,  and  have  worshipped  it,  and 
have  sacrificed  thereunto,  and  said, 
These  be  thy  gods,  O  Israel,  which 
have  broughlfthee  up  out  of  the 
land  of  Egypt. 

1  1  Kings  xviii.  26.  And  they 
took  the  bullock  which  was  given 
them,  and  they  dressed  it,  and 
called  on  the  name  of  Baal  from 
morning  even  until  noon,  saying, 
O  Baal,  hear  us.  But  there  was 
no  voice,  nor  any  that  answered. 
And  they  leaped  upon  the  altar 
which  was  made.  Ver.  28.  And 
they  cried  aloud,  and  cut  them- 
selves after  their  manner  with 
knives  and  lancets  till  the  blood 
gushed  out  upon  them.  Isa.  Ixv. 
11.  But  ye  are  they  that  forsake 
the  Lord,  that  forget  my  holy 
mountain,  that  prepare  a  table 
for  that  troop,   and  that  furnish 


the  drink-offering  unto  that  num- 
ber. 

m  Acts  xvii.  22.  Then  Paul  stood 
in  the  midst  of  Mars-hill,  and 
said,  Ye  men  of  Athens,  I  per- 
ceive that  in  all  things  ye  are  too  su- 
perstitious. Col.  ii.  21.  (Touch  not, 
taste  not,  handle  not:  Ver.  22. 
Which  all  are  to  perish  with  the 
using,)  after  the  commandments 
and  doctrines  of  men.  Ver.  23. 
Which  things  have  indeed  a  show 
of  wisdom  in  will-worship  and 
humility,  and  neglecting  of  the 
body,  not  in  any  honour  to  the  sa- 
tisfying of  the  flesh. 

B  Mai.  i.  7.  Ye  offer  polluted 
bread  upon  mine  altar ;  and  ye  say, 
Wherein  have  we  polluted  thee? 
In  that  ye  say,  The  table  of  thd 
Lord  is  contemptible.  Ver.  8.  And* 
if  ye  offer  the  blind  for  sacrifice, 
is  it  not  evil  ]  and  if  ye  offer  the 
lame  and  sick,  is  it  not  evil)  offer  j 
it  now  unto  thy  governor:  will  he 
be  pleased  with  thee,  or  accept 
thy  person?  saith  the  Lord  of^ 
hosts.  Ver.  14.  But  cursed  be  the 
deceiver,  which  hath  in  his  flock 
a  male,  and  voweth,  and  sacri* 
ficeth  unto  the  Lord  a  corrupt 
thing:  for  lam  a  great  King, 
saith  the  Lord  of  hosts,  and  my 
name  is  dreadful  among  the  hea- 
then. 

0  Deut.  iv.  2.  Ye  shall  not  add 
unto  the  word  which  I  command 
you,  neither  shall  ye  diminish 
•aught  from  it,  that  ye  may  keep 
the  commandments  of  the  Lord 
your  God,  which  I  command 
you. 


The  Larger  Catechism, 


271 


received  by  tradition  from  others, q  though  under  the  title 
of  antiquity/  custom,8  devotion,1  good  intent,  or  any  other 
pretence  whatsoever ; v  Simony ;w  sacrilege;*  all  neglect/ 


p  Psal.  cvi.  39.  Thus  were  they 
defiled  with  their  own  works,  and 
went  a  whoring  with  their  own  in- 
ventions. 

*  Mat.  xv.  9.  But  in  vain  they 
do  worship  me,  teaching  for  doc- 
trines the  commandments  of  men. 

1  1  Pet.  i.  18.  Forasmuch  as  ye 
know  that  ye  were  not  redeemed 
with  corruptible  things,  as  silver 
and  gold,  from  your  vain  conver- 
sation received  by  tradition  from 
your  fathers. 

s  Jer.  xliv.  17.  But  we  will  cer- 
tainly do  whatsoever  thing  goeth 
forth  out  of  our  own  mouth,  to 
burn  incense  unto  the  queen  of 
heaven,  and  to  pour  out  drink- 
offerings  unto  her,  as  we  have 
done,  we  and  our  fathers,  our  kings 
and  our  princes,  in  the  cities  of 
Judah,  and  in  the  streets  of  Jeru- 
salem :  for  then  had  we  plenty  of 
victuals,  and  were  well,  and  saw 
no  evil. 

1  Isa.  Ixv.  3.  A  people  that  pro- 
voketh  me  to  anger  continually  to 
my  face,  that  sacrificeth  in  gar- 
dens, and  burneth  incense  upon 
altars  of  brick:  Ver.  4.  Which  re- 
main among  the  graves,  and  lodge 
in  the  monuments;  which  eat 
swine's  flesh,  and  broth  of  abo- 
minable things  is  in  their  vessels  : 
Ver.  5.  Which  say,  Stand  by  thy- 
self, come  not  near  to  me,  for  I 
am  holier  than  thou:  these  are  a 
smoke  in  my  nose,  a  fire  that 
burneth  all  the  day.  Gal.  i.  13. 
For  ye  have  heard  of  my  conver- 
sation in  time  past  in  the  Jews' 
religion,  how  that  beyond  mea- 
sure 1  persecuted  the  church  of 


God,  and  wasted  it:  Ver.  14.  And 
profited  in  the  Jews'  religion  above 
many  my  equals  in  mine  own  na- 
tion, being  more  exceedingly  zeal- 
ous of  the  traditions  of  my  fa- 
thers. 

v  1  Sam.  xiii.  11.  And  Samuel 
said,  What  hast  thou  done  1  And 
Saul  said,  Because  I  saw  that  the 
people  were  scattered  from  me, 
and  that  thou  earnest  not  within 
the  day3  appointed,  and  that  the 
Philistines  gathered  themselves 
together  to  Michmash  :  Ver.  12. 
Therefore  said  I,  the  Philistines 
will  come  down  now  upon  me  to 
Gilgal,  and  I  have  not  made  sup- 
plication unto  the  Lord:  I  forced 
myself  therefore,  and  offered  a 
burnt-offering.  1  Sam.  xv.  21. 
But  the  people  (said  Saul)  took  of 
the  spoil,  sheep  and  oxen,  the  chief 
of  the  things  which  should  have 
been  utterly  destroyed,  to  sacrifice 
unto  the  Lord  thy  God  in  Gilgal. 

w  Acts  viii.  18.  And  when  Si- 
mon saw  that  through  laying  on 
of  the  apostles'  hands  the  Holy 
Ghost  was  given,  he  offered  them 
money. 

*  Rom.  ii.  22.  Thou  that  ab- 
horrest  idols,  dost  thou  commit 
sacrilege  1  Mai.  iii.  8.  Will  a 
man  rob  God )  yet  ye  have  robbed 
me :  but  ye  say,  Wherein  have 
we  robbed  thee?  In  tithes  and 
offerings. 

*  Exod.  iv.  24.  And  it  came  to 
pass  by  the  way  in  the  inn,  that 
the  Lord  met  him,  and  sought  to 
kill  him.  Ver.  25.  ThenZipporah 
took  a  sharp  stone,  and  cut  off  the 
foreskin  of  her  son,  and   cast  it 


272 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


contempt,2  hindering,3  and  opposing  the  worship  and  ordi- 
nances which  God  hath  appointed.b 

Q,.  110.  What  are  the  reasons  annexed  to  the  second  com- 
mandment, the  more  to  in  force  it  ? 

A.  The  reasons  annexed  to  the  second  commandment, 
the  more  to  enforce  it,  contained  in  these  words,  For  I  the 
Lord  thy  God  am  a  jealous  God,  visiting  the  iniquity  of  the  fathers 
upon  the  children  unto  the  third  and  fourth  generations  of  them 
that  hate  me ;  and  showing  mercy  unto  thousands  of  them  that 
love  me,  and  keep  my  commandments ; c  are,  besides  God's  so- 
vereignty over  us,  and  propriety  in  us,d  his  fervent  zeal  for 
his  own  worship,6  and  his  revengeful  indignation  against  all 


at  his  feet,  and  said,  Surely  a 
bloody  husband  art  thou  to  me. 
Ver.  26.  So  he  let  him  go:, then 
she  said,  A  bloody  husband  thou 
art,  because  of  the  circumcision. 

2  Mat.  xxii.  5.  But  they  made 
light  of  it,  and  went  their  ways, 
one  to  his  farm,  another  to  his 
merchandise.  Mai.  i.  7.  Ye  offer 
polluted  bread  upon  mine  altar; 
and  ye  say,  Wherein  have  we 
polluted  thee  1  In  that  ye  say,  The 
table  of  the  Lord  is  contemptible. 
Ver.  13.  Ye  said  also,  Behold, 
what  a  weariness  is  it !  and  ye 
have  snuffed  at  it,  saith  the  Lord 
of  hosts;  and  ye  brought  that 
which  was  torn,  and  the  lame,  and 
the  sick  ;  thus  ye  brought  an  of- 
fering :  should  I  accept  this  of 
your  hand?  saith  the  Lord. 

a  Mat.  xxiii.  13.  But  wo  unto 
you,  scribes  and  Pharisees,  hypo- 
crites !  for  ye  shut  up  the  kingdom 
of  heaven  against  men :  for  ye 
neither  go  in  yourselves,  neither 
suffer  ye  them  that  are  entering  to 
go  in. 

b  Acts  xiii.  44.  And  the  next 
sabbath-day  came  almost  the  whole 
city  together  to  hear  the  word  of 
God.  Ver.  45.  But  when  the  Jews 
saw  the  multitudes,  they  were 
filled  with  envy,  and  spake  against 


those  things  which  were  spoken  by 
Paul,  contradicting  and  blasphe- 
ming. 1  Thess.  ii.  15.  Who  both 
killed  the  Lord  Jesus  and  their 
own  prophets,  and  have  persecuted 
us ;  and  they  please  not  God,  and 
are  contrary  to  all  men:  Ver.  16. 
Forbidding  us  to  speak  to  the 
Gentiles,  that  they  might  be 
saved,  to  fill  up  their  sins  alway; 
for  the  wrath  is  come  upon  them 
to  the  uttermost. 

110.  c  Exod.  xx.  5,  6. 

d  Psal.  xlv.  11.  So  shall  the  King 
greatly  desire  thy  beauty:  for  he 
is  thy  Lord,  and  worship  thou 
him.  Rev.  xv.  3.  And  they  sing 
the  song  of  Moses  the  servant  of 
God,  and  the  song  of  the  Lamb, 
saying,  Great  and  marvellous  are 
thy  works,  Lord  God  Almighty; 
just  and  true  are  thy  ways,  thou 
King  of  saints.  Ver.  4.  Who 
shall  not  fear  thee,  O  Lord,  and 
glorify  thy  name  1  for  thou  only 
art  holy  :  for  all  nations  shall  come 
and  worship  before  thee;  for  thy 
judgments  are  made  manifest. 

e  Exod.  xxxiv.  13.  But  ye  shall 
destroy  their  altars,  break  their 
images,  and  cut  down  their  groves. 
Ver.  14.  For  thou  shalt  worship  no 
other  God :  for  the  Lord,  whose 
name  is  Jealous,  is  a  jealous  God. 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


273 


false  worship,  as  being  a  spiritual  whoredom ; f  accounting 
the  breakers  of  this  commandment  such  as  hate  him,  and 
threatening  to  punish  them  unto  divers  generations ; s  and 
esteeming  the  observers  of  it  such  as  love  him  and  keep  his 
commandments,  and  promising  mercy  to  them  unto  many 
generations.11 


f  1  Cor.  x.  20.  But  I  say,  that  the 
things  which  the  Gentiles  sacrifice, 
they  sacrifice  to  devils,  and  not  to 
God :  and  I  would  not  that  ye 
should  have  fellowship  with  devils. 
Ver.  21.  Ye  cannot  drink  the  cup 
of  the  Lord,  and  the  cup  of  devils: 
ye  cannot  be-  partakers  of  the 
Lord's  table,  and  of  the  table  of 
devils.  Ver.  22.  Do  we  provoke 
the  Lord  to  jealousy]  are  we 
stronger  than  he"?  Jer.  vii.  18.  The 
children  gather  wood,  and  the  fa- 
thers kindle  the  fire,  and  the  wo- 
men knead  their  dough,  to  make 
cakes  to  the  queen  of  heaven,  and 
to  pour  out  drink-offerings  unto 
other  gods,  that  they  may  provoke 
me  to  anger.  Ver.  19.  Do  they 
provoke  me  to  anger?  saith  the 
Lord  :  do  they  not  provoke  them- 
selves to  the  confusion  of  their 
own  faces'!  Ver.  20.  Therefore  thus 
saith  the  Lord  God,  Behold,  mine 
anger  and  my  fury  shall  be  poured 
out  upon  this  place,  upon  man, 
and  upon  beast,  and  upon  the  trees 
of  the  field,  and  upon  the  fruit  of 
the  ground  :  and  it  shall  burn,  and 
shall  not  be  quenched.  Ezek.  xvi. 
26.  Thou  hast  also  committed  for- 
nication with  the  Egyptians  thy 
neighbours,  great  of  flesh;  and 
hast  increased  thy  whoredoms,  to 
provoke  me  to  anger.  Ver.  27. 
Behold,  therefore  I  have  stretched 
out  my  hand  over  thee,  and  have 
diminished  thine  ordinary  food, 
and  delivered  thee  unto  the  will 
of  them  that  hate  thee,  the  daugh- 
ters of  the  Philistines,  which  are 


ashamed  of  thy  lewd  way.  Deut- 
xxxii.  16.  They  provoked  him  to 
jealousy  with  strange  gods,  with 
abominations  provoked  they  him 
to  anger.  Ver.  17.  They  sacrificed 
unto  devils,  not  to  God;  to  gods 
whom  they  knew  not,  to  new 
gods  that  came  newly  up,  whom 
your  fathers  feared  not.  Ver.  18- 
Of  the  Rock  that  begat  thee  thou 
art  unmindful,  and  hast  forgotten 
God  that  formed  thee.  Ver.  19. 
And  when  the  Lord  saw  it,  he 
abhorred  them,  because  of  the 
provoking  of  his  sons,  and  of  his 
daughters.  Ver.  20.  And  he  said, 
I  will  hide  my  face  from  them, 
1  will  see  what  their  end  shall 
be:  for  they  are  a  very  froward 
generation,  children  in  whom  is  no 
faith. 

e  Hosea  ii.  2.  Plead  with  your 
mother,  plead :  for  she  is  not  my 
wife,  neither  am  I  her  husband  : 
let  her  therefore  put  away  her 
whoredoms  out  of  her  sight,  and 
her  adulteries  from  between  her 
breasts;  Ver.  3.  Lest  I  strip  her 
naked,  and  set  her  as  in  the  day 
that  she  was  born,  and  make  her 
as  a  wilderness,  and  set  her  like  a 
dry  land,  and  slay  her  with  thirst. 
Ver.  4.  And  I  will  not  have  mercy 
upon  her  children:  for  they  be  the 
children  of  whoredoms. 

h  Deut.  v.  29.  O  that  there  were 
such  a  heart  in  them,  that  they 
would  fear  me,  and  keep  all  my 
commandments  always,  that  it 
might  be  well  with  them,  and 
with  their  children  for  ever ! 


274 


The  Larger  Catechism, 


Q,.  111.  Which  is  the  third  commandment ? 

JL  The  third  commandment  is,  Thou  shall  not  take  the 
name  of  the  Lord  thy  God  in  vain  :  for  the  Lord  will  not  hold 
him  guiltless  that  taketh  his  name  in  vain.1 

Q,.   112.    What  is  required  in  the  third  commandment'! 

A.  The  third  commandment  requires,  That  the  name  o 
God,  his  titles,  attributes,11  ordinances,1  the  word,™  sacra- 
ments,"  prayer,0    oaths,p    vows,q    lots/    his    works,3    and 


111.  !  Exod.  xx.  7. 

112.  k  Mat.  vi.  9.  After  this 
manner  therefore  pray  ye:  Our 
Father  which  art  in  heaven ; 
Hallowed  be  thy  name. — Deut. 
xxviii.  58.  If  thou  wilt  not  observe 
to  do  all  the  words  of  this  law, 
that  are  written  in  this  book,  that 
thou  mayest  fear  this  glorious  and 
fearful  name,  THE  LORD  THY 
GOD.  Psal.  xxix.  2.  Give  unto 
the  Lord  the  glory  due  unto  his 
name;  worship  the  Lord  in  the 
beauty  of  holiness.  Psal.  Ixviii. 
4.  Sing  unto  God,  sing  praises 
to  his  name :  extol  him  that 
rideth  upon  the  heavens  by  his 
name  JAH,  and  rejoice  before 
him.  Rev.  xv.  3,  4.  [See  above 
in  letter*.] 

1  Mai.  i.  14.  But  cursed  be 
be  the  deceiver,  which  hath  in 
his  flock  a  male,  and  voweth 
and  sacrificeth  unto  the  Lord  a 
corrupt  thing:  for  I  am  a  great 
King,  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts,  and 
my  name  is  dreadful  among  the 
heathen.  Eccl.  v.  1.  Keep  thy  foot 
when  thou  goest  to  the  house  of 
God,  and  be  more  ready  to  hear, 
than  to  give  the  sacrifice  of  fools: 
for  they  consider  not  that  they  do 
evil. 

mPsal.  cxxxviii.  2. 1  will  worship 
towards  thy  holy  temple,  and  praise 
thy  name,  for  thy  loving-kindness, 
and  for  thy  truth  :  for  thou  hast 
magnified  thy  word  above  all  thy 
name. 


n  1  Cor.  xi.  24.  And  when  he 
had  given  thanks,  he  brake  it,  and 
said,  Take,  eat;  this  is  my  body, 
which  is  broken  for  you:  this  do 
in  remembrance  of  me.  Ver.  25. 
After  the  same  manner  also  he 
took  the  cup,  when  he  had  sup- 
ped, saying,  This  cup  is  the  new 
testament  in  my  blood:  this  do  ye, 
as  oft  as  ye  drink  it,  in  remem- 
brance of  me.  Ver.  28.  But  let  a 
man  examine  himself,  and  so  let 
him  eat  of  that  bread,  and  drink 
of  that  cup.  Ver.  29.  For  he  that 
eateth  and  drinketh  unworthily, 
eateth  and  drinketh  damnation  to 
himself,  not  discerning  the  Lord's 
body. 

0  1  Tim.  ii.  8.  I  will  therefore 
that  men  pray  every  where,  lifting 
up  holy  hands,  without  wrath  and 
doubting. 

p  Jer.  iv.  2.  And  thou  shalt 
swear,  The  Lord  liveth,  in  truth, 
in  judgment,  and  in  righteous- 
ness; and  the  nations  shall  bless 
themselves  in  him,  and  in  him 
shall  they  glory. 

*>  Eccl.  v.  2.  Be  not  rash  with 
thy  mouth,  and  let  not  thine  heart 
be  hasty  to  utter  any  thing  before 
God:  for  God  is  in  heaven,  and 
thou  upon  earth;  therefore  let 
thy  words  be  few.  Ver.  4.  When 
thou  vowest  a  vow  unto  God, 
defer  not  to  pay  it;  for  he  hath 
no  pleasure  in  fools:  pay  that 
which  thou  hast  vowed.  Ver.  5. 
Better  is  it   that  thou    shouldest 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


975 


whatsoever  else  there  is  whereby  he  makes  himself  known, 
be  holily  and  reverently  used  in  thought,1  meditation,'  word/ 
and  writing;3"  by  a  holy  profession/  and  answerable  con- 
versation,7' to  the  glory  of  God,a  and  the  good  of  ourselves,b 
and  others.0 


not  vow,  than  that  thou  shouldest 
vow  and  not  pay.  Ver.6.  Suffer  not 
thy  mouth  to  cause  thy  flesh  to  sin  ; 
neither  say  thou  before  the  angel, 
that  it  was  an  error:  wherefore 
should  God  be  angry  at  thy  voice, 
and  destroy  the  work  of  thine 
hands? 

r  Acts  i.  24.  And  they  prayed, 
and  said,  Thou,  Lord,  which  know- 
est  the  hearts  of  all  men,  show  whe- 
ther of  these  two  thou  hast  chosen. 
Ver.  26.  And  they  gave  forth  their 
lots:  and  the  lot  fell  upon  Matthias; 
and  he  was  numbered  with  the 
eleven  apostles. 

s  Job  xxxvi.  24.  Remember  that 
thou  magnify  his  work,  which  men 
behold. 

■  Mai.  iii.  16.  Then  they  that 
feared  the  Lord  spake  often  one  to 
another:  and  the  Lord  hearkened, 
and  heard  it,  and  a  book  of  remem- 
brance was  written  before  him  for 
them  that  feared  the  Lord,  and  that 
thought  upon  his  name. 

v  Psal.  viii.  1.  O  Lord  our  Lord, 
how  excellent  is  thy  name  in  all  the 
earth  !  who  hast  set  thy  glory  above 
the  heavens.  Ver.  3.  When  I  con- 
sider thy  heavens,  the  work  of  thy 
fingers,  the  moon  and  the  stars 
which  thou  hast  ordained  ;  Ver.  4. 
What  is  man,  that  thou  art  mindful 
of  him  1 — Ver.  9.  O  Lord  our  Lord, 
how  excellent  is  thy  name  in  all  the 
earth  !  [See  the  Psalm  throughout.] 
w  Col.  iii.  17.  And  whatsoever 
ye  do  in  word  or  deed,  do  all  in  the 
name  of  the  Lord   Jesus,  giving 


thanks  to  God  and  the  Father  by 
him.  Psal.  cv.  2.  Sing  unto  him, 
sing  psalms  unto  him  ;  talk  ye  of  all 
his  wondrous  works.  Ver.  5.  Re- 
member his  marvellous  works  that 
he  hath  done,  his  wonders,  and  the 
judgments  of  his  mouth. 

*  Psal.  cii.  18.  This-  shall  be 
written  for  the  generation  to  come: 
and  the  people  which  shall  be 
created  shall  praise  the  Lord. 

y  1  Pet.  iii.  15.  But  sanctify  the 
Lord  God  in  your  hearts:  and  be 
ready  always  to  give  an  answer  to 
every  man  that  asketh  you  a  reason 
of  the  hope  that  is  in  you  with 
meekness  and  fear.  Micah  iv.  5. 
For  all  people,  will  walk  every  one 
in  the  name  of  his  god,  and  we  will 
walk  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  our 
God  for  ever  and  ever. 

z  Phil.  i.  27.  Only  let  your  con- 
versation be  as  it  becometh  the  gos- 
pel of  Christ. — 

a  1  Cor.  x.  31.  Whether  there- 
fore ye  eat  or  drink,  or  whatso- 
ever ye  do,  do  all  to  the  glory  of 
God. 

b  Jer.  xxxii.  39.  And  I  will  give 
them  one  heart,  and  one  way,  that 
they  may  fear  me  for  ever,  for  the 
good  of  them,  and  of  their  children 
after  them. 

c  1  Pet.  ii.  12.  Having  your  con- 
versation honest  among  the  Gen- 
tiles: that,  whereas  they  speak 
against  you  as  evil-doers,  they 
may  by  your  good  works,  which 
they  shall  behold,  glorify  God  in 
the  day  of  visitation. 


276 


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Q.  113.  What  are  the  sins  forbidden  in  the  third  command- 
ment ? 

A.  The  sins  forbidden  in  the  third  commandment  are,  the  not 
using  of  God's  name  as  is  required  ;d  and  the  abuse  of  it  it  an 
ignorant,6  vain/  irreverent,  profane,6  superstitious,11  or  wicked 


113.  d  Mai.  ii.  2.  If  ye  will  not 
hear,  and  if  ye  will  not  lay  it  to 
heart,  to  give  glory  unto  my  name, 
saith  the  Lord  of  hosts,  I  will  even 
send  a  curse  upon  you,  and  I  will 
curse  your  blessings;  yea,  I  have 
cursed  them  already,  because  ye 
do  not  lay  it  to  heart. 

e  Acts  xvii.  23.  For  as  I  passed 
by,  and  beheld  your  devotions,  I 
found  an  altar  with  this  inscrip- 
tion, TO  THE  UNKNOWN 
GOD.  Whom  therefore  ye  igno- 
rantly  worship,  him  declare  I  unto 
you. 

f  Prov.  xxx.  9.  Lest  I  be  full, 
and  deny  thee,  and  say,  Who  is 
the  Lord1?  or  lest  1  be  poor,  and 
steal,  and  take  the  name  of  my 
God  in  vain. 

s  Mai.  i.  6.  A  son  honoureth 
his  father,  and  a  servant  his  mas- 
ter: if  then  I  be  a  father,  where 
is  mine  honour]  and  if  1  be  a  mas- 
ter, where  is  my  fear?  saith  the 
Lord  of  hosts  unto  you,  O  priests, 
that  despise  my  name:  and  ye  say, 
Wherein  have  we  despised  thy 
name!  Ver.  7.  Ye  offer  polluted 
bread  upon  mine  altar;  and  ye 
say,  Wherein  have  we  polluted 
thee?  In  that  ye  say,  The  table 
of  the  Lord  is  contemptible.  Ver. 
12.  But  ye  have  profaned  it,  in 
that  ye  say,  The  table  of  the  Lord 
is  polluted,  and  the  fruit  thereof, 
even  his  meat,  is  contemptible. 
Mai.  iii.  14.  Ye  have  said,  It  is 
vain  to  serve  God;  and  what 
profit  is  it  that  we  have  kept  his 
ordinance,  and  that  we  have  walk- 
ed mournfully  before  the  Lord  of 
hosts. 


h  1  Sam.  iv.  3.  And  when  the 
people  were  come  into  the  camp, 
the  elders  of  Israel  said,  Where- 
fore hath    the    Lord    smitten    us 
to-day  before  the  Philistines'?   Let 
us  fetch  the  ark  of  the  covenant 
of  the   Lord   out  of  Shiloh  unto 
us,  that,  when  it   cometh   among 
us,   it    may   save    us  out  of   the 
hand   of  our  enemies.      Ver.    4. 
So  the  people  sent  to  Shiloh,  that 
they  might  bring  from  thence  the 
ark  of  the  covenant  of  the  Lord 
of  hosts,  which  dwelleth  between 
the  cherubims;  and  the  two  sons 
of    Eli,    Hophni    and    Phinehas, 
were  there    with   the  ark  of  the 
covenant  of  God.      Ver.  5.    And 
when  the  ark  of  the  covenant  of 
the   Lord   came    into    the    camp, 
all   Israel   shouted   with    a   great 
shout,  so  that  the  earth  rang  again. 
Jer.  vii.  4.    Trust  ye  not  in  lying 
words,  saying,  The  temple  of  the 
Lord,    the    temple  '  of  the   Lord, 
the  temple  of  the  Lord,  are  these. 
Ver.  9.  Will  ye  steal,  murder,  and 
commit      adultery,      and     swear 
falsely,    and    burn    incense    unto 
Baal,  and  walk   after  other   gods 
whom  ye  know  not ;  Ver.  10.  And 
come  and  stand  before  me  in  this 
house,    which    is    called    by   my 
name,  and  say,  We  are  delivered 
to    do     all    these    abominations'? 
Ver.  14.  Therefore  will  I  do  unto 
this    house,    which    is    called    by 
my  name,  wherein  ye  trust,  and 
unto  the   place  which  I  gave  to 
you  and    to  your    fathers,   as    I  r 
have  done  to  Shiloh.  Ver.  31.  And 
they  have  built  the  high  places  of 
Tophet,  which  is  in  the  valley  of 


Tlie  Larger  Catechism. 


277 


mentioning  or  otherwise  using  his  titles,  attributes,5  ordinances/ 
or  works,1  by  blasphemy,111  perjury;3  all  sinful  cursings,0  oaths,? 


the  son  of  Hinnom,  to  burn  their 
sons  and  their  daughters  in  the 
fire;  which  I  commanded  them 
not,  neither  came  it  into  my  heart. 
Col.  ii.  20.  Wherefore,  if  ye  be 
dead  with  Christ  from  the  rudi- 
ments of  the  world,  why,  as 
though  living  in  the  world,  are  ye 
subject  to  ordinances?  Ver.  21. 
(Touch  not,  taste  not,  handle 
not:  Ver.  22.  Which  are  all  to  pe- 
rish with  the  using.)  after  the  com- 
mandments and  doctrines  of  men. 

1  2  Kings  xviii.  30.  Neither  let 
Kezekiah  make  you  trust  in  the 
Lord,  saying,  The  Lord  will  sure- 
ly deliver  us,  and  this  city  shall 
not  be  delivered  into  the  hand 
of  the  king  of  Assyria.  Ver.  35. 
Who  are  they  among  all  the  gods 
of  the  countries,  that  have  deli- 
vered their  country  out  of  mine 
hand,  that  the  Lord  should  deli- 
ver Jerusalem  out  of  mine  hand  ] 
Exod.  v.  2.  And  Pharaoh  said, 
Who  is  the  Lord,  that  I  should 
obey  his  voice,  to  let  Israel  go]  I 
know  not  the  Lord,  neither  will  I 
let  Israel  go.  Psal.  exxxix.  20. 
For  they  speak  against  thee  wick- 
edly, and  thine  enemies  take  thy 
name  in  vain. 

k  Psal.  1.  16.  But  unto  the  wick- 
ed God  saith,  What  hast  thou  to 
do  to  declare  my  statutes,  or  that 
thou  shouldest  take  my  covenant 
in  thy  mouth ]  Ver.  17.  Seeing  thou 
hatest  instruction  and  castest  my 
words  behind  thee. 

1  Isa.  v.  12.  And  the  harp  and 
the  viol,  the  tabret  and  pipe,  and 
wine,  are  in  their  feasts:  but  they 
regard  not  the  work  of  the  Lord, 
neither  consider  the  operation  of 
his  hands. 

24 


m  2  Kings  xix.  22.  Whom  hast 
thou  reproached  and  blasphemed  ? 
and  against  whom  hast  thou  ex- 
alted thy  voice,  and  lifted  up  thine 
eyes  on  high  ]  even  against  the 
Holy  One  of  Israel.  Lev.  xxiv.  11. 
And  the  Israelitish  woman's  son 
blasphemed  the  name  of  the  Lord, 
and  cursed :  and  they  brought  him 
unto  Moses. 

n  Zech.  v.  4.  I  will  bring  it 
forth,  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts,  and 
it  shall  enter  into  the  house  of  the 
thief,  and  into  the  house  of  him 
that  sweareth  falsely  by  my  name : 
and  it  shall  remain  in  the  midst  of 
his  house,  and  shall  consume  it 
with  the  timber  thereof,  and  the 
stones  thereof.  Zech.  viii.  17.  And 
let  none  of  you  imagine  evil  in 
your  hearts  against  his  neighbour: 
and  love  no  false  oath :  for  all 
these  are  things  that  I  hate,  saith 
the  Lord. 

0  1  Sam.  xvii.  43.  And  the  Phi- 
listine said  unto  David,  Am  I  a 
dog,  that  thou  comest  to  me  with 
staves]  And  the  Philistine  cursed 
David  by  his  gods.  2  Sam.  xvi.  5. 
And  when  king  David  came  to 
Bahurim,  behold,  thence  came 
out  a  man  of  the  family  of  the 
house  of  Saul,  whose  name  was 
Shimei,  the  son  of  Gerar;  he  came 
forth,  and  cursed  still  as  he  came. 

*  Jer.  v.  7.  How  shall  I  pardon 
thee  for  this]  thy  children  have 
forsaken  me,  and  sworn  by  them 
that  are  no  gods:  when  I  had  fed 
them  to  the  full,  they  then  com- 
mitted adultery,  and  assembled 
themselves  by  troops  in  the  har- 
lots' houses.  Jer.  xxiii.  10.  For 
the  land  is  full  of  adulterers;  fcr 
because    of    swearing    the    land 


278 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


vows,q  and  lots;r  violating  of  our  oaths  and  vows,  if 
lawful;8  and  fulfilling  them,  if  of  things  unlawful;1 
murmuring  and  quarrelling  at/  curious  prying  into/  and 


mourneth;  the  pleasant  places  of 
the  wilderness  are  dried  up,  and 
their  course  is  evil,  and  their  force 
is  not  right. 

*J  Deut.  xxiii.  18.  Thou  shalt  not 
bring  the  hire  of  a  whore,  or  the 
price  of  a  dog,  into  the  house  of  the 
Lord  thy  God  for  any  vow :  for  even 
both  these  are  abomination  unto 
the  Lord  thy  God.  Acts  xxiii.  12. 
And  when  it  was  day,  certain  of 
the  Jews  banded  together*  and 
bound  themselves  under  a  curse, 
saying,  that  they  would  neither 
eat  nor  drink  till  they  had  killed 
Paul.  Ver.  14.  And  they  came  to 
the  chief  priests  and  elders,  and 
said,  We  have  bound  ourselves  un- 
der a  great  curse,  that  we  will 
eat  nothing  until  we  have  slain 
Paul. 

r  Esth.  iii.  7.  In  the  first  month, 
(that  is,  the  month  Nisan,)  in  the 
twelfth  year  of  king  Ahasuerus, 
they  cast  Pur,  that  is,  the  lot,  be- 
fore Hainan  from  day  to  day, 
and  from  month  to  month,  to  the 
twelfth  month,  that  is  the  month 
Adar.  Esth.  ix.  24.  Because  Ha- 
inan, the  son  of  Hammedatha  the 
Agagite,  the  enemy  of  all  the 
Jews,  had  devised  against  the  Jews 
to  destroy  them,  and  had  cast  Pur, 
(that  is,  the  lot,)  to  consume 
them,  and  1o  destroy  them.  Psal. 
xxii.  18.  They  part  my  garments 
among  them,  and  cast  lots  upon 
my  vesture. 

s  Psal.  xxiv.  4.  He  that  hath 
clean  hands,  and  a  pure  heart: 
who  hath  not  lifted  up  his  soul 
unto  vanity,  nor  sworn  deceit- 
fully. Ezek.  xvii.  16.  As  I  live, 
saith  the    Lord   God,    Surely   in 


the  place  where  the  king  dwell- 
eth  that  made  him  king,  whose  oath 
he  despised,  and  whose  covenant 
he  brake,  even  with  him  in  the 
midst  of  Babylon  be  shall  die.  Ver. 
18.  Seeing  he  despised  the  oath, 
by  breaking  the  covenant,  (when, 
lo,  he  had  given  his  hand,)  and  hath 
done  all  these  things,  he  shall  not 
escape.  Ver.  19.  Therefore  thus 
saith  the  Lord  God,  As  I  live,  sure- 
ly mine  oath  that  he  hath  despised, 
and  my  covenant  that  he  hath  bro- 
ken, even  it  will  I  recompense 
upon  his  own  head; 

1  Mark  vi.  26.  And  the  king  was 
exceeding  sorry :  yet  for  his  oath's 
sake,  and  for  their  sakes  which  sat 
with  him,  he  would  not  reject  her. 
1  Sam.  xxv.  22.  So  and  more  also  do 
God  unto  the  enemies  of  David,  if 
I  leave  of  all  that  pertain  to  him, 
by  the  morning  light,  any  that  piss- 
eth  against  the  wall.  Ver.  32. 
And  David  said  to  Abigail,  Blessed 
be  the  Lord  God  of  Israel,  which 
sent  thee  this  day  to  meet  me: 
Ver.  33.  And  blessed  be  thy  advice, 
and  blessed  be  thou,  which  hast 
kept  me  this  day  from  coming  to 
shed  blood,  and  from  avenging  my- 
self with  mine  own  hand.  Ver.  34. 
For  in  very  deed,  as  the  Lord  God 
of  Israel  liveth,  which  hath  kept 
me  back  from  hurting  thee,  except 
thou  hadst  hasted,  and  come  to 
meet  me,  surely  there  had  not  been 
left  unto  Nabal,  by  the  morning 
light,  any  that  pisseth  against  the 
wall. 

v  Rom.  ix.  14.  What  shall  we 
say  then?  Is  there  unrighteous- 
ness with  God?  God  forbid.  Ver.  19. 
Thou  wilt  say  then  unto  me,  Why 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


misapplying  of  God's  decrees  x  and  providences;5"  misinter- 
preting,*2 misapplying,*  or  any  way  perverting  the  word,  or 
any  part  of  it,b  to  profane  jests,c  curious  or  unprofitable 
questions,  vain  janglings,  or  the  maintaining  of  false  doc- 


doth  he  yet  find  fault?  for  who 
hath  resisted  his  will !  Ver.  20. 
Nay,  but,  O  man,  who  art  thou  that 
repliest  against  God  *  Shall  the 
thing  formed  say  to  him  that  formed 
it,  Why  hast  thou  made  me  thus ! 

w  Deut.  xxix.  29.  The  secret 
things  belong  unto  the  Lord  our 
God:  but  those  things  which  are 
revealed  belong  unto  us,  and  to  our 
children  for  ever,  that  we  may  do 
all  the  words  of  this  law. 

x  Rom.  iii.  5.  But  if  our  unrigh- 
teousness commend  the  righteous- 
ness of  God,  what  shall  we  say  1  Is 
God  unrighteous  who  taketh  ven- 
geance! (I  speak  as  a  man.)  Ver. 
7.  For  if  the  truth  of  God  hath 
more  abounded  through  my  lie  un- 
to his  glory,  why  yet  am  I  also 
judged  as  a  sinner  ]  Rom  vi.  1. 
What  shall  we  say  then!  Shall 
we  continue  in  sin,  that  grace  may 
abound !     God  forbid. 

y  Eccl.  viii.  11.  Because  sen- 
tence against  an  evil  work  is  not 
executed  speedily,  therefore  the 
hecrt  of  the  sons  of  men  is  fully  set 
in  them  to  do  evil.  Eccl.  ix.  3. 
This  is  an  evil  among  all  things 
that  are  done  under  the  sun,  that 
there  is  one  event  unto  all :  yea, 
also  the  heart  of  the  sons  of  men 
is  full  of  evil,  and  madness  is  in 
their  heart  while  they  live,  and 
after  that  they  go  to  the  dead. 
Psal.  xxxix.  throughout.  I  said  I 
will  take  heed  to  my  ways,  that  I 
sin  not  with  my  tongue. — 

z  Mat.  v.  21,  to  the  end.  (See 
Question  99,  letter  °. 

sk.  xiii.  22.  Because  with 


lies  ye  have  made  the  heart  of  the 
righteous  sad,  whom  I  have  not 
made  sad ;  and  strengthened  the 
hands  of  the  wicked,  that  he  should 
not  return  from  his  wicked  way. 
by  promising  him  life. 

fc  2  Pet  iii.  16.  As  also  in  all  his 
epistles,  speaking  in  them  of  these 
things;  in  which  are  some  things 
hard  to  be  understood,  which  they 
that  are  unlearned  and  unstable 
wrest,  as  they  do  also  the  other 
scriptures,  unto  their  own  destruc- 
tion. Mat.  xxii.  24.  to  Verse  31. 
Saying,  Master,  Moses  said,  If  a 
man  die,  having  no  children,  his 
brother  shall  marry  his  wife,  and 
raise  up  seed  unto  his  brother. 
Ver.  25.  Now  there  were  with  us 
seven  brethren.;  and  the  fir;  — 
Ver.  -j fore,  in  the  k  s 

rection,  whose  wife  shall  she  be  of 
the  seven !  for  they  all  had  her. 
Ver.  29.  Jesus  answered  and  said 
unto  them,  Ye  do  err,  not  know- 
ing the  scriptures,  nor  the  power 
of  God.  Ver.  30.  For  in  the  re- 
surrection— 

:  Isa.  xxii.  13.  And,  behold,  joy 
and  gladness,  slaying  oxen  and 
killing  sheep,  eating  flesh  and 
drinking  wine;  let  us  eat  and 
drink,  for  to-morrow  we  shall 
die.  Jer.  xxiii.  34.  And  as  for 
the  prophet,  and  the  priest,  and 
trie  people,  that  shall  say,  The 
burden  of  the  Lord,  I  will  even 
punish  that  man  and  his  house. 
Ver.  36.  And  the  burden  of  the  Lord 
shall  ye  mention  no  more:  for 
every  man's  word  shall  be  his 
burden ;  for  ye  have  perverted  the 


280 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


trines;d  abusing  it,  the  creatures,  or  any  thing  contained  un- 
der the  name  of  God,  to  charms,6  or  sinful  lusts  and  practices;f 


words  of  the  living  God,  of  the  Lord 
of  hosts  our  God.  Ver.  38.  But 
since  ye  say,  The  burden  of  the 
Lord ;  therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord, 
Because  ye  say  this  word,  The 
burden  of  the  Lord,  and  I  have  sent 
unto  you,  saying,  Ye  shall  not  say, 
The  burden  of  the  Lord. 

d  1  Tim.  i.  4.  Neither  give  heed 
to  fables  and  endless  genealogies, 
which  minister  questions,  rather 
than  godiy  edifying  which  is  in 
faith:  so  do.  Ver.  6.  From  which 
{faith)  some  having  swerved,  have 
turned  aside  unto  vain  jangling; 
Ver.  7.  Desiring  to  be  teachers  of 
the  law ;  understanding  neither 
what  they  say,  nor  whereof  they 
affirm.  1  Tim.  vi.  4.  He  is  proud, 
knowing  nothing,  but  doting  about 
questions  and  strifes  of  words, 
whereof  coineth  envy,  strife,  rail- 
ings, evil  surmisings,  Ver.  5.  Per- 
verse disputings  of  men  of  corrupt 
minds,  and  destitute  of  the  truth, 
supposing  that  gain  is  godliness: 
from  such  withdraw  thyself.  Ver. 
20.  O  Timothy,  keep  that  which 
is  committed  to  thy  trust,  avoiding 
profane  and  vain  babblings,  and 
oppositions  of  science  falsely  so 
called.  2  Tim.  ii.  14.  Of  these 
things  put  them  in  remembrance, 
charging  them  before  the  Lord, 
that  they  strive  not  about  words  to 
no  profit,  but  to  the  subverting  of 
the  hearers.  Tit.  iii.  9.  But  avoid 
foolish  questions,  and  genealogies, 
and  contentions,  and  strivings  about 
the  law  ;  for  they  are  unprofitable 
and  vain. 

e  Deut.  xviii.  10—14.  There 
shall  not  be  found  among  you  any 


one  that  maketh  his  son  or  his 
daughter  to  pass  through  the  fire, 
or  that  useth  divination,  or  an  ob- 
server of  times,  or  an  enchanter,  or 
a  witch,  Ver.  11.  Or  a  charmer,  or 
a  consulter  with  familiar  spirits,  or 
a  wizard,  or  a  necromancer.  Ver. 
12.  For  all  that  do  these  things 
are  an  abomination  unto  the  Lord, 
&c.  Acts  xix.  13.  Then  certain 
of  the  vagabond  Jews,  exorcists, 
took  upon  them  to  call  over  them 
which  had  evil  spirits  the  name 
of  the  Lord  Jesus,  saying,  We 
adjure  you  by  Jesus  whom  Paul 
preacheth. 

f  2  Tim.  iv.  3.  For  the  time  will 
come  when  they  will  not  endure 
sound  doctrine :  but  after  their  own 
lusts  shall  they  heap  to  themselves 
teachers,  having  itching  ears.  Ver. 
4.  And  they  shall  turn  away  their 
ears  from  the  truth,  and  shall  be 
turned  unto  fables.  Rom.  xiii.  13, 
Let  us  walk  honestly,  as  in  the  day ; 
not  in  rioting  and  drunkenness,  not 
in  chambering  and  wantonness,  not 
in  strife  and  envying:  Ver.  14.  But 
put  ye  on  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
and  make  not  provision  for  the  flesh, 
to  fulfil  the  lusts  thereof.  1  Kings 
xxi.  9.  And  she  wrote  in  the  letters, 
saying,  Proclaim  a  fast,  and  set  Na- 
both  on  high  among  the  people : 
Ver.  10.  And  set  two  men,  sons  of 
Belial,  before  him,  to  bear  witness 
against  him,  saying,  Thou  didst 
blaspheme  God  and  the  king:  and 
then  carry  him  out,  and  stone 
him,  that  he  may  die.  Jude, 
Ver.  4.  For  there  are  certain  men 
crept  in  unawares,  who  were 
before  of  old  ordained  to  this  con- 


'The  Larger  Catechism. 


281 


the  maligning,15  scorning,11  reviling,1  or  any  wise  opposing 
of  God's  truth,  grace,  and  ways;*  making  profession  of  re- 
ligion in  hypocrisy,  or  for  sinister  ends;1  being  ashamed  o£ 


demnation,  ungodly  men,  turn- 
ing the  grace  of  our  God  into  las- 
civiousness,  and  denying  the  only 
Lord  God,  and  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ. 

*  Acts  xiii.  45.  But  when  the 
Jews  saw  the  multitudes,  they  were 
filled  with  envy,  and  spake  against 
those  things  which  were  spoken 
by  Paul,  contradicting  and  blas- 
pheming. 1  John  iii.  12.  Not  as 
Cain,  who  was  of  that  wicked  one, 
and  slew  his  brother :  and  where- 
fore slew  he  him !  Because  his 
own  works  were  evil,  and  his  bro- 
ther's righteous. 

h  Psal.  i.  1.  Blessed  is  the  man 
that  walketh  not  in  the  counsel 
of  the  ungodly,  nor  standeth  in 
the  way  of  sinners,  nor  sitteth  in 
the  seat  of  the  scornful.  2  Pet. 
iii.  3.  Knowing  this  first,  that 
there  shall  come  in  the  last  days 
scoffers,  walking  after  their  own 
lusts. 

1  1  Pet.  iv.  4.  Wherein  they 
think  it  strange  that  ye  run  not 
with  them  to  the  same  excess  of 
riot,  speaking  evil  of  you. 

k  Acts  xiii.  45.  But  when  the 
Jews  saw  the  multitudes,  they 
were  filled  with  envy,  and  spake 
against  those  things  which  were 
spoken  by  Paul,  contradicting  and 
blaspheming.  Ver.  46.  Then~Paul 
and  Barnabas  waxed  bold,  and 
said,  It  was  necessary  that  the 
word  of  God  should  first  have  been 
spoken  to  you  :  but  seeing  ye  put 
it  from  you,  and  judge  yourselves 
unworthy  of  everlasting  life,  lo, 
we  turn  to  the  Gentiles.  Ver.  50. 
But  the  Jews  stirred  up  the  de- 
24* 


vout  and  honourable  women,  and 
the  chief  men  of  the  city,  and 
raised  persecution  against  Paul 
and  Barnabas,  and  expelled  them 
out  of  their  coasts.  Acts  iv.  lr. 
And  they  called  them,  and  com- 
manded them  net  to  speak  at  all 
nor  teach  in  the  name  cf  Jesus. 
Acts  xix.  9.  But  when  divers  were 
hardened  and  believed  not,  but 
spake  evil  of  that  way  before  the 
multitude,  he  departed  from  them, 
and  separated  the  disciples,  dis- 
puting daily  in  the  school  of  one 
Tyrannus.  1  Thess.  ii.  16.  For- 
bidding us  to  speak  to  the  Gen- 
tiles, that  they  might  be  saved,  to 
fill  up  their  sins  alway:  for  the 
wrath  is  come  upon  them  to  the 
uttermost.  Heb.  x.  29.  Of  how 
much  sorer  punishment,  suppose 
ye,  shall  he  be  thought  worthy, 
who  hath  trodden  under  foot  the 
Son  of  God,  and  hath  counted  the 
blood  of  the  covenant  wherewith 
he  was  sanctified  an  unholy  thing, 
and  hath  done  despite  unto  the 
Spirit  of  grace? 

1  2  Tim.  iii.  5.  Having  a  form  of 
godliness,  but  denying  the  power 
thereof:  from  such  turn  away. 
Mat.  xxiii.  14.  Wo  unto  you,  scribes 
and  Pharisees,  hypocrites!  for  ye 
devour  widows'  houses,  and  for  a 
pretence  make  long  prayer:  there- 
fore ye  shall  receive  the  greater 
damnation.  Mat.  vi.  1.  Take  heed 
that  ye  do  not  your  alms  before 
men,  to  be  seen  of  them ;  other- 
wise ye  have  no  reward  of  your 
Father  which  is  in  heaven.  Ver. 
2.  Therefore,  when  thou  doest 
thine  alms,  do  not  sound  a  trumpet 


282 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


k,m  or  a  shame  to  it,  by  unconformable,11  unwise,0  unfruit- 
ful,1* and  offensive  walking,*1  or  backsliding  from  it.r 

Q,.  1 14.  What  reasons  are  annexed  to  the  third  com- 
mandment? 

A.  The  reasons  annexed  to  the  third  commandment,  in 
these  words,  [The  Lord  thy  God,~\  and  [For  the  Lord  will  not 


before  thee,  as  the  hypocrites  do  in 
the  synagogues,  and  in  the  streets, 
that  they  may  have  glory  of  men. 
Verily  I  say  unto  you,  They  have 
their  reward.  Ver.  5.  And  when 
thou  prayest,  thou  shalt  not  be  as 
the  hypocrites  are;  for  they  love  to 
pray  standing  in  the  synagogues, 
and  in  the  corners  of  the  streets, 
that  they  may  be  seen  of  men. 
Verily  I  say  unto  you,  They  have 
their  reward.  Ver.  16.  Moreover, 
when  ye  fast,  be  not,  as  the  hypo- 
crites, of  a  sad  countenance:  for 
they  disfigure  their  faces,  that  they 
may  appear  unto  men  to  fast.  Ve- 
rily I  say  unto  you,  They  have  their 
reward. 

m  Mark  viii.  38.  Whosoever 
therefore  shall  be  ashamed  of  me, 
and  of  my  words,  in  this  adul- 
terous and  sinful  generation,  of 
him  also  shall  the  Son  of  man  be 
ashamed,  when  he  cometh  in  the 
glory  of  his  Father,  with  the  holy 
angels. 

D  Psal.  Ixxiii.  14.  For  all  the 
day  long  have  I  been  plagued, 
and  chastened  every  morning. 
Vrer.  15.  If  I  say,  I  will  speak  thus, 
behold,  I  should  offend  against  the 
generation  of  thy  children. 

0  1  Cor.  vi.  5.  I  speak  to  your 
shame.  Is  it  so  that  there  is  not 
a  wise  man  among  you?  no,  not 
one  that  shall  be  able  to  judge  be- 
tween his  brethren]  Ver.  6.  But 
brother  gocth  to  law  with  brother, 
and  that  before  the  unbelievers. 
Eph.  v.  15.    See  then  thatye  walk 


circumspectly,  not  as  fools,  but  as 
wise,  Ver.  16.  Redeeming  the  time, 
because  the  days  are  evil.  Ver.  17. 
Wherefore  be  ye  not  unwise,  but 
understanding  what  the  will  of  the 
Lord  is. 

p  Isa.  v.  4.  What  could  have 
been  done  more  to  my  vineyard, 
that  I  have  not  done  in  it?  where- 
fore, when  I  looked  that  it  should 
bring  forth  grapes,  brought  it  forth 
wild  grapes'?  2  Pet.  i.  8.  For  if 
these  things  be  in  you,  and  abound, 
they  make  you  that  ye  shall  nei- 
ther be  barren  nor  unfruitful  in  the 
knowledge  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 
Ver.  9.  But  he  that  lacketh  these 
things  is  blind,  and  cannot  see  afar 
off,  and  hath  forgotten  that  he  was 
purged  from  his  old  sins. 

i  Rom.  ii.  23.  Thou  that  rnakest 
thy  boast  of  the  law,  through  break- 
ing the  law  dishonourest  thou  God? 
Ver.  24.  For  the  name  of  God  is 
blasphemed  among  the  Gentiles 
through  you,  as  it  is  written. 

T  Gal.  iii.  1.  O  foolish  Gala- 
tians,  who  hath  bewitched  you, 
that  ye  should  not  obey  the  truth, 
before  whose  eyes  Jesus  Christ 
hath  been  evidently  set  forth,  cru- 
cified among  you?  Ver.  3.  Are  ye 
so  foolish?  having  begun  in  the 
Spirit,  are  ye  now  made  perfect 
by  the  flesh?  Heb.  vi.  6.  If  they 
shall  fall  away,  to  renew  them 
again  unto  repentance;  seeing  they 
crucify  to  themselves  the  Son  of 
God  afresh,  and  put  him  to  an  open 
shame. 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


23; 


hold  him  guiltless  that  taketh  his  name  in  vai?i,3~\  are,  be- 
cause he  is  the  Lord  and  our  God,  therefore  his  name  is  not  to 
be  profaned,  or  any  way  abused  by  us;1  especially  because 
he  will  be  so  far  from  acquitting  and  sparing  the  transgres- 
sors of  this  commandment,  as  that  he  will  not  suffer  them 
to  escape  his  righteous  judgment/  albeit  many  such  escape 
the  censures  and  punishments  of  men." 

Q.   115.    Which  is  the  fourth  commandment? 

A.  The  fourth  commandment  is,  Remember  the  sabbath-day, 
to  keep  it  holy.     Six  days  shalt  thou  labour,  and  do  all  thy 


114.  s  Exod.  xx.  7. 

1  Lev.  xix.  12.  And  ye  shall  not 
swear  by  my  name  falsely,  neither 
shalt  thou  profane  the  name  of  thy 
God :  I  am  the  Lord. 

T  Ezek.  xxxvi.  21.  But  I  had 
pity  for  mine  holy  name,  which 
the  house  of  Israel  had  profaned 
among  the  heathen,  whither  they 
went.  Ver.  22.  Therefore  say 
unto  the  house  of  Israel,  Thus 
saith  the  Lord  God,  I  do  not 
this  for  your  sakes,  O  house  of 
Israel,  but  for  mine  holy  name's 
sake,  which  ye  have  profaned 
among  the  heathen,  whither  ye 
went.  Ver.  23.  And  I  will  sanc- 
tify my  great  name,  which  was 
profaned  among  the  heathen, 
which  ye  have  profaned  in  the 
midst  of  them;  and  the  hea- 
then shall  know  that  I  am  the 
Lord,  saith  the  Lord  God,  v. 
I  shall  be  sanctified  in  you  before 
their  eyes.  Deutxxviii.  58.  If  thou 
wilt  not  observe  to  do  all  the  words 
of  this  law  that  are  written  in  this 
book,  that  thou  may  est  fear  this 
glorious  and  fearful  name,  THE 
LORD  THY  GOD:  Ver.  59.  Then 
the  Lord  will  make  thy  plagues 
wonderful,  and  the  plagues  of  thy 
seed,  even  great  plagues,  and  of 
long  continuance,  and  sore  sick- 
nesses, and  of  long  continuance. 
Zech.  v.  2.  And  he  said  unto  me, 


What  seest  thou !  And  I  answered, 
I  see  a  flying  roll;  the  length  there- 
of is  twenty  cubits,  and  the  breadth 
thereof  ten  cubits.  Ver.  3.  Then 
said  he  unto  me,  This  is  the 
curse  that  goeth  forth  over  the 
face  of  the  whole  earth:  for  every 
one  that  stealeth  shall  be  cut  off  as- 
on  this  side,  according  to  it;  and 
every  one  that  sweareth  shall  be 
cut  off  as  on  that  side,  according  to 
it.  Ver.  4.  I  will  bring  it  forth,, 
saith  the  Lord  of  hosts,  and  it 
shall  enter  into  the  house  of  the 
thief,,  and  into  the  house  of  him 
that  sweareth  falsely  by  my 
name. — 

w  1  Sam.  ii.  12.  Xow  the  sons 
of  Eli  were  sons  of  Belial,  they 
knew  not  the  Lord.  Ver.  17. 
Wherefore  the  sin  of  the  young 
men  was  very  great  before  the 
Lord;  for  men  abhorred  the  offer- 
ing of  the  Lord.  Ver.  22.  Xow  Eli 
was  very  old,  and  heard  all  that 
his  sons  did  unto  all  Israel,  and 
how  they  lay  with  the  women  that 
assembled  at  the  door  of  the  taber- 
nacle of  the  congregation.  Ver.  24. 
.  ray  sons :  Tor  it  is  no  good  re- 
port that  I  hear;.ye  make  the  Lord's 
people  to  transgress.  Compared 
with  1  Sam.  iii.  13.  For  I  have 
told  him,  that  I  will  judge  his  house 
for  ever,  for  the  iniquity  which  he 
knoweth;  because  his  sons  made 


284 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


work:  but  the  seventh  day  is  the  sabbath  of  the  Lord  thy  God: 
in  it  thou  shalt  not  do  any  work,  thou,  nor  thy  son,  nor  thy 
daughter,  thy  man-servant,  nor  thy  maid-servant,  nor  thy  cat- 
tle, nor  thy  stranger  that  is  within  thy  gates.  For  in  six  days 
the  Lord  made  heaven  and  earth,  the  sea,  and  all  that  in  them  is, 
and  rested  the  seventh  day;  wherefore  the  Lord  blessed  the  sab- 
bath-day, and  hallowed  it* 

Q.  1 16.    What  is  required  in  the  fourth  commandment? 

A.  The  fourth  commandment  requireth  of  all  men  the 
sanctifying  or  keeping  holy  to  God  such  set  times  as  he 
hath  appointed  in  his  word,  expressly  one  whole  day  in 
seven ;  which  was  the  seventh  from  the  beginning  of  the 
world  to  the  resurrection  of  Christ,  and  the  first  day  of  the 
week  ever  since,  and  so  to  continue  to  the  end  of  the  world ; 
which  is  the  Christian  sabbath/  and  in  the  New  Testament 
called  The  Lord's  day? 


themselves  vile,  and  he  restrained 
them  not. 

115.  x  Exod.  xx.  8—11. 

116.  y  Deut.  v.  12.  Keep  the  sab- 
bath-day to  sanctify  it,  as  the 
Lord  thy  God  hath  commanded 
thee.  Ver.  13.  Six  days  thou  shalt 
labour,  and  do  all  thy  work : 
Ver.  14.  But  the  seventh  day  is  the 
sabbath  of  the  Lord  thy  God : 
in  it  thou  shalt  not  do  any  work, 
thou,  nor  thy  son,  nor  thy  daugh- 
ter, nor  thy  man-servant,  nor  thy 
maid-servant,  nor  thine  ox,  nor 
thine  ass,  nor  any  of  thy  cattle, 
nor  thy  stranger  that  is  within 
thy  gates;  that  thy  man-servant 
and  thy  maid-servant  may  rest 
as  well  as  thou.  Gen.  ii.  2.  And  on 
the  seventh  day  God  ended  his  work 
which  he  had  made;  and  he  rested 
on  the  seventh  day  from  all  his 
work  which  he  had  made.  Ver.  3. 
And  God  blessed  the  seventh  day, 
and  sanctified  it;  because  that  in 
it  he  had  rested  from  all  his  work, 
which  God  created  and  made. 
1  Cor.  xvi.  1.  Now,  concerning 
the  collection  for  the  saints,  as  I 


have  given  order  to  the  churches 
of  Galatia,  even  so  do  ye.  Ver.  2. 
Upon  the  first  day  of  the  week, 
let  every  one  of  you  lay  by  him  in 
store,  as  God  hath  prospered  him 
that  there  be  no  gatherings  when 
I  come.  Acts  xx.  7.  And  upon  the 
first  day  of  the  week,  when  the 
disciples  came  together  to  break 
bread,  Paul  preached  unto  them, 
ready  to  depart  on  the  morrow, 
and  continued  his  speech  until 
midnight.  Mat.  v.  17.  Think  not 
that  I  am  come  to  destroy  the  law 
or  the  prophets:  I  am  not  come 
to  destroy,  but  to  fulfil.  Ver.  18. 
For  verily  I  say  unto  you,  Till 
heaven  and  earth  pass,  one  jot  or 
one  tittle  shall  in  no  wise  pass 
from  the  law,  till  all  be  fulfilled. 
Isa.  Ivi.  2.  Blessed  is  the  man  that 
doeth  this,  and  the  son  of  man 
that  layeth  hold  on  it:  that  keep- 
eth  the  sabbath  from  polluting 
it,  and  keepeth  his  hand  from 
doing  any  evil.  Ver.  4.  For  thus 
saith  the  Lord  unto  the  eunuchs 
that  keep  my  sabbaths,  and  choose 
the  things  that  please  me,  and  take 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


285 


Q.  117.  How  is  the  sabbatic  or  the  Lord's  day  to  be  sancti- 
fed? 

A.  The  sabbath  or  Lord's  day  is  to  be  sanctified  by  a  holy 
resting  all  the  day,a  not  only  from  such  works  as  are  at  all 
times  sinful,  but  even  from  such  worldly  employments  and 
recreations  as  are  on  other  days  lawful; b  and  making  it  our 


hold  of  my  covenant.  Ver.  6.  Also 
the  sons  of  the  stranger,  that  join 
themselves  to  the  Lord,  to  serve 
him,  and  to  love  the  name  of  the 
Lord,  to  be  his  servants,  every  one 
that  keepeth  the  sabbath  from  pol- 
luting it,  and  taketh  hold  of  my 
covenant :  Ver.  7.  Even  them  will 
I  bring  to  my  holy  mountain,  and 
make  them  joyful  in  my  house  of 
prayer:  their  burnt-offerings  and 
their  sacrifices  shall  be  accepted 
upon  mine  altar;  for  mine  house 
shall  be  called  a  house  of  prayer 
for  all  people. 

z  Rev.  i.  10.  I  was  in  the  Spirit 
on  the  Lord's  day,  and  heard  be- 
hind me  a  great  voice,  as  of  a 
trumpet. 

117.  a  Exod.  xx.  8.  Remember 
the  sabbath-day,  to  keep  it  holy. 
Ver.  10.  But  the  seventh  day  is 
the  sabbath  of  the  Lord  thy  God  : 
in  it  thou  shalt  not  do  any  work, 
thou,  nor  thy  son,  &c. 

bExod.  xvi.  25.  And  Moses  said, 
Eat  that  to-day ;  for  to-day  is  a  sab- 
bath unto  the  Lord:  to-day  ye  shall 
not  find  it  in  the  field.  Ver.  26.  Six 
days  ye  shall  gather  it;  but  on  the 
seventh  day,  which  is  the  sabbath, 
in  it  there  shall  be  none.  Ver.  27. 
And  it  came  to  pass,  that  there 
went  out  some  of  the  people  on 
the  seventh  day  for  to  gather,  and 
they  found  none.  Ver.  28.  And  the 
Lord  said  unto  Moses,  How  long 
refuse  ye  to  keep  my  command- 
ments and  my  laws  )  Neh.  xiii.  15. 
In  those  days  saw  I  in  Judah  some 
treading  wine-presses  on  the  sab- 


bath, and  bringing  in  sheaves,  and 
lading  asses:  as  also  wine,  grapes, 
and  figs,  and  all  manner  of  burdens, 
which  they  brought  into  Jerusalem 
on  the  sabbath-day :  and  I  testified 
against  them  in  the  day  wherein 
they  sold  victuals.  Ver.  16.  There 
dwelt  men  of  Tyre  also  therein, 
which  brought  fish,  and  all  man- 
ner of  ware,  and  sold  on  the  sab- 
bath unto  the  children  of  Judah, 
and  in  Jerusalem.  Ver.  17.  Then 
I  contended  with  the  nobles  of  Ju- 
dah, and  said  unto  them,  What 
evil  thing  is  this  that  ye  do,  and 
profane  the  sabbath-day !  Ver.  18. 
Did  not  your  fathers  thus,  and  did 
not  our  God  bring  all  this  evil 
upon  us,  and  upon  this  city]  yet 
ye  bring  more  wrath  upon  Israel 
by  profaning  the  sabbath.  Ver.  19. 
And  it  came  to  pass,  that  when  the 
gates  of  Jerusalem  began  to  be  dark 
before  the  sabbath,  I  commanded 
that  the  gates  should  be  shut,  and 
charged  that  they  should  not  be 
opened  till  after  the  sabbath :  and 
some  of  my  servants  set  I  at  the 
gates,  that  there  should  no  burden 
be  brought  in  on  the  sabbath-day. 
Ver.  20.  So  the  merchants,  and 
sellers  of  all  kind  of  ware,  lodged 
without  Jerusalem  once  or  twice. 
Ver.  21.  Then  I  testified  against 
them,  and  said  unto  them,  Why 
lodge  ye  about  the  wall  3  if  ye  do 
so  again,  I  will  lay  hands  on  you. 
From  that  time  forth  came  they 
no  more  on  the  sabbath.  Ver.  22. 
And  I  commanded  the  Levites  that 
they  should  cleanse   themselves 


286 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


delight  to  spend  the  whole  time  (except  so  much  of  it  as  is 
to  be  taken  up  in  works  of  necessity  and  mercy c)  in  the 
public  and  private  exercises  of  God's  worship  :d  and,  to  that 
end,  we  are  to  prepare  our  hearts,  and  with  such  foresight, 
diligence,  and  moderation,  to  dispose  and  seasonably  de- 
spatch our  worldly  business,  that  we  may  be  the  more  free 
and  fit  for  the  duties  of  that  day.6 


and  that  they  should  come  and  keep 
the  gates  to  sanctify  the  sabbath- 
day.  Remember  me,  O  my  God, 
concerning  this  also,  and  spare  me 
according  to  the  greatness  of  thy 
mercy.  Jer.  xvii.  21.  Thus  saith 
the  Lord,  Take  heed  to  yourselves, 
and  bear  no  burden  on  the  sab- 
bath-day, nor  bring  it  in  by  the 
gates  of  Jerusalem.  Ver.  22.  Nei- 
ther carry  forth  a  burden  out  of 
your  house  on  the  sabbath-day,  nei- 
ther do  ye  any  work,  but  hallow 
ye  the  sabbath-day,  as  I  command- 
ed your  fathers. 

c  Mat.  xii.  from  Verse  1,  to  13. 
At  that  time  Jesus  went  on  the 
sabbath-day  through  the  corn,  and 
his  disciples  were  a  hungered,  and 
began  to  pluck  the  ears  of  corn, 
and  to  eat.  Ver.  2.  But  when  the 
Pharisees  saw  it,  &c. 

d  Isa.  lviii.  13.  If  thou  turn  away 
thy  foot  from  the  sabbath,  from 
doing  thy  pleasure  on  my  holy 
day,  and  call  the  sabbath  a  delight, 
the  holy  of  the  Lord,  honourable, 
and  shalt  honour  him,  not  doing 
thine  own  ways,  nor  finding  thine 
own  pleasure,  nor  speaking  thine 
own  words.  Luke  iv.  16.  And  he 
came  to  Nazareth,  where  he  had 
been  brought  up :  and,  as  his  custom 
was,  he  went  into  the  synagogue 
on  the  sabbath-day,  and  stood  up 
for  to  read.  Acts  xx.  7.  And  upon 
the  first  day  of  the  week,  when 
the  disciples  came  together  to 
break  bread,  Paul  preached  unto 
them,  ready  to  depart  on  the  mor- 


row.    1  Cor.  xvi.  1.  Now  concern- 
ing the  collection  for  the  saints,  as 
I  have  given  order  to  the  churches 
of  Galatia,  even  so  do  ye.     Ver.  2. 
Upon  the  first  day  of  the  week  let 
every  one  of  you  lay  by   him   in 
store,  as  God  hath  prospered  him, 
that  there  be  no  gatherings  when 
I  come.     Psal.  xcii.  [title,  A  psalm 
or  song  for  the  sabbath-day.]     Isa. 
lxvi.  23.  And  it  shall  come  to  pass, 
that  from   one  new-moon  to  ano- 
ther, and  from  one  sabbath  to  ano- 
ther, shall  all  flesh  come  to  wor-  . 
ship  before   me,    saith  the   Lord.  . 
Lev.  xxiii.  3.  Six  days  shall  work 
be  done,  but  the  seventh  day  is  the  I 
sabbath  of  rest,  a   holy  convoca-  | 
tion ;  ye  shall  do  no  work  therein  :  - 
it  is  the  sabbath  of  the  Lord  in  all  - 
your  dwellings. 

e  Exod.  xx.   8.   Remember  the 
sabbath-day,  to  keep  it  holy.  Luke 
xxiii.  54.  And  that  day  was  the  I 
preparation,  and  the  sabbath  drew "f 
on.     Ver.  56.  And  they  returned, 
and  prepared  spices  and  ointments;  £ 
and    rested    the    sabbath-day,   ac-* 
cording     to    the     commandment.J 
Exod.  xvi.  22.  And  it  came  to  pass, 
that  on  the  sixth  day  they  gathered.- 
twice  as  much  bread,  two  omers 
for  one  man  :  and  all  the  rulers  of 
the   congregation  came   and   told 
Moses.    Ver.  25.  And  Moses  said, 
Eat  that  to-day;    for  to-day  is  a 
sabbath  unto  the  Lord:  to-day  ye. 
shall  not  find  it  in  the  field.     Ver.. 
26.  Six  days  ye  shall  gather  it ;  but 
on  the  seventh  day,  which  is  the 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


2$f 


Q.  118.  Why  is  the  charge  of  keeping  the  sabbath  more  spe- 
cialty directed  to  governors  of  families,  and  other  superiors? 

A.  The  charge  of  keeping  the  sabbath  is  more  specially 
directed  to  governors  of  families,  and  other  superiors,  be- 
cause they  are  bound  not  only  to  keep  it  themselves,  but  to 
see  that  it  be  observed  by  all  those  that  are  under  their 
charge ;  and  because  they  are  prone  oft-times  to  hinder 
them  by  employments  of  their  own.f 

Q.  119.  What  are  the  sins  forbidden  in  the  fourth  com- 
mandmenO 

Jl.  The  sins  forbidden  in  the  fourth  commandment  are, 
allomissions  of  the  duties  required,5  all  careless,  negligent,  and 
unprofitable  performing  of  them,  and  being  weary  of  them; h 


sabbath,  in  it  there  shall  be  none. 
Ver.  29.  See,  for  that  the  Lord 
hath  given  you  the  sabbath,  there- 
fore he  giveth  you  on  the  sixth 
day  the  bread  of  two  days:  abide 
ye  every  man  in  his  place;  let  no 
man  go  out  of  his  place  on  the  se- 
venth day.  Neh.  xiii.  19.  [See 
letter  \] 

US.  f  Exod.  xx.  10.  But  the  se- 
venth day  is  the  sabbath  of  the 
Lord  thy  God :  in  it  thou  shalt  not 
do  any  work,  thou,  nor  thy  son, 
nor  thy  daughter,  thy  man-ser- 
vant, nor  thy  maid-servant,  nor 
thy  cattle,  nor  thy  stranger  that  is 
within  thy  gates.  Josh.  xxiv.  15. 
And  if  it  seem  evil  unto  you  to 
serve  the  Lord,  choose  you  this 
day  whom  ye  will  serve;  whether 
the  gods  which  your  fathers  served, 
that  were  on  the  other  side  of  the 
flood,  or  the  gods  of  the  Amorites, 
in  whose  land  ye  dwell:  but  as  for 
me  and  my  house,  we  will  serve 
the  Lord.  Neh.  xiii.  15,  17.  [See 
above  in  b.]  Jer.  xvii.  20.  And  say 
unto  them,  Hear  ye  the  word  of 
the  Lord,  ye  kings  of  Judah,  and 
all  Judah,  and  all  the  inhabitants 
of  Jerusalem,  that  enter  in  by 
these  gates.     Ver.  21,  22.   [See 


above  in  b.]  Exod.  xxiii.  12.  Six 
days  thou  shalt  do  thy  work,  and 
on  the  seventh  day  thou  shalt  rest: 
that  thine  ox  and  thine  ass  may 
rest,  and  the  son  of  thine  hand- 
maid and  the  stranger  may  be  re- 
freshed. 

119.  s  Ezek.  xxii.  26.  Her  priests 
have  violated  my  law,  and  have 
profaned  mine  holy  things:  they 
have  put  no  difference  between 
the  holy  and  profane,  neither  have 
they  showed  difference  between 
the  unclean  and  the  clean,  and 
have  hid  their  eyes  from  my  sab- 
baths, and  I  am  profaned  among 
them. 

h  Acts  xx.  7.  And  upon  the  first 
day  of  the  week,  when  the  dis- 
ciples came  together  to  break 
bread,  Paul  preached  unto  them, 
ready  to  depart  on  the  morrow, 
and  continued  his  speech  until 
midnight.  Ver.  9.  And  there  sat  in 
a  window  a  certain  young  man 
named  Eutychus,  being  fallen  in- 
to a  deep  sleep;  and  as  Paul  was 
long  preaching,  he  sunk  down 
with  sleep,  and  fell  down  from 
the  third  loft,  and  was  taken  up 
dead.  Ezek.  xxxiii.  30.  Also,  thou 
son  of  man,  the  children  of  thy 


. 


£B8  The  Larger  Catechism. 

all  profaning  the  day  by  idleness,  and  doing  that  which  is 
in  itself  sinful;1  and  by  all  needless  works,  words,  and 
thoughts,  about  our  worldly  employments  and  recreations.k 

Q.  120.  What  are  the  reasons  annexed  to  the  fourth  com- 
mandment, the  more  to  enforce  it  ? 

«/?.  The  reasons  annexed  to  the  fourth  commandment,  the 
more  to  enforce  it,  are  1aken  from  the  equity  of  it,  God 
allowing  us  six  days  of  seven  for  our  own  affairs,  and  re- 
serving but  one  for  himself,  in  these  words,  Six  days  shalt 
thou  labour  and  do  all  thy  work:1  from  God's  challenging  a  spe- 
cial propriety  in  that  day,  The  seventh  day  is  the  sabbath  of 
the  Lord  thy  God : m  from  the  example  of  God,  who  in  six 
days  made  heaven  and  earth,  the  sea,  and  all  that  in  them  is,  and 


people  still  are  talking  against 
thee  by  the  walls,  and  in  the  doors 
of  the  houses,  and  speak  one  to 
another,  every  one  to  his  brother, 
saying,  Come,  I  pray  you,  and 
hear  what  is  the  word  that  cometh 
forth  from  the  Lord.  Ver.  31.  And 
they  come  unto  thee  as  the  people 
cometh,  and  they  sit  before  thee 
as  my  people,  and  they  hear  thy 
words,  but  they  will  not  do  them ; 
for  with  their  mouth  they  show 
much  love,  but  their  heart  goeth 
after  their  covetousness.  Ver.  32. 
And,  lo,  thou  art  unto  them  as  a 
very  lovely  song  of  one  that  hath 
a  pleasant  voice,  and  can  play  well 
on  an  instrument:  for  they  hear 
thy  words,  but  they  do  them  not. 
Amos  viii.  5.  Saying,  When  will 
the  new-moon  be  gone,  that  we 
may  sell  corn?  and  the  sabbath, 
that  we  may  set  forth  wheat, 
making  the  ephah  small,  and  the 
shekel  great,  and  falsifying  the  ba- 
lances by  deceit?  Mai.  i.  13.  Ye 
said  also,  Behold,  what  a  weari- 
ness is  it!  and  ye  have  snuffed  at 
it,  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts :  and  ye 
brought  that  which  was  torn,  and 
the  lame,  and  the  sick;  thus  ye 
brought  an  offering :  should  I  ac- 


cept this  of  your  hands?  saith  the 
Lord. 

1  Ezek.  xxiii.  38.  Moreover,  this 
they  have  done  unto  me;  they 
have  defiled  my  sanctuary  in  the 
same  day,  and  have  profaned  my 
sabbaths. 

k  Jer.  xvii.  24.  And  it  shall  come 
to  pass,  if  ye  diligently  hearken 
unto  me,  saith  the  Lord,  to  bring 
in  no  burden  through  the  gates  of 
this  city  on  the  sabbath-day,  but 
hallow  the  sabbath-day,  to  do  no 
work  therein ;  Ver.  27.  But  if  ye 
will  not  hearken  unto  me  to  hallow 
the  sabbath-day,  and  not  to  bear  a 
burden,  even  entering  in  at  the 
gates  of  Jerusalem  on  the  sab- 
bath-day; then  will  I  kindle  a  fire 
in  the  gates  thereof,  and  it  shall 
devour  the  palaces  of  Jerusalem, 
and  shall  not  be  quenched.  Isa. 
lviii.  13.  If  thou  turn  away  thy 
foot  from  the  sabbath,  from  doing 
thy  pleasure  on  my  holy  day,  and 
call  the  sabbath  a  delight,  the  holy 
of  the  Lord,  honourable,  and  shalt 
honour  him,  not  doing  thine  own 
ways,  nor  finding  thine  own  plea- 
sure, nor  speaking  thine  own  words. 

120.  l  Exod.  xx.  9. 

m  Exod,  xx.  10. 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


289 


rested  the  seventh  day:  and  from  that  blessing  which  God  put 
upon  that  day,  not  only  in  sanctifying  it  to  be  a  day  for  his 
service,  but  in  ordaining  it  to  be  a  means  of  blessing  to  us 
in  our  sanctifying  it ;  Wherefore  the  Lord  blessed  the  sabbath- 
day,  and  hallowed  it.n 

Q.  121.  Why  is  the  word  Remember  set  in  the  beginning  of 
the  fourth  commandment? 

A.  The  word  Remember  is  set  in  the  beginning  of  the 
fourth  commandment,0  partly,  because  of  the  great  benefit  of 
remembering  it,  we  being  thereby  helped  in  our  preparation 
to  keep  it,*  and,  in  keeping  it,  better  to  keep  all  the  rest 
of  the  commandments/1  and  to  continue  a  thankful  remem- 
brance of  the  two  great  benefits  of  creation  and  redemption, 
which  contain  a  short  abridgment  of  religion ; r  and  partly, 


D  Exod.  xx.  11. 

T2L  °Exod.  xx.  8. 

p  Exod.  xvi.  23.  And  he  said 
unto  them,  This  is  that  which  the 
Lord  hath  said,  To-morrow  is 
the  rest  of  the  holy  sabbath  unto 
the  Lord:  bake  that  which  ye 
will  bake  to-day,  and  seethe  that 
ye  will  seethe;  and  that  which 
remaineth  over,  lay  up  for  you 
to  be  kept  until  the  morning-. 
Luke  xxiii.  54.  And  that  day  was 
the  preparation,  and  the  sabhath 
drew  on.  Ver.  56.  And  they  re- 
turned, and  prepared  spices  and 
ointments;  and  rested  the  sab- 
bath-day, according  to  the  com- 
mandment. Compared  with  Mark 
xv.  42.  And  now  when  the  even 
was  come,  because  it  was  the  pre- 
paration, that  is,  the  day  before 
the  sabbath.  Neh.  xiii.  19.  And 
it  came  to  pass,  that,  when  the 
gates  of  Jerusalem  began  to  be 
dark  before  the  sabbath,  I  com- 
manded that  the  gates  should  be 
shut,  and  charged  that  they  should 
not  be  opened  till  after  the  sab- 
bath :  and  some  of  my  servants  set 
I  at  the  gates,  that  there  should  no 
25 


burden  be  brought  in  on  the  sab- 
bath-day. 

i  Psal.  xcii.  [title,  A  psalm  or 
song  for  the  sabbath-day.]  Com- 
pared  icith  Ver.  13.  Those  that 
be  planted  in  the  house  of  the  Lord 
shall  flourish  in  the  courts  of  our 
God.  And  Ver.  14.  They  shall 
still  bring  forth  fruit  in  old  age; 
they  shall  be  fat  and  flourishing. 
Ezek.  xx.  12.  Moreover  also,  I 
gave  them  my  sabbaths,  to  be  a 
sign  between  me  and  them,  that 
they  might  know  that  I  am  the 
Lord  that  sanctify  them.  Ver.  19. 
I  am  the  Lord  your  God ;  walk  in 
my  statutes,  and  keep  my  judg- 
ments, and  do  them.  Ver.  20. 
And  hallow  my  sabbaths;  and 
they  shall  be  a  sign  between  me 
and  you,  that  ye  may  know  that  I 
am  the  Lord  your  God. 

r  Gen.  ii.  2.  And  on  the  seventh 
day  God  ended  his  work  which  he 
had  made:  and  he  rested  on  the 
seventh  day  from  all  his  work 
which  he  had  made.  Ver.  3.  And 
God  blessed  the  seventh  day,  and 
sanctified  it:  because  that  in  it 
he  had  rested  from  all  his  work 


£90 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


because  we  are  very  ready  to  forget  it,s  for  that  there  is 
less  light  of  nature  for  it,*  and  yet  it  restraineth  our  natu- 
ral liberty  in  things  at  other  times  lawful;7  that  it  cometh 
but  once  in  seven  days,  and  many  worldly  businesses  come 
between,  and  too  often  take  off  our  minds  from  thinking  of 
it,  either  to  prepare  for  it,  or  to  sanctify  it ; w  and  that  Sa- 
tan, with  his  instruments  much  labour  to  blot  out  the  glory, 
and  even  the  memory  of  it,  to  bring  in  all  religion  and 
impiety/ 


which  God  created  and  made. 
Psal.  cxviii.  22.  The  stone  which 
the  builders  refused  is  become  the 
head-stone  of  the  corner.  Ver.  24. 
This  is  the  day  which  the  Lord 
hath  made,  we  will  rejoice  and  be 
glad  in  it.  Compared  with  Acts 
iv.  10.  Be  it  known  unto  you  all, 
and  to  all  the  people  of  Israel, 
that  by  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ 
of  Nazareth,  whom  ye  crucified, 
whom  God  raised  from  the  dead, 
even  by  him  doth  this  man  stand 
here  before  you  whole.  Ver.  11. 
This  is  the  stone  which  was  set  at 
nought  of  you  builders,  which  is 
become  the  head  of  the  corner. 
Rev.  i.  10.  I  was  in  the  Spirit  on 
the  Lord's  day,  and  heard  behind 
me  a  great  voice,  as  of  a  trumpet. 

8Ezek.  xxii.26.  Her  priests  hav<3 
violated  my  law,  and  have  pro- 
faned mine  holy  things :  they  have 
put  no  difference  between  the 
holy  and  profane,  neither  have 
they  showed  difference  between 
the  unclean,  and  the  clean,  and 
have  hid  their  eyes  from  my  sab- 
baths, and  I  am  profaned  among 
them. 

1  Neh.  ix.  14.  And  madest  known 
unto  them  thy  holy  sabbath,  and 
commandest  them  precepts,  sta- 
tutes, and  laws,  by  the  hand  of 
Moses  thy  servant. 

T  Exod.  xxxiv.  21.  Six  days  thou 
shalt  work,  but   on   the  seventh 


day  thou   shalt  rest:    in    earing- 
time  and  in  harvest  thou  shalt  rest. 

w  Deut.  v.  14.  But  the  seventh 
day  is  the  sabbath  of  the  Lord  thy 
God:  in  it  thou  shalt  not  do  any 
work,  thou,  nor  thy  son,  nor  thy 
daughter,  nor  thy  man-servant, 
nor  thy  maid-servant,  nor  thine 
ox,  nor  thine  ass,  nor  any  of  thy 
cattle,  nor  thy  stranger  that  is 
within  thy  gates;  that  thy  man- 
servant and  thy  maid-servant  may 
rest  as  well  as  thou.  Ver.  15.  And 
remember  that  thou  wast  a  ser- 
vant in  the  land  of  Egypt,  and 
that  the  Lord  thy  God  brought 
thee  out  thence,  through  a  mighty 
hand,  and  by  a  stretched-out  arm: 
therefore  the  Lord  thy  God  com- 
manded thee  to  keep  the  sabbath- 
day.  Amos  viii.  5.  Saying,  When 
will  the  new  moon  be  gone,  that 
we  may  sell  corn'?  and  the  sab- 
bath, that  we  may  set  forth  wheat, 
making  the  ephah  small,  and  the 
shekel  great,  and  falsifying  the 
balances  by  deceit? 

x  Lam.  i.  7-  Jerusalem  remem- 
bered in  the  days  of  her  affliction, 
and  of  her  miseries,  all  her  plea- 
sant things  that  she  had  in  the  days 
of  old,  when  her  people  fell  into 
the  hand  of  the  enemy,  and  none 
did  help  her;  the  adversaries  saw 
her,  and  did  mock  at  her  sabbaths, 
Jer.  xvii.  21.  Thus  saith  the  Lo 
Take  heed  to  yourselves,  and  be 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


291 


Q.  122.  What  is  the  sura  of  the  six  commandments  which 
contain  our  duty  to  man  ? 

A.  The  sum  of  the  six  commandments  which  contain 
our  duty  to  man,  is,  to  love  our  neighbour  as  ourselves/ 
and  to  do  to  others  what  we  would  have  them  to  do  to 
us.7 

Q.   123.    Which  is  the  fifth  commandment  ? 

A.  The  fifth  commandment  is,  Honour  thy  father  and 
thy  mother:  that  thy  days  may  be  long  upon  the  land 
which  the  Lord  thy  God giveth  thee* 

Q.  124.  Who  are  meant  by  father  and  mother  in  the  fifth 
commandment? 

A.  By  father  and  mother,  in  the  fifth  commandment,  are 
meant,  not  only  natural  parents,b  but  all  superiors  in  age,c 
and  gifts ; d  and  especially  such  as,  by  God's  ordinance,  are 


no  burden  on  the  sabbath-day. 
nor  bring  it  in  by  the  gates  of 
Jerusalem.  Ver.  22.  Neither  carry 
forth  a  burden  out  of  your  houses 
on  the  sabbath-day,  neither  do  ye 
any  work,  but  hallow  ye  the  sab- 
bath-day, as  I  commanded  your 
fathers."  Yer.  23.  But  they  obeyed 
not,  neither  inclined  their  ear,  but 
made  their  neck  stiff,  that  they 
might  not  hear  nor  receive  in- 
struction. Neh.  xiii.  from  Verse 
15,  to  23.  In  those  days  saw  I  in 
Judah  some  treading  wine-presses 
on  the  sabbath-day. — [See  in  let- 
ter b.] 

122.  J  Mat.  xxii.  39.  And  the 
second  is  like  unto  it,  Thou  shalt 
love  thv  neighbour  as  thyself. 

_  z  Mat.  vii.  12.  Therefore  all 
things  whatsoever  ye  would  that 
men  should  do  to  you,  do  ye  even 
so  to  them  :  for  this  is  the  law  and 
the  prophets. 

123.  a  Exod.  xx.  12. 

124.  b  Prov.  xxiii.  22.  Hearken 
unto  thy  father  that  begat  thee, 
and  despise  not  thy  mother  when 
she  is  old.*    Ver.  25.  Thy  father 


and  thy  mother  shall  be  glad ;  and 
she  that  bare  thee  shall  rejoice. 
Eph.  vi.  1.  Children,  obey  your  pa- 
rents in  the  Lord  :  for  this  is  right. 
Ver.  2.  Honour  thy  father  and  mo- 
ther, (which  is  the  first  command- 
ment with  promise.) 

c  1  Tim.  v.  1.  Rebuke  not  an 
elder,  but  entreat  him  as  a  father, 
and  the  younger  men  as  brethren: 
Ver.  2.  The  elder  women  as  mo- 
thers, the  younger  as  sisters,  with 
all  puritv. 

d  Gen.  iv.  20.  And  Adah  bare 
Jabal :  he  was  the  father  of  such 
as  dwell  in  tents,  and  of  such  as 
have  cattle.  Ver.  21.  And  his  bro- 
ther's name  was  Jubal:  he  was 
the  father  of  all  such  as  handle 
the  harp  and  organ.  Ver.  22.  And 
Zillah,  she  also  bare  Tubal-cain, 
an  instructer  of  every  artificer  in 
brass  and  iron. — Gen.  xlv.  8.  So 
now  it  was  not  you  that  sent  me 
hither,  but  God:  and  he  hath 
made  me  a  father  to  Pharaoh, 
and  lord  of  all  his  house,  and  a 
ruler  throughout  all  the  land  of 
Egypt. 


292 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


over  us  in  place  of  authority,  whether  in  family,6  church/ 
or  commonwealth.5 

Q,.   125.  Why  are  superiors  styled  Father  and  Mother? 

%ft.  Superiors  are  styled  Father  and  Mother,  both  to  teach 
them  in  all  duties  towards  their  inferiors,  like  natural  pa- 
rents, to  express  love  and  tenderness  to  them,  according  to 
their  several  relations;11  and  to  work  inferiors  to  a  greater 
willingness  and  cheerfulness  in  performing  their  duties  to 
their  superiors,  as  to  their  parents.1 

Q.  126.  What  is  the  general  scope  of  the  Jifth  command- 
ment ? 

A.  The  general  scope  of  the  fifth  commandment  is,  the 


e  2  Kings  v.  13.  And  his  ser- 
vants came  near,  and  spake  unto 
him,  and  said,  My  father,  if  the 
prophet  had  bid  thee  do  some  great 
thing,  wouldest  thou  not  have  done 
it!  how  much  rather  then,  when 
he  saith  to  thee,  Wash,  and  be 
clean. 

f  2  Kings  ii.  12.  And  Elisha  saw 
it,  and  he  cried,  My  father,  my  fa- 
ther, the  chariot  of  Israel,  and  the 
horsemen  thereof. — 2  Kings  xiii. 
14.  Now  Elisha  was  fallen  sick,  of 
his  sickness  whereof  he  died:  and 
Joash  the  king  of  Israel  came 
down  unto  him,  and  wept  over  his 
face,  and  said,  O  my  father,  my  fa- 
ther, the  chariot  of  Israel,  and  the 
horsemen  thereof!  Gal.  iv.  19. 
My  little  children,  of  whom  I  tra- 
vail in  birth  again  until  Christ  be 
formed  in  you. 

£  Isa.  xlix.  23.  And  kings  shall 
be  thy  nursing-fathers,  and  their 
queens  thy  nursing-mothers:  they 
shall  bow  down  to  thee  with  their 
face  toward  the  earth,  and  lick  up 
the  dust  of  thy  feet,  and  thou  shalt 
know  that  I  am  the  Lord:  for  they 
shall  not  be  ashamed  that  wait  for 
me. 

125. h  Eph.  vi.  4.  And  ye,  fathers, 
provoke  not  your  children  to  wrath: 
but  bring  them  up  in  the  nurture 


and  admonition  of  the  Lord.  2  Cor. 
xii.  14.  For  the  children  ought  not 
to  lay  up  for  the  parents,  but  the  pa- 
rents for  the  children.  1  Thess.  ii. 
7.  But  we  were  gentle  among  you, 
even  as  a  nurse  cherisheth  her 
children.  Ver.  S.  So,  being  affec- 
tionately desirous  of  you,  we  were 
willing  to  have  imparted  unto  you, 
not  the  gospel  of  God  only,  but  also 
our  own  souls,  because  ye  were 
dear  unto  us.  Ver.  11.  As  ye 
know  how  we  exhorted,  and  com- 
forted, and  charged  every  one  of 
you,  as  a  father  doth  his  children. 
Numb.  xi.  11.  And  Moses  said  un- 
to the  Lord.  Wherefore  hast  thou 
afflicted  thy  servant?  and  where- 
fore have  I  not  found  favour  in  thy 
sight,  that  thou  layest  the  burden 
of  all  this  people  upon  me?  Ver. 
12.  Have  I  conceived  all  this  peo- 
ple? have  I  begotten  them,  that 
thou  shouldest  say  unto  me,  Carry 
them  in  thy  bosom  (as  a  nursing 
father  beare'th  the  sucking  child) 
unto  the  land  which  thou  swarest 
unto  their  fathers? 

1  1  Cor.  iv.  14.  I  write  not  these 
things  to  shame  you,  but  as  my  be- 
loved sons  I  warn  you.  Ver.  15. 
For  though  ye  have  ten  thousand 
instructers  in  Christ,  yet  have 
ye  not  many  fathers :  for  in  Christ 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


29; 


performance  of  those  duties  which  we  mutually  owe  in  our 
several  relations,  as  inferiors,  superiors,  or  equals.* 

Q.  127.  What  is  the  honour  that  inferiors  owe  to  their  supe- 
riors ? 

A.  The  honour  which  inferiors  owe  to  their  superiors  is,  all 
due  reverence  in  heart,1  word,™  and  behaviour;11  prayer  and 
thanksgiving  for  them;0  imitation  of  their  virtues  and  graces  ;* 
willing  obedience  to  their  lawful  commands  and  counsels;*1 


Jesus  I  have  begotten  you  through 
the  gospel.  Ver.  16.  Wherefore 
I  beseech  vou,  be  ye  followers  of 
me.     2  Kings  v.  13.  [See  letter  e.] 

126.  kEph.  v.  21.  Submitting 
yourselves  one  to  another  in  the 
fear  of  God.  i  Pet.  ii.  17.  Honour 
all  men.  Love  the  brotherhood. 
Fear  God.  Honour  the  king. 
Rom.  xii.  10.  Be  kindly  affectioned 
one  to  another  with  brotherly  love; 
in  honour  preferring  one  another. 

127.  l  Mai.  i.  6.  A  son  honoureth 
his  father,  and  a  servant  his  mas- 
ter; if  then  I  be  a  father,  where  is 
mine  honour]  and  if  I  be  a  mas- 
ter, where  is  my  fear?  saith  the 
Lord  of  hosts  unto  you,  O  priests, 
that  despise  my  name  :  and  ye  say, 
Wherein  have  we  despised  thy 
name?  Lev.  xix.  3.  Ye  shall  fear 
every  man  his  mother  and  his  fa- 
ther, and  keep  my  sabbaths:  I  am 
the  Lord  your  God. 

"m  prov  xxxu  28.  Her  children 
arise  up,  and  call  her  blessed ;  her 
husband  also,  and  he  praiseth  her,, 
1  Pet  iii.  6.  Even  as  Sara  obeyed 
Abraham,  calling  him  lord  :  whose 
daughters  ye  are  as  long  as  ye  do 
well,  and  are  not  afraid  with  any 
amazement. 

n  Lev.  xix.  32.  Thou  shalt  rise 
up  before  the  hoary  head,  and 
honour  the  face  of  the  old  man, 
and  fear  thy  God  :  I  am  the  Lord. 
1  Kings  ii.  19.  Bath-sheba  there- 
fore went  unto  king  Solomon,  to 
speak  unto  him  for  Adonijah;  and 
25* 


the  king  rose  up  to  meet  her,  and 
bowed  himself  unto  her,  and  sat 
down  on  his  throne,  and  caused  a 
seat  to  be  set  for  the  king's  mo- 
ther; and  she  sat  on  his  right 
hand. 

°  1  Tim.  ii.  1.  I  exhort  there- 
fore, that,  first  of  all,  supplications, 
prayers,  intercessions,  and  giving 
of  thanks,  be  made  for  all  men: 
Ver.  2.  For  kings,  and  for  all  that 
are  in  authority ;  that  we  may 
lead  a  quiet  and  peaceable  life  in 
all  godliness  and  honesty. 

p  Heb.  xiii.  7.  Remember  them 
which  have  the  rule  over  you, 
who  have  spoken  unto  you  the 
word  of  God  :  w7hose  faith  follow, 
considering  the  end  of  their  con- 
versation. Phil.  iii.  17.  Brethren, 
be  followers  together  of  me,  and 
mark  them  which  walk  so,  as  ye 
have  us  for  an  ensample. 

i  Eph.  vi.  I.  Children,  obey 
your  parents  in  the  Lord  ;  for  this 
is  right.  Ver.  2.  Honour  thy  father 
and  mother,  (which  is  the  first 
commandment  with  promise.) 
Ver.  5.  Servants,  be  obedient  to 
them  that  are  your  masters  ac- 
cording to  the  fiesh,  with  fear  and 
trembling,  in  singleness  of  your 
heart,  as  unto  Christ:  Ver.  6.  Not 
with  eye-service,  as  men-pleasers, 
but  as  the  servants  of  Christ, 
doing  the  will  of  God  from  the 
heart;  Ver.  7.  With  good-will  do- 
ing service,  as  to  the  Lord,  and 
not  to  men.    1  Pet,  ii.  13.  Sub- 


294 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


due  submission  to  their  corrections;1  fidelity  to,9  defence,1 
and  maintenance  of  their  persons  and  authority,  according 


mit  yourselves  to  every  ordinance 
of  man  for  the  Lord's  sake  :  whe- 
ther it  be  to  the  king,  as  supreme  ; 
Ver.  14.  Or  unto  governors,  as 
unto  them  that  are  sent  by  him  for 
the  punishment  of  evil-doers,  and 
for  the  praise  of  them  that  do  well. 
Rom.  xiii.  1.  Let  every  soul  be 
subject  unto  the  higher  powers. 
For  there  is  no  power  but  of  God : 
the  powers  that  be  are  ordained  of 
God.  Ver.  2.  Whosoever  there- 
fore resisteth  the  power,  resisteth 
the  ordinance  of  God:  and  they 
that  resist  shall  receive  to  them- 
selves damnation.  Ver.  3.  For 
rulers  are  not  a  terror  to  good 
works,  but  to  the  evil.  Wilt  thou 
then  not  be  afraid  of  the  power  1  do 
that  which  is  good,  and  thou  shalt 
have  praise  of  the  same  :  Ver.  4. 
For  he  is  the  minister  of  God  to 
thee  for  good.  But  if  thou  do  that 
which  is  evil,  be  afraid;  for  he 
beareth  not  the  sword  in  vain : 
for  he  is  the  minister  of  God,  a  re- 
venger to  execute  wrath  upon  him 
that  doeth  evil.  Ver.  5.  Where- 
fore ye  must  needs  be  subject,  not 
only  for  wrath,  but  also  for  con- 
science sake.  Heb.  xiii.  17.  Obey 
them  that  have  the  rule  over  you, 
and  submit  yourselves:  for  they 
watch  for  your  souls,  as  they  that 
must  give  account;  that  they  may 
do  it  with  joy,  and  not  with  grief; 
for  that  is  unprofitable  for  you. 
Prov.  iv.  3.  For  I  was  my  father's 
son,  tender  and  only  beloved  in 
the  sight  of  my  mother,  Ver.  4. 
He  taught  me  also,  and  said  unto 
me,  Let  thine  heart  retain  my 
words:  keep  my  commandments, 
and  live.  Prov.  xxiii.  22.  Hear- 
ken unto  thy  father  that   begat 


thee,  and  despise  not  thy  mother 
when  she  is  old.  Exod.  xviii.  19. 
Hearken  now  unto  my  voice,  I 
will  give  thee  counsel,  and  God 
shall  be  with  thee.  Ver.  24.  So 
Moses  hearkened  to  the  voice  of 
his  father-in-law,  and  did  all  that 
he  had  said. 

r  Heb.  xii.  9.  Furthermore,  we 
have  had  fathers  of  our  flesh  which 
corrected  us,  and  we  gave  them  re- 
verence: shall  we  not  much  rather 
be  in  subjection  unto  the  Father  of 
Spirits,  and  live'.1  1  Pet.  ii.  18. 
Servants,  be  subject  to  your  mas- 
ters with  all  fear,  not  only  to  the 
good  and  gentle,  but  also  to  the 
froward.  Ver.  19.  For  this  is  thank- 
worthy, if  a  man  for  conscience  to- 
ward God  endure  grief,  suffering 
wrongfully.  Ver.  20.  For  what 
glory  is  it,  if  when  ye  be  buffeted 
for  your  faults  ye  shall  take  it  pa- 
tiently] but  if  when  ye  do  well, 
and  suffer  for  it,  ye  take  it  patient- 
ly ;  this  is  acceptable  with  God. 

8  Tit.  ii.  9.  Exhort  servants  to 
be  obedient  unto  their  own  mas- 
ters, and  to  please  them  well  in 
all  things;  not  answering  again. 
Ver.  10.  Not  purloining,  but  show- 
ing all  good  fidelity;  that  they 
may  adorn  the  doctrine  of  God 
our  Saviour  in  all  things. 

x  1  Sam.  xxvi.  15.  And  David 
said  to  Abner,  Art  not  thou  a  va- 
liant man  1  and  who  is  like  to  thee 
in  Israel?  wherefore  then  hast 
thou  not  kept  thy  lord  the  king? 
for  there  came  one  of  the  people 
in  to  destroy  the  king  thy  lord. 
Ver.  16.  This  thing  is  not  good  that 
thou  hast  done.  As  the  Lord 
liveth,  ye  are  worthy  to  die,  be- 
cause ye  have  not  kept  your  mas- 


T7ie  Larger  Catechism. 


295 


to  their  several  ranks,  and  the  nature  of  their  places;7  bear- 
ing with  their  infirmities,  and  covering  them  in  love,^  that 
so°they  may  be  an  honour  to  them  and  to  their  government.* 

Q.  128.  What  are  the  sins  of  inferiors  against  their  superiors? 

A.  The  sins  of  inferiors  against  their  superiors  are,  all 
neglect   of  the  duties   required   toward  them:7    envying 


ter,  the  Lord's  anointed.  2  Sam. 
xviii.  3.  But  the  people  answered, 
Thou  shalt  not  go  forth:  for  if  we 
flee  away,  they  will  not  care  for 
us;  neither  if  half  of  us  die,  will 
they  care  for  us:  but  now  thou  art 
worth  ten  thousand  of  us:  there- 
fore now  it  is  better  that  thou  suc- 
cour us  out  of  the  city.  Esther  vi. 
2.  And  it  was  found  written,  that 
Mordecai  had  told  of  Bigthana  and 
Teresh,  two  of  the  king's  chamber- 
lains, the  keepers  of  the  door,  who 
sought  to  lay  hand  on  the  king 
Ahasuerus. 

T  Mat.  xxii.  21.  They  say  unto 
him,  Cesar's.  Then  saith  he  unto 
them,  Render  therefore  unto  Ce- 
sar the  things  which  are  Cesar's; 
and  unto  God  the  things  that  are 
God's.  Rom.  xiii.  6.  For,  for  this 
cause  pay  you  tribute  also;  for 
they  are  God's  ministers,  attending 
continually  upon  this  very  thing. 
Ver.  7.  Render  therefore  to  all 
their  dues:  tribute  to  whom  tri- 
bute 13  due,  custom  to  whom  cus- 
tom, fear  to  whom  fear,  honour 
to  whom  honour.  1  Tim.  v.  17. 
Let  the  elders  that  rule  well  be 
counted  worthy  of  double  honour, 
especially  they  who  labour  in  the 
word  and  doctrine.  Ver.  18.  For 
the  scripture  saith,  Thou  shalt  not 
muzzle  the  ox  that  treadeth  out 
the  corn :  and,  The  labourer  is 
worthy  of  his  reward.  Gal.  vi.  6. 
Let  him  that  is  taught  in  the 
word  communicate  unto  him  that 
teacheth  in  all  good  things.    Gen. 


xlv.  11.  And  there  will  I  nourish 
thee,  (for  yet  there  are  five  year3 
of  famine,)  lest  thou,  and  thy  house- 
hold, and  all  that  thou  hast,  come 
to  poverty.  Gen.  xlvii.  12.  And 
Joseph  nourished  his  father,  and 
his  brethren,  and  all  his  father's 
household,  with  bread,  according 
to  their  families. 

w  1  Pet.  ii.  13.  Servants,  be  sub- 
ject to  your  masters  with  all  fear, 
not  only  to  the  good  and  gentle, 
but  also  to  the  fro  ward.  Pro  v. 
xxiii.  22.  Hearken  unto  thy  fa- 
ther that  begat  thee,  and  despise 
not  thy  mother  when  she  is  old. 
Gen.  ix.  23.  And  Shem  and  Ja- 
pheth  took  a  garment,  and  laid  it 
upon  both  their  shoulders,  and  went 
backward,  and  covered  the  naked- 
ness of  their  father ;  and  their  faces 
were  backward,  and  they  saw  not 
their  father's  nakedness. 

x  Psal.  cxxvii.  3.  Lo,  children 
are  a  heritage  of  the  Lord ;  and 
the  fruit  of  the  womb  is  his  re- 
ward. Ver.  4.  As  arrows  are  in  the 
hand  of  a  mighty  man;  so  are  chil- 
dren of  the  youth.  Ver.  5.  Happy 
is  the  man  that  hath  his  quiver 
full  of  them :  they  shall  not  be 
ashamed,  but  they  shall  speak  with 
the  enemies  in  the  gate.  Prov. 
xxxi.  23.  Her  husband  is  known 
in  the  gates,  when  he  sitteth  among 
the  elders  of  the  land. 

128.  y  Mat.  xv.  4.  For  God  com- 
manded, saying,  Honour  thy  fa- 
ther and  mother :  and,  He  that 
curseth  father  or  mother,  let  him 


296 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


at,7  contempt  of,a  and  rebellionb  against,  their  persons0  and 
places/  in  their  lawful  counsels,6  commands,  and  correc- 
tions^ cursing,  mocking,5  and  all  such  refractory  and  scan- 
dalous carriage,  as  proves  a  shame  and  dishonour  to  them 
and  their  government,11 


die  the  death.  Ver.  5.  But  ye  say, 
Whosoever  shall  say  to  his  father 
or  his  mother,  Tt  is  a  gift  by  what- 
soever thou  mightest  be  profited 
by  me,  Ver.  6.  And  honour  not  his 
father  or  his  mother,  he  shall  be 
free-  Thus  have  ye  made  the  com- 
mandment of  God  of  none  effect 
by  your  tradition. 

z  Numb.  xi.  28.  And  Joshua  the 
son  of  Nun,  the  servant  of  Moses, 
one  of  his  young  men,  answered 
and  said,  My  lord  Moses,  forbid 
them.  Ver.  29.  And  Moses  said 
unto  him,  Enviest  thou  for  my 
sake?  Would  God  that  all  the 
Lord's  people  were  prophets,  and 
that  the  Lord  would  put  his  Spirit 
upon  them. 

*  1  Sam.  viii.  7.  And  the  Lord 
said  unto  Samuel,  Hearken  unto 
the  voice  of  the  people  in  all  that 
they  say  unto  thee :  for  they  have 
not  rejected  thee,  but  they  have 
rejected  me,  that  I  should  not 
reign  over  them.  Jsa.  iii.  5.  And 
the  people  shall  be  oppressed,  every 
one  by  another,  and  every  one 
by  his  neighbour:  the  child  shall 
behave  himself  proudly  against  the 
ancient,  and  the  base  against  the 
honourable. 

b  2  Sam.  xv.  from  Ver.  1  to  12. 
And  it  came  to  pass  after  this, 
that  Absalom  prepared  him  cha- 
riots, and  horses,  <$jrc. 

c  Exod.  xxi.  15.  And  he  that 
smiteth  his  father  or  his  mother 
shall  surely  be  put  to  death. 

d  1  Sam.  x.  27.  But  the  children 
of  Belial  said,  How  shall  this  man 


save  us?  And  they  despised  him, 
and  brought  him  no  presents:  but 
he  held  his  peace. 

e  1  Sam.  ii.  25.— Notwithstand- 
ing they  (viz.  the  sons  of  Eli) 
hearkened  not  unto  the  voice  of 
their  father,  because  the  Lord 
would  slay  them. 

f  Deut.  xxi.  18.  If  a  man  have 
a  stubborn  and  rebellious  son, 
which  will  not  obey  the  voice  of 
his  father,  or  the  voice  of  his  mo- 
ther, and  that,  when  they  have 
chastened  him,  will  not  hearken 
unto  them;  Ver.  19.  Then  shall  his 
father  and  his  mother  lay  hold  on 
him,  and  bring  him  out  unto  the 
elders  of  his  city,  and  unto  the  gate 
of  his  place :  Ver.  20.  And  they 
shall  say  unto  the  elders  of  his  city, 
This  our  son  is  stubborn  and  rebel- 
lious, he  will  not  obey  our  voice ; 
he  is  a  glutton  and  a  drunkard. 
Ver.  21.  And  all  the  men  of  his 
city  shall  stone  him  with  stones, 
that  he  die:  so  shalt  thou  put  evil 
away  from  among  you ;  and  all  Is- 
rael shall  hear,  and  fear. 

s  Prov.  xxx.  11.  There  is  a  ge- 
neration that  curseth  their  father, 
and  doth  not  bless  their  mother. 
Ver.  17.  The  eye  that  mocketh  at 
his  father,  and  despiseth  to  obey 
his  mother,  the  ravens  of  the  val- 
ley shall  pick  it  out,  and  the  young 
eagles  shall  eat  it. 

h  Proverbs  xix.  26.  He  that 
wasteth  his  father,  and  chaseth 
away  his  mother,  is  a  son  that 
causeth  shame,  and  bringeth  re- 
proach. 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


297 


Q.  129.    WJiat  is  required  of  superiors  towards  their  inferiors  ? 

A.  It  is  required  of  superiors,  according  to  that  power  they 
receive  from  God,  and  that  relation  wherein  they  stand,  to 
love,'  pray  for,k  and  bless  their  inferiors;1  to  instruct,™ 
counsel  and  admonish  them;11  countenancing,0  commend- 
ing,? and  rewarding  such  as  do  well  ;q  and  discountenancing/ 


129.  ■  Col.  iii.  19.  Husbands, 
love  your  wives,  and  be  not  bit- 
ter against  them.  Tit.  ii.  4.  That 
they  may  teach  the  young  women 
to  be  sober,  to  love  their  husbands, 
to  love  their  children. 

k  1  Sam.  xii.  23.  Moreover,  as 
for  me,  God  forbid  that  I  should 
sin  against  the  Lord  in  ceasing  to 
pray  for  you :  but  I  will  teach 
you  the  good  and  the  right  way. 
.Job  i.  5.  And  it  was  so,  when  the 
days  of  their  feasting  were  gone 
about,  that  Job  sent  and  sanctified 
them,  and  rose  up  early  in  the 
morning,  and  offered  burnt-offer- 
ings, according  to  the  number  of 
them  all;  for  Job  said,  It  may  be 
that  my  sons  have  sinned,  and 
cursed  God  in  their  hearts.  Thus 
did  Job  continually. 

1  1  Kings  viii.  55.  And  he  stood, 
and  blessed  all  the  congrega- 
tion of  Israel  with  a  loud  voice, 
saying,  Ver.  56.  Blessed  be  the 
Lord,  that  hath  given  rest  unto  his 
people  Israel,  according  to  all  that 
he  promised:  there  hath  not 
failed— Heb.  vii.  7.  And,  without 
all  contradiction,  the  less  is  bless- 
ed of  the  better.  Gen.  xlix.  28. 
All  these  are  the  twelve  tribes  of 
Israel ;  and  this  is  it  that  their  fa- 
ther spake  unto  them,  and  blessed 
thern ;  every  one  according  to  his 
blessing  he  blessed  them. 

m  Deut.  vi.  6.  And  these  words, 
which  I  command  thee  this  day, 
shall  be  in  thine  heart:  Ver.  7.  And 
thou  shalt  teach  them  diligently 
unto  thy  children;  and  shalt  talk 


of  them  when  thou  sittest  in  thine 
house,  and  when  thou  walkest  by 
the  way,  and  when  thou  liestdown, 
and  when  thou  risest  up. 

*  Eph.  vi.  4.  And,  ye  fathers, 
provoke  not  your  children  to 
wrath:  but  bring  them  up  in  the 
nurture  and  admonition  of  the 
Lord. 

0  1  Pet.  iii.  7.  Likewise,  ye  hus- 
bands, dwell  with  them  according 
to  knowledge,  giving  honour  unto 
the  wife  as  unto  the  weaker  ves- 
sel, and  as  being  heirs  together  of 
the  grace  of  life ;  that  your  pray- 
ers be  not  hindered. 

p  1  Pet.*  ii.  14.  Or  unto  gover- 
nors, as  unto  them  that  are  sent 
by  him  for  the  punishment  of  evil- 
doers, and  for  the  praise  of  them 
that  do  well.  Rom.  xiii.  3.  For 
rulers  are  not  a  terror  to  good 
works,  but  to  the  evil.  Wilt  thou 
then  not  be  afraid  of  the  power? 
do  that  which  is  good,  and  thou 
shalt  have  praise  of  the  same. 

i  Esth.  vi.  3.  And  the  king  said, 
What  honour  and  dignity  hath 
been  done  to  Mordecai  for  this? 
Then  said  the  king's  servants  that 
ministered  unto  him,  There  is 
nothing  done  for  him. 

r  Rom.  xiii.  3.  For  rulers  are 
not  a  terror  to  good  works,  but 
to  the  evil.  Wilt  thou  then  not 
be  afraid  of  the  power  1  do  that 
which  is  good,  and  thou  shalt 
have  praise  of  the  same :  Ver.  4. 
For  he  is  the  minister  of  God  to 
thee  for  good.  But  if  thou  do  that 
which  is  evil,  be  afraid;   for  he 


298 


The  Larger  Catechism, 


reproving,  and  chastising  such  as  do  ill;8  protecting,*  and 
providing  for  them  all  things  necessary  for  soul7  and  body:" 
and  by  grave,  wise,  holy,  and  exemplary  carriage,  to  pro- 
cure glory  to  God,x  honour  to  themselves/  and  so  to  pre- 
serve that  authority  which  God  hath  put  upon  them.2 

Q.  130.  What  are  the  sins  of  superiors? 

A.  The  sins  of  superiors  are,  besides  the  neglect  of  the  | 
duties  required  of  them,a  an  inordinate  seeking  of  them- 


bearelh  not  the  sword  in  vain:  for 
he  is  the  minister  of  God,  a  re- 
venger to  execute  wrath  upon  him 
that  doeth  evil. 

8  Prov.  xxix.  15.  The  rod  and 
reproof  give  wisdom :  but  a  child 
left  to  himself  bringeth  his  mother 
to  shame.  1  Pet.  ii.  14.  [See  above 
in  letter?.] 

1  Job  xxix.  12.  Because  1  de- 
livered the  poor  that  cried,  and  the 
fatherless,  and  him  that  had  none  to 
help  him.  Ver.  13.  The  blessing  of 
him  that  was  ready  to  perish  came 
upon  me:  and  I  caused  the  widow's 
heart  to  sing  for  joy.  Ver.  14.  I  put 
on  righteousness,  and  it  clothed  me : 
my  judgment  was  as  a  robe  and  a 
diadem.  Ver.  15.  I  was  eyes  to 
the  blind,  and  feet  was  I  to  the 
lame.  Ver.  16.  I  was  a  father  to 
the  poor:  and  the  cause  which  I 
knew  not  I  searched  out.  Ver.  17. 
And  1  brake  the  jaws  of  the  wicked, 
and  plucked  the  spoil  out  of  his 
teeth.  Isa.  i.  10.  Hear  the  word 
of  the  Lord,  ye  rulers  of  Sodom; 
give  ear  unto  the  law  of  our 
God,  ye  people  of  Gomorrah. 
Ver.  17.  Learn  to  do  well,  seek 
judgment,  relieve  the  oppressed, 
judge  the  fatherless,  plead  for  the 
widow. 

v  Eph.  vi.  4.  And,  ye  fathers, 
provoke  not  your  children  to 
wrath:  but  bring  them  up  in  the 
nurture  and  admonition  of  the 
Lord. 


w  1  Tim.  v.  8.  But  if  any  pro- 
vide not  for  his  own,  and  special- 
ly for  those  of  his  own  house,  he 
hath  denied  the  faith,  and  is  worse 
than  an  infidel. 

x  1  Tim.  iv.  12.  Let  no  man 
despise  thy  youth;  but  be  thouJ 
an  example  of  the  believers,  in 
word,  in  conversation,  in  cha- 
rity, in  spirit,  in  faith,  in  puri-' 
ty.  Tit.  ii.  3.  The  aged  women 
likewise,  that  they  be  in  beha- 
viour as  becometh  holiness,  not 
false  accusers,  not  given  to  much 
wine,  teachers  of  good  things; 
Ver.  4.  That  they  may  teach  the 
young  women  to  be  sober,  to 
love  their  husbands,  to  love  their 
children,  Ver.  5.  To  be  discreet, 
chaste,  keepers  at  home,  good, 
obedient  to  their  own  husbands, 
that  the  word  of  God  be  not  blas- 
phemed. 

y  1  Kings  iii.  28.  And  all  Israel 
heard  of  the  judgment  which  the. 
king  had  judged,  and  they  feared 
the  king :  for  they  saw  that  the 
wisdom  of  God  was  in  him  to  do 
judgment. 

z  Tit.  ii.  15.  These  things  sp^ak 
and  exhort,  and  rebuke  with  all  au- 
thority.   Let  no  man  despise  thee. 

130.  a  Ezek.  xxxiv.  2.  Son  of 
man,  prophesy  against  the  shep- 
herds of  Israel,  prophesy,  and  say 
unto  them,  Thus  saith  the  Lord 
God  unto  the  shepherds,  Wo  be  to 
the  shepherds  of  Israel  that  do  feed 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


299 


selves,b  their  own  glory,c  ease,  profit,  or  pleasure  ;d  com- 
manding things  unlawful/  or  not  in  the  power  of  inferiors 
to  perform*/  counselling,8  encouraging,11  or  favouring  them 


themselves !  should  not  the  shep- 
herds feed  the  flocks?  Ver.  3. 
Ye  eat  the  fat,  and  ye  clothe  you 
with  the  wool ;  ye  kill  them  that 
are  fed  ;  but  ye  teed  not  the  flock. 
Ver.  4.  The  diseased  have  ye  not 
strengthened,  neither  have  ye  heal- 
ed that  which  was  sick,  neither 
have  ye  bound  up  that  which  was 
broken,  neither  have  ye  brought 
again  that  which  was  driven  away, 
neither  have  ye  sought  that  which 
was  lost;  but  with  force  and  with 
crueltv  have  ve  ruled  them. 

b  Phil.  li.  21.  For  all  seek  their 
own,  not  the  things  which  are  Je- 
sus Christ's. 

c  John  v.  44.  How  can  ye  be- 
lieve, which  receive  honour  one 
of  another,  and  seek  not  the  honour 
that  cometh  from  God  only  !  John 
vii.  IS.  He  that  speaketh  of  him- 
.  seeketh  his  own  glory:  but  he 
that  seeketh  his  glory  that  sent 
him,  the  same  is  true,  and  no  un- 
righteousness is  in  him. 

d  Isa.  hi.  10.  His  watchmen  are 
blind :  they  are  all  ignorant,  they 
are   all   dumb    dogs,   they  cannot 
bark;  sleeping,  lying  down,  loving 
to  slumber.    Ver.  11.  Yea,  they  are 
greedy    dogs,    which    can    never 
i  have  enough,  and  they  are  shep- 
herds that  cannot  understand :  they 
all  look  to  their  own  way,  every 
one  for  his  gain  from  his  quarter. 
Dcut.  xvii.   17.   Neither  shall  he 
multiply  wives  to  himself,  that  his 
heart  turn  not  away  ;  neither  shall 
he  greatly  multiply  to  himself  sil- 
nd  gold. 
e  Dan.  iii.  4.  Then  a  herald  cried 
aloud,  To  you  it  is  commanded,  O 
nations,    and    languages, 


Ver.  5.  That  at  what  time  ye  hear 
the  sound  of  the  cornet,  flute,  harp, 
sackbut,  psaltery,  dulcimer,  and 
all  kinds  of  music,  ye  fall  down 
and  worship  the  golden  image  that 
Nebuchadnezzar  the  king  hath  set 
up.  Ver.  6.  And  whoso  falleth  not 
down  and  worshippeth,  shall  the 
same  hour  be  cast  into  the  midst  of 
a  burning  fiery  furnace.  Acts  iv. 
17.  But  that  it  spread  no  farther 
among  the  people,  let  us  straitly 
threaten  them,  that  they  speak 
henceforth  to  no  man  in  this  name. 
Ver.  IS.  And  they  called  them, 
and  commanded  them  not  to  speak 
at  all,  nor  teach,  in  the  name  of 
Jesus. 

f  Exod.  v.  from  Verse  10,  to  IS. 
And  the  task-masters  of  the  people 
went  out,  and  their  officers,  and 
they  spake  to  the  people,  saying, 
Thus  saith  Pharaoh,  I  will  not  give 
you  straw,  &c.  Mat.  xxiii.  2.  Say- 
ing, The  scribes  and  Pharise— 
in  Moses'  seat.  Ver.  4.  For  they 
bind  heavy  burdens,  and  grievous 
to  be  borne. — 

s  Mat.  xiv.  S.  And  she,  being  be- 
fore instructed  of  her  mother,  said, 
Give  me  here  John  Baptist's  head 
in  a  charger.  Compared  with 
Mark  vi  24.  And  she  went  forth, 
and  said  unto  her  mother,  What 
shall  I  ask !  and  she  said,  The  head 
of  John  the  Baptist 

1  2  Sam.  xiii.  28.  Now  Absalom 
had  commanded  his  servants,  say- 
ing, Mark  ye  now  when  Amnon's 
heart  is  merry  with  wine;  and 
when  I  say  unto  you,  Smite  Am- 
non,  then  kill  him,  fear  not:  have 
not  I  commanded  you  1  be  courage- 
ous, and  be  valiant. 


300 


The  Larger  Catechism, 


in  that  which  is  evil;1  dissuading,  discouraging,  or  discoun- 
tenancing them  in  that  which  is  good;k  correcting  them 
unduly; l  careless  exposing,  or  leaving  them  to  wrong,  temp- 
tation, and  danger;111  provoking  them  to  wrath;11  or  any  way 
dishonouring  themselves,  or  lessening  their  authority,  by  an 
unjust,  indiscreet,  rigorous,  or  remiss  behaviour.0 


* 1  Sam.  iii.  13.  For  I  have  told 
him,  that  I  will  judge  his  house  for 
ever,  for  the  iniquity  which  he 
knoweth ;  because  his  sons  made 
themselves  vile,  and  he  restrained 
them  not. 

k  John  vii.  46.  The  officers  an- 
swered, Never  man  spake  like 
this  man.  Ver.  47.  Then  answer- 
ed them  the  Pharisees,  Are  ye 
also  deceived1?  Ver.  48.  Have  any 
of  the  rulers,  or  of  the  Pharisees, 
believed  on  him  ?  Ver.  49.  But  this 
people  who  knoweth  not  the  law 
are  cursed.  Col.  iii.  21.  Fathers, 
provoke  not  your  children  to 
anger,  lest  they  be  discouraged. 
Exod.  v.  17.  But  he  said,  Ye  are 
idle,  ye  are  idle;  therefore  ye  say, 
Let  us  go  and  do  sacrifice  to  the 
Lord. 

1  1  Pet.  ii.  18.  Servants,  be 
subject  to  your  masters  with  all 
fear;  not  only  to  the  good  and 
gentle,  but  also  to  the  froward. 
Ver.  19.  For  this  is  thank- worthy, 
if  a  man  for  conscience  toward 
God  endure  grief,  suffering  wrong- 
fully. Ver.  20.  For  what  glory  is 
it,  if,  when  ye  be  buffeted  for 
your  faults,  ye  shall  take  it  pa- 
tiently? but  if,  when  ye  do  well, 
and  suffer  for  it,  ye  take  it  pa- 
tiently; this  is  acceptable  with 
God.  Heb.  xii.  10.  For  they  ve- 
rily for  a  few  days  chastened  us 
after  their  own  pleasure ;  but  he 
for  our  profit,  that  we  might  be 
partakers  of  his  holiness.  Deut. 
xxv.  3.  Forty  stripes  he  may  give 


him,  and  not  exceed:  lest,  if  he 
should  exceed,  and  beat  him  above 
these  with  many  stripes,  then  thy 
brother  should  seem  vile  unto 
thee. 

m  Gen.  xxxviii.  11.  Then  said 
Judah  to  Tamar  his  daughter-in- 
law,  Remain  a  widow  at  thy  fa- 
ther's house  till  Shelah  my  son  be 
grown  ;  (for  he  said,  Lest  perad- 
venture  he  die  also,  as  his  bre- 
thren did:)  and  Tamar  went  and 
dwelt  in  her  father's  house.  Ver. 
26.  And  Judah  acknowledged  them, 
and  said,  She  hath  been  more  right- 
eous than  I ;  because  that  I  gave 
her  not  to  Shelah  my  son.  And  he 
knew  her  again  no  more.  Acts 
xviii.  17.  Then  all  the  Greeks  took 
Sosthenes,  the  chief  ruler  of  the 
synagogue,  and  beat  him  before  the 
judgment-seat:  and  Gallio  cared 
for  none  of  those  things. 

n  Eph.  vi.  4.  And,  ye  fathers, 
provoke  not  your  children  to 
wrath :  but  bring  them  up  in  the 
nurture  and  admonition  of  the 
Lord. 

0  Gen.  ix.  21.  And  he  drank  of 
the  wine,  and  was  drunken;  and 
he  was  uncovered  within  his  tent. 
1  Kings  xii.  13.  And  the  king 
(Rehoboam)  answered  the  people 
roughly,  and  forsook  the  old  men's 
counsel  that  they  gave  him  ;  Ver. 
14.  And  spake  to  them  after  the 
counsel  of  the  young  men,  saying, 
My  father  made  your  yoke  heavy, 
and  I  will  add  to  your  yoke;  my 
father    also    chastised    you    with 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


301 


Q.  131.   What  are  the  duties  of  equals? 

A.  The  duties  of  equals  are  to  regard  the  dignity  and 
worth  of  each  other,p  in  giving  honour  to  go  one  before 
another  ;q  and  to  rejoice  in  each  others'  gifts  and  advance- 
ment, as  their  own.* 

Q,.   132.    What  are  the  sins  of  equals'! 

A.  The  sins  of  equals  are,  besides  the  neglect  of  the 
duties  required,3  the  undervaluing  of  the  worth,1  envy- 
ing the  gifts/  grieving  at  the  advancement  or  prosperity 


whips,  but  I  will  chastise  you  with 
scorpions.  Ver,  15.  Wherefore 
the  king  hearkened  not  unto  the 
people ;  for  the  cause  was  from  the 
Lord. — Ver.  16.  So,  when  all  Is- 
rael saw  that  the  king-  hearkened 
not  unto  them,  the  people  answer- 
ed the  king-,  saying,  What  portion 
have  we  in  David?  neither  have 
we  inheritance  in  the  Son  of  Jesse: 
to  your  tents,  O  Israel :  now  see 
to  thine  own  house,  David.  So 
Israel  departed  unto  their  tents. 
1  Kings  i.  6.  And  his  father  had 
not  displeased  him  {viz.  Adonijah) 
at  any  time,  in  saying,  Why  hast 
thou  done  so?  1  Sam.  ii.  29. 
Wherefore  kick  ye  at  my  sacri- 
fices, and  at  mine  offering  which 
I  have  commanded  in  my  habita- 
tion, and  honourest  thy  sons  above 
me,  to  make  yourselves  fat  with 
the  chiefest  of  all  the  offerings  of 
Israel  my  people"?  Ver.  30.  Where- 
fore the  Lord  God  of  Israel  saith, 
I  said  indeed,  that  thy  house,  and 
the  house  of  thy  father,  should 
walk  before  me  for  ever:  but  now 
the  Lord  saith,  Be  it  far  from  me ; 
for  them  that  honour  me  I  will 
honour,  and  they  that  despise  me 
shall  be  lightly  esteemed.  Ver.  31. 
Behold  the  days  come  that  1  will 
cut  off  thine  arm,  and  the  arm 
of  thy  father's  house,  that  there 
shall  not  be  an  old  man  in  thine 
house. 

26 


131.  p  1  Pet.  ii,  17.  Honour  all 
men*  Love  the  brotherhood.  Fear 
God.     Honour  the  king. 

i  Rom.  xii.  10.  Be  kindly  affec- 
tioned  one  to  another  with  bro- 
therly love ;  in  honour  preferring 
one  another. 

r  Rom.  xii.  15.  Rejoice  with 
them  that  do  rejoice,  and  weep 
with  them  that  weep.  Ver.  16. 
Be  of  the  same  mind  one  towards 
another.  Mind  not  high  things, 
but  condescend  to  men  of  low 
estate.  Be  not  wise  in  your  own 
conceits.  Phil.  ii.  3.  Let  nothing 
be  done  through  strife  or  vain- 
glory ;  but  in  lowliness  of  mind 
let  each  esteem  other  better  than 
themselves.  Ver.  4.  Look  not 
every  man  on  his  own  things, 
but  every  man  also  on  the  things 
of  others. 

132.  s  Rom.  xiii.  8.  Owe  no  man 
any  thing,  but  to  love  one  another: 
for  he  that  loveth  another  hath  ful- 
filled the  law. 

1  2.  Tim.  iii.  3.  Without  natural 
affection,  truce-breakers,  false  ac- 
cusers, incontinent,  fierce  despisers 
of  those  that  are  good. 

v  Acts  vii.  9.  And  the  patriarchs, 
rnaved  with  envy,  sold  Joseph 
into  Egypt;  but  God  was  with 
him.  Gal.  v.  26.  Let  us  not  be 
desirous  of  vain-glory,  provoking 
one  another,  envying  one  ano- 
ther. 


302 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


one  of  another;  w  and  usurping  pre-eminence  one  over  ano* 
ther.x 

Q.  133.  What  is  the  reason  annexed  to  the  fifth  cormnand- 
ment,  the  more  to  enforce  it  ? 

*d.  The  reason  annexed  to  the  fifth  commandment,  in  these 
words,  That  thy  days  may  he  long  upon  the  land  which  the 
Lord  thy  God  giveth  thee,y  is  an  express  promise  of  long 
life  and  prosperity  as  far  as  it  shall  serve  for  God's  glory 
and  their  own  good,  to  all  such  as  keep  his  commandments.2 

Q,.  134.  Which  is  the  sixth  commandment? 

A.  The  sixth  commandment  is,  Thou  shall  not  MIL* 

Q.  135.  What  are  the  duties  required  in  the  sixth  command- 
ment? 

tfl.  The  duties  required  in  the  sixth  commandment  are,  all 
careful  studies,  and  lawful  endeavours,  to  preserve  the  life  of 
ourselves b  and  others0  by  resisting  all  thought  and  pur- 


w  Numb.  xii.  2.  And  they  said, 
Hath  the  Lord  indeed  spoken  only 
by  Moses?  hath  he  not  spoken  also 
by  us?  And  the  Lord  heard  it. 
Esth.  vi.  12.  And  Mordecai  came 
again  to  the  king's  gate :  but  Ha- 
inan hasted  to  his  house,  mourn- 
ing, and  having  his  head  covered. 
Ver.  13.  And  Haman  told  Zeresh 
his  wife,  and  all  his  friends,  every 
thing  that  had  befallen  him.  Then 
said  his  wise  men,  and  Zerish  his 
wife,  unto  him,  If  Mordecai  be 
of  the  seed  of  the  Jews,  before 
whom  thou  hast  begun  to  fall, 
thou  shalt  not  prevail  against  him, 
but  shalt  surely  fall  before  him. 

x  3  John,  Ver  9.  I  wrote  unto 
the  church:  but  Diotrephes,  who 
loveth  to  have  the  pre-eminence 
among  them,  receiveth  us  not. 
Luke  xxii.  24.  And  there  was  also 
a  strife  among  them,  which  of 
them  should  be  accounted  the 
greatest. 

133.  y  Exod.  xx.  12. 

2  Deut.  v.  16.  Honour  thy  fa- 
ther and  thy  mother,  as  the  Lord 
thv  God  hath  commanded  thee; 


that  thy  days  may  be  prolonged, 
and  that  it  may  go  well  with  thee 
in  the  land  which  the  Lord  thy 
God  giveth  thee.  1  Kings  viii.  25. 
Therefore  now,  Lord  God  of  Is- 
rael, keep  with  thy  servant  David 
my  father  that  thou  promisedst  him, 
saying,  There  shall  not  fail  thee  a 
man  in  my  sight  to  sit  on  the 
throne  of  Israel ;  so  that  thy  chil- 
dren take  heed  to  their  way,  that 
they  walk  before  me,  as  thou  hast 
walked  before  me.  Eph.  vi.  2. 
Honour  thy  father  and  mother, 
(which  is  the  first  commandment 
with  promise;)  Ver.  3.  That  it 
may  be  well  with  thee,  and  thou 
mayest  live  long  on  the  earth. 

134.  a  Exod.  xx.  13. 

135.  b  Eph.  v.  28.  So  ought 
men  to  love  their  wives  as  their 
own  bodies:  he  that  loveth  his 
wife  loveth  himself.  Ver.  29.  For 
no  man  ever  yet  hated  his  own 
flesh;  but  nourisheth  and  che- 
risheth  it,  even  as  the  Lord  the 
church. 

c  1  Kings  xviii.  4.  For  it  was  so, 
when  Jezebel  cut  off  the  prophets 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


;os 


pos*,d  subduing  all  passions,6  and  avoiding  all  occasions/ 
temptations,5  and  practices,  which  tend  to  the  unjust  taking 
away  the  life  of    any;h    by  just  defence   thereof  against 


of  the  Lord,  that  Obadiah  took 
a  hundred  prophets,  and  hid  them 
by  fifty  in  a  cave,  and  fed  them 
with  bread  and  water. 

d  Jcr.  xxvi.  15.  But  know  ye 
for  certain,  that  if  ye  put  me  to 
death,  ye  shall  surely  bring  inno- 
cent bhx)d  upon  yourselves,  and 
upon  this  city,  and  upon  the  in- 
habitants thereof:  for  of  a  truth 
the  Lord  hath  sent  me  unto  you, 
to  speak  all  these  words  in  your 
ears.  Ver.  16.  Then  said  the 
princes,  and  all  the  people,  unto  the 
priests,  and  to  the  prophets,  This 
man  is  not  worthy  to  die:  for  he 
hath  spoken  to  us  in  the  name  of 
the  Lord  our  God.  Acts  xxiii.  12. 
And  when  it  was  day,  certain  of 
the  Jews  banded  together,  and 
bound  themselves  under  a  curse, 
ng,  That  they  would  neither 
eat  nor  drink  till  they  had  killed 
Paul.  Ver.  16.  And  when  Paul's 
sister's  son  heard  of  their  lying  in 
wait,  he  went  and  entered  into 
the  castle,  and  told  Paul.  Ver.  17. 
Then  Paul  called  one  of  the  cen- 
turions unto  him,  and  said,  Bring 
this  young  man  unto  the  chief 
captain:  for  he  hath  a  certain 
thing  to  tell  him.  Ver.  21.  But 
do  not  thou  yield  unto  them: 
for  there  lie  in  wait  for  him  of 
them  more  than  forty  men,  which 
have  bound  themselves  with  an 
oath,  that  they  will  neither  eat 
nor  drink  till  they  have  killed 
him:  and  now  are  they  ready, 
looking  for  a  promise  from  thee. 
Ver.  27.  This  man  was  taken  of  the 
Jews,  and  should  have  been  killed 
of  them:  then  came  I  with  an 
army,  and  rescued  him,  having 
understood  that  he  was  a  Roman. 


e  Eph.  iv.  26.  Be  ye  angry,  and 
sin  not :  let  not  the  sun  go  down 
upon  your  wrath :  Ver.  27.  Neither 
give  place  to  the  devil. 

1  2  Sam.  ii.  22.  And  Abner  said 
again  to  Asahel,  Turn  thee  aside 
from  following  me :  wherefore 
should  J  smite  thee  to  the  ground  ?- 
Deut.  xxii.  8.  When  thou  build- 
est  a  new  house,  then  thou  shalt 
make  a  battlement  for  thy  roof, 
that  thou  bring  not  blood  upon 
thine  house,  if  any  man  fall  from 
thence. 

s  Mat.  iv.  6.  And  saith  unto 
him,  If  thou  be  the  Son  of  God. 
cast  thyself  down  : — Ver.  7.  Jesus 
said  unto  him,  It  is  written  again, 
Thou  shalt  not  tempt  the  Lord 
thy  God.  Prov.  i.  10.  My  son,  if 
sinners  entice  thee,  consent  thou 
not.  Ver.  11.  If  they  say,  Come 
with  us,  let  us  lay  wait  for  blood, 
let  us  lurk  privily  for  the  inno- 
cent without  cause :  Ver.  15.  My 
son,  walk  not  thou  in  the  way 
with  them;  refrain  thy  foot  from 
their  path.  Ver.  16.  For  their  feet 
run  to  evil,  and  make  haste  to 
shed  blood. 

fr  1  Sam.  xxiv.  12.  The  Lord 
judge  between  me  and  thee,  and 
the  Lord  avenge  me  of  thee;  but 
mine  hand  shall  not  be  upon  thee. 
1  Sam.  xxvi.  9.  And  David  said  to 
Abishai,  Destroy  him  not:  for  who 
can  stretch  forth  his  hand  against 
the  Lord's  anointed,  and  be  guilt- 
less] Ver.  10.  David  slid  further- 
more, As  the  Lord  liveth,  the 
Lord  shall  smite  him,  or  his  day- 
shall  come  to  die,  or  he  shall  de- 
scend into  battle  and  perish.  Ver. 
11.  The  Lord  forbid  that  I  should 
stretch  forth  mine  hand  against  the 


304 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


violence/  patient  bearing  of  the  hand  of  God,k  quiafcness 
of  mind,1  cheerfulness  of  spirit  ;m   a  sober  use  of  meat,n 


Lord's  anointed.  Gen.  xxxvii.  21. 
And  Reuben  heard  it,  and  he  de- 
livered him  out  of  their  hands,  and 
said,  Let  us  not  kill  him.  Ver.  22. 
And  Reuben  said  unto  them,  Shed 
no  blcod,  but  cast  him  into  this 
pit  that  is  in  the  wilderness,  and 
lay  no  hand  upon  him :  that  he 
might  rid  him  out  of  their  hands, 
to  deliver  him  to  his  father  again. 

'  Psal.  Ixxxii.  4.  Deliver  the 
poor  and  needy;  rid  them  out  of 
the  hand  of  the  wicked.  Prov. 
xxiv.  11.  If  thou  forbear  to  de- 
liver them  that  are  drawn  unto 
death,  and  those  that  are  ready 
to  be  slain:  Ver.  12.  If  thou  sayest, 
Behold,  we  knew  it  not:  doth 
not  he  that  pondereth  the  heart 
consider  it?  and  he  that  keepeth 
thy  soul,  doth  not  he  know  it? 
and  shall  not  he  render  to  every 
man  according  to  his  works'? 
1  Sam.  xiv.  45.  And  the  people 
said  unto  Saul,  Shall  Jonathan  die, 
who  hath  wrought  this  great  sal- 
vation in  Israel  ?  God  forbid  :  as 
the  Lord  liveth,  there  shall  not 
one  hair  of  his  head  fall  to  the 
ground:  for  he  hath  wrought  with 
God  this  day.  So  the  people  res- 
cued Jonathan,  that  he  died  not. 

k  James  v.  7.  Be  patient  there- 
fore, brethren,  unto  the  coming 
of  the  Lord.  Behold,  the  hus- 
bandman waiteth  for  the  pre- 
cious fruit  of  the  earth,  and  hath 
long  patience  for  it,  until  he  re- 
ceive the  early  and  latter  rain. 
Ver.  8.  Be  ye  also  patient;  stablish 
your  hearts:  for  the  coming  of 
the  Lord  draweth  nigh.  Ver.  9. 
Grudge  not  one  against  another, 
brethren,  lest  ye  be  condemned : 
behold,  the  Judge  standeth  before 
the  door.     Ver.  10.  Take,  my  bre- 


thren, the  prophets,  who  have 
spoken  in  the  name  of  the  Lord, 
for  an  example  of  suffering  af- 
fliction, and  of  patience.  Ver.  11. 
Behold,  we  count  them  happy 
which  endure.  Ye  have  heard  of 
the  patience  of  Job,  and  have  seen 
the  end  of  the  Lord ;  that  the  Lord 
is  very  pitiful,  and  of  tender  mercy. 
Heb.  xii.  9.  Furthermore,  we  have 
had  fathers  of  our  flesh  which  cor- 
rected us,  and  we  gave  them  re- 
verence: shall  we  not  much  rather 
be  in  subjection  unto  the  Father  of 
spirits,  and  live? 

1  1  Thess.  iv.  11.  And  that  ye 
study  to  be  quiet,  and  to  do  your 
own  business,  and  to  work  with 
your  own  hands,  as  we  command- 
ed you.  1  Pet.  iii.  3.  Whose 
adorning,  let  it  not  be  that  out- 
ward adorning — Ver.  4.  But  let  it 
be  the  hidden  man  of  the  heart, 
in  that  which  is  not  corruptible, 
even  the  ornament  of  a  meek  and 
quiet  spirit,  which  is  in  the  sight 
of  God  of  great  price.  Psal. 
xxxvii.  8.  Cease  from  anger,  and 
forsake  wrath:  fret  not  thyself 
in  any  wise  to  do  evil.  Ver.  9.  For 
evil-doers  shall  be  cut  off":  but 
those  that  wait  upon  the  Lord, 
they  shall  inherit  the  earth.  Ver. 
10.  For  yet  a  little  while,  and  the 
wicked  shall  not  be:  yea,  thou 
shalt  diligently  consider  his  place, 
and  it  shall  not  be.  Ver.  11.  But 
the  meek  shall  inherit  the  earth; 
and  shall  delight  themselves  in  the 
abundance  of  peace. 

m  Prov.  xvii.  22.  A  merry  heart 
doeth  good  like  a  medicine;  but 
a  broken  spirit  drieth  the  bones. 

n  Prov.  xxv.  16.  Hast  thou 
found  honey?  eat  so  much  as  is 
sufficient  for  thee,  lest  thou  be 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


305 


drink,0  physic,p  sleep,q  labour/  and  recreations;9  by- 
charitable  thoughts,1  love,v  compassion/  meekness,  gentle- 
ness, kindness;1  peaceable/  mild  and  courteous  speeches 


filled  therewith,  and  vomit  it 
Ver.  27.  It  is  not  good  to  eat 
much  honey : — 

0  1  Tim.  v.  23.  Drink  no  longer 
water,  but  use  a  little  wine  for  thy 
stomach's  sake,  and  thine  often 
infirmities. 

p  Isa.  xxxviii.  21.  For  Isaiah 
had  said,  Let  them  take  a  lump 
of  figs,  and  lay  it  for  a  plaster 
upon  the  boil,  and  he  shall  re- 
cover. 

»  Psal.  cxxvii.  2.  It  is  vain  for 
you  to  rise  up  early,  to  sit  up  late, 
to  eat  the  bread  of  sorrow ;  for 
so  he  giveth  his  beloved  sleep. 

r  Eccl.  v.  12.  The  sleep  of  a 
labouring  man  is  sweet,  whether 
he  eat  little  or  much:  but  the 
abundance  of  the  rich  will  not 
suffer  him  to  sleep.  2  Thess. 
iii.  10.  For  even  when  we  were 
with  you,  this  we  commanded 
you,  That  if  any  would  not  work, 
neither  should  he  eat.  Ver.  12. 
Now  them  that  are  suck  we 
command,  and  exhort  by  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  that  with 
quietness  they  work,  and  eat  their 
own  bread.  Prov.  xvi.  26.  He 
that  laboureth,  laboureth  for  him- 
self; for  his  mouth  craveth  it  of 
him. 

■  Eccl.  iii.  4.  A  time  to  weep, 
and  a  time  to  laugh:  a 'time  to 
mourn,  and  a  time  to  dance. 
Ver.  11.  He  hath  made  every  thing 
beautiful  in  his  time  :  also  he  hath 
set  the  world  in  their  heart. — 

1  1  Sam.  xix.  4.  And  Jonathan 
spake  good  of  David  unto  Saul  his 
father,  and  said  unto  him,  Let 
not  the  king  sin  against  his  ser- 
vant,— Ver.  5.     For  he  did  put  his 

26* 


life  in  his  hand,  and  slew  the  Phi- 
listine, and  the  Lord  wrought  a 
great  salvation  for  all  Israel:  thou 
sawest  it,  and  didst  rejoice ;  where- 
fore then  wilt  thou  sin  against  in- 
nocent blood,  to  slay  David  with- 
out a  cause?  1  Sam.  xxii.  13.  And 
Saul  said  unto  hirn,  Why  have  ye 
conspired  against  me,  thou  and 
the  son  of  Jesse,  in  that  thou  hast 
given  him  bread,  and  a  sword, 
— Ver.  14.  Then  Ahimelech  an- 
swered the  king,  and  said,  And 
who  is  so  faithful  among  all  thy 
servants  as  David,  which  is  the 
king's  son-in-law,  and  gceth  at 
thy  bidding,  and  is  honourable  in 
thine  house? 

T  Rom,  xiii.  10.  Love  worketh 
no  ill  to  his  neighbour:  therefore 
love  is  the  fulfilling  of  the  law. 

w  Luke  x.  33.  But  a  certain 
Samaritan,  as  he  journeyed,  came 
where  he  was:  and  when  he  saw 
him,  he  had  compassion  on  him, 
Ver.  34.  And  went  to  him,  and 
bound  up  his  wounds,  pouring  in 
oil  and  wine,  and  set  him  on  his 
own  beast,  and  brought  him  to  an 
inn,  and  took  care  of  him. 

2  Col.  iii.  12.  Put  on  therefore, 
as  the  elect  of  God,  holy  and 
beloved,  bowels  of  mercies,  kind- 
ness, humbleness  of  mind,  meek- 
ness, long-suffering;  Ver.  13.  For- 
bearing one  another,  and  for- 
giving one  another,  if  any  man 
have  a  quarrel  against  any :  even 
as  Christ  forgave  you,  so  also  do 

ye- 

*  James  iii.  17.  But  the  wisdom 
that  is  from  above  is  first  pure, 
then  peaceable,  gentle,  and  easy 
to  be  entreated,  full  of  mercy  and 


;og 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


and  behaviour;2  forbearance,  readiness  to  be  reconciled, 
patient  bearing  and  forgiving  of  injuries,  and  requiting 
good  for  evil;'  comforting  and  succouring  the  distressed, 
and  protecting  and  defending  the  innocent.b 

Q.  136.  What  are  the  sins  forbidden  in  the  sixth  com- 
mandment  ? 

*/3.  The  sins  forbidden  in  the  sixth  commandment  are,  all 


good  fruits,  without  partiality,  and 
without  hypocrisy. 

z  1  Pet.  iii.  8.  Finally,  be  ye  all 
of  one  mind,  having  compassion 
one  of  another,  love  as  brethren, 
be  pitiful,  be  courteous:  Ver.  9. 
Not  rendering  evil  for  evil,  or 
railing  for  railing;  but  contrari- 
wise, blessing:  knowing  that  ye 
are  thereunto  called,  that  ye 
should  inherit  a  blessing.  Ver.  10. 
For  he  that  will  love  life,  and  see 
good  days,  let  him  refrain  his 
tongue  from  evil,  and  his  lips  that 
they  speak  no  guile.  Ver.  11.  Let 
him  eschew  evil,  and  do  good : 
let  him  seek  peace,  and  ensue  it. 
Prov.  xv.  1.  A  soft  answer  turn- 
eth  away  wrath :  but  grievous 
words  stir  up  anger.  Judges  viii.  1. 
And  the  men  of  Ephraim  said 
unto  him,  Why  hast  thou  served 
us  thus,  that  thou  calledst  us  not 
when  thou  wentestto  fight  with  the 
Midianites?  And  they  did  chide 
with  him  sharply.  Ver.  2.  And  he 
said  unto  them,  What  have  I  done 
now  in  comparison  of  you!  Is  not 
the  gleaning  of  the  grapes  of  Eph- 
raim better  than  rhe  vintage  of  Abi- 
ezer?  Ver.  3.  God  hath  delivered 
into  your  hands  the  princes  of  Mi- 
dian,  Oreb  and  Zeeb;  and  what 
was  I  able  to  do  in  comparison 
of  you  1  Then  their  anger  was 
abated  toward  him  when  he  had 
sa'id  that. 

a  Mat.  v.  24.  Leave  there  thy 
gift  before  the  altar,  and  go  thy 
way  ;   first  be  reconciled  to  thy 


brother,  and  then  come  and  offer 
thy  gift.  Eph.  iv.  2.  With  all 
lowliness  and  meekness,  with  long- 
suffering,  forbearing  one  another 
in  love.  Ver.  32.  And  be  ye  kind 
one  to  another,  tender-hearted, 
forgiving  one  another,  even  as 
God  for  Christ's  sake  hath  for- 
given you.  Rom.  xii.  17.  Recom- 
pense to  no  man  evil  for  evil, — 
Ver.  20.  Therefore  if  thine  enemy 
hunger,  feed  him ;  if  he  thirst, 
give  him  drink :  for  in  so  doing  thou 
shalt  heap  coals  of  fire  on  his  head. 
Ver.  21.  Be  not  overcome  of  evil, 
but  overcome  evil  with  good. 

fa  1  Thess.  v.  14.  Now  we  ex- 
hort you,  brethren,  warn  them  that 
are  unruly,  comfort  the  feeble- 
minded, support  the  weak,  be  pa- 
tient towards  all  men.  Job  xxxi. 
19.  If  I  have  seen  any  perish  for 
want  of  clothing,  or  any  poor 
without  covering:  Ver.  20.  If  his 
loins  have  not  blessed  me,  and  if 
he  were  not  warmed  with  the 
fleece  of  my  sheep.  Mat.  xxv.  35. 
For  I  was  a  hungered,  and  ye 
gave  me  meat:  I  was  thirsty,  and 
ye  gave  me  drink:  I  was  a  stran- 
ger, and  ye  took  me  in :  Ver.  36. 
Naked,  and  ye  clothed  me :  I  was 
sick,  and  ye  visited  me:  I  was  in 
prison,  and  ye  came  unto  me. 
Prov.  xxxi.  8.  Open  thy  mouth  for 
the  dumb  in  the  cause  of  all  such 
as  are  appointed  to  destruction. 
Ver.  9.  Open  thy  mouth,  judge 
righteously,  and  plead  the  cause 
of  the  poor  and  needy. 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


3or 


taking  away  the  life  of  ourselves,0  or  of  others,6  except  in 
case  of  public  justice,6  lawful  war/  or  necessary  defence;5 
the  neglecting  or  withdrawing  the  lawful  and  necessary 
means  of  preservation  of  life; h  sinful  anger,5  hatred,k  envy,1 


136.  c  Acts  xvi.  28.  Bat  Paul 
cried  with  a  loud  voice,  saying-, 
Do  thyself  no  harm ;  for  we  are 
all   here. 

d  Gen.  ix.  6.  Whoso  sheddeth 
man's  blood,  by  man  shall  his 
blood  be  shed :  for  in  the  image 
of  God  made  he  man. 

a  Numb.  xxxv.  31.  Moreover, 
ye  shall  take  no  satisfaction  for 
the  life  of  a  murderer,  which  is 
guilty  of  death;  but  he  shall  be 
surely  put  to  death.  Ver.  33.  So  ye 
shall  not  pollute  the  land  wherein 
ye  are:  for  blood  it  defileth  the 
land;  and  the  land  cannot  be 
cleansed  of  the  blood  that  is  shed 
therein,  but  by  the  blood  of  him 
that  shed  it. 

f  Jer.  xlviii.  10.  Cursed  be  he 
that  doeth  the  work  of  the  Lord 
deceitfully,  and  cursed  be  he  that 
keepeth  back  his  sword  from 
blood.  Deut.  Chap.  xx.  through- 
out. Ver.  1.  When  thou  goest  out 
to  battle  against  thine  enemies, 
and  sees!  horses  and  chariots,  and 
a  people  more  than  thou,  be  not 
afraid  of  them;  for  the  Lord  thy 
God  is  with  thee,  which  brought 
thee  up  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt, 
cpcc. 

j      s  Exod.  xxii.  2.     If  a  thief  be 

found  breaking  up,  and  be  smitten 

I  that  he  die,  there  shall  no  blood  be 

1  shed  for  him.     Ver.  3.   If  the  sun 

be  risen  upon  him,  there  shall  be 

I  blood  shed  for  him;  for  he  should 

;  make  full  restitution:  if  behave 

nothing,  then  he  shall  be  sold  for 

his  theft. 

I      h  Mat.  xxv.  42.   For  I   was  a 

'  hungered,   and    ye  gave   me    no 


meat:  I  was  thirsty,  and  ye  gave 
me  no  drink:  Ver.  43.  I  was  a 
stranger,  and  ye  took  me  not  in : 
naked,  and  ye  clothed  me  not : 
sick,  and  in  prison,  and  ye  visited 
me  not.  James  ii.  15.  If  a  bro- 
ther or  sister  be  naked,  and  desti- 
tute of  daily  food,  Ver.  16.  And  one 
of  you  say  unto  them,  Depart  in 
peace,  be  ye  warmed  and  filled; 
notwithstanding  ye  give  them  not 
those  things  which  are  needful  to 
the  body,  what  doth  it  profit  1  Eccl. 
vi.  1.  There  is  an  evil  which  I 
have  seen  under  the  sun,  and  it  is 
common  among  men:  Ver.  2.  A 
man  to  whom  God  hath  given 
riches,  wealth,  and  honour,  so  that 
he  wanteth  nothing  for  his  soul  of 
all  that  he  desireth,  yet  God  giveth 
him  not  power  to  eat  thereof,  but  a 
stranger  eateth  it:  this  is  vanity, 
and  it  is  an  evil  disease. 

'  Mat.  v.  22.  But  I  say  unto  you, 
That  whosoever  is  angry  with  his 
brother  without  a  cause  shall  be 
in  danger  of  the  judgment:  and 
whosoever  shall  say  to  his  brother, 
Raca,  shall  be  in  danger  of  the 
council :  but  whosoever  shall  say, 
Thou  fool,  shall  be  in  danger  of 
hell-fire. 

k  1  John  iii.  15.  Whosoever 
hateth  his  brother  is  a  murderer : 
and  ye  know  that  no  murderer  hath 
eternal  life  abiding  in  him.  Lev. 
xix.  17.  Thou  shalt  not  hate  thy 
brother  in  thine  heart :  thou  shalt 
in  any  wise  rebuke  thy  neighbour, 
and  not  surfer  sin  upon  him. 

1  Prov.  xiv.  30.  A  sound  heart  is 
the  life  of  the  flesh :  but  envy  the 
rottenness  of  the  bones. 


;08 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


desire  of  revenge  ;m  all  excessive  passions,"  distracting 
cares ;  °  immoderate  use  of  meat,  drink,p  labour,q  and  re- 
creations ; r  provoking  words,5  oppression,*  quarrelling,* 
striking,  wounding,*  and  whatsoever  else  tends  to  the  de- 
struction of  the  life  of  any.x 


m  Rom.  xii.  19.  Dearly  beloved, 
avenge  not  yourselves,  but  rather 
give  place  unto  wrath:  for  it  is 
written,. Vengeance  is  mine;  I  v/ill 
repay,  saith  the  Lord. 

n  Eph.  iv.  31.  Let  all  bitterness, 
and  wrath,  and  anger,  and  clamour, 
and  evil-speaking,  be  put  away 
from  you,  with  all  malice. 

0  Mat.  vi.  31.  Therefore  take  no 
thought,  saying,  What  shall  we 
eat?  or  what  shall  we  drink?  or 
wherewithal  shall  we  be  clothed  1 
Ver.  34.  Take  therefore  no  thought 
for  the  morrow:  for  the  morrow 
shall  take  thought  for  the  things  of 
itself:  sufficient  unto  the  day  is 
the  evil  thereof. 

p  Luke  xxi.  34.  And  take  heed  to 
yourselves,  lest  at  any  time  your 
hearts  be  overcharged  with  surfeit- 
ing, and  drunkenness,  and  cares  of 
this  life,  and  so  that  day  come  upon 
you  unawares.  Rom.  xiii.  18.  Let 
us  walk  honestly,  as  in  the  day ; 
not  in  rioting  and  drunkenness,  not 
in  chambering  and  wantonness,  not 
in  strife  and  envying. 

«  Eccl.  xii.  12.  And  further,  by 
these,  my  son,  be  admonished:  of 
making  many  books  there  is  no 
end,  and  much  study  is  a  weari- 
ness of  the  flesh.  Eccl.  ii.  22.  For 
what  hath  man  of  all  his  labour, 
and  of  the  vexation  of  his  heart, 
wherein  he  hath  laboured  under 
the  sun?  Ver. 23.  For  all  his  days 
are  sorrows,  and  his  travail  grief: 
yea,  his  heart  taketh  not  rest  in 
the  night.     This  is  also  vanity. 

T  Isa.  v.  12.  And  the  harp  and 
the  viol,  the  tabret,  and  pipe,  and 


wine,  are  in  their  feasts;  but 
they  regard  not  the  work  of  the 
Lord,  neither  consider  the  opera- 
lion  of  his  hands. 

8  Prov.  xv.  1.  A  soft  answer 
turneth  away  wrath  :  but  grievous 
words  stir  up  anger.  Prov.  xii.  18. 
There  is  that  speaketh  like  the- 
piercings  of  a  sword :  but  the 
tongue  of  the  wise  is  health. 

*  Ezek.  x.viii.  18.  As  for  his  fa- 
ther, because  he  cruelly  oppressed, 
spoiled  his  brother  by  violence, 
and  did  that  which  is  not  good 
among  his  people,  lo,  even  he  shall 
die  in  his  iniquity.  Exod.  i.  14. 
And  they  made  their  lives  bitter 
with  hard  bondage,  in  mortar, 
and  in  brick,  and  in  all  manner  of 
service  in  the  field:  all  their  ser- 
vice, wherein  they  made  them 
serve,  was  with  rigour. 

v  Gal.  v.  15.  But  if  ye  bite  and/ 
devour  one  another,  take  heed 
that  ye  be  not  consumed  one  of 
another.  Prov.  xxiii.  29.  Who 
hath  wo!  who  hath  sorrow) 
who  hath  contentions?  who  hath 
babbling?  who  hath  wounds  with- 
out cause? 

w  Numb.  xxxv.  16.  And  if  he 
smite  him  with  an  instrument  of 
iron,  so  that  he  die,  he  is  a  mur* 
derer:  the  murderer  shall  surely 
be  put  to  death.  Ver.  17.  And  if 
he  smite  him  with  throwing  a 
stone,  wherewith  he  may  die,  and 
he  die,  he  is  a  murderer:  the 
murderer  shall  surely  be  put  to 
death.  Ver.  18.  Or  if  he  smite  him 
with  a  hand-weapon  of  wood, 
wherewith  he    may  die,  and   he 


Tlie  Larger  Catechism. 


309 


Q.  137.   Which  is  the  seventh  commandment? 

Ji.  The  seventh  commandment  is,  Thou  shalt  not  commit 
adultery? 

Q.  138.  U  hat  are  the  duties  required  in  the  seventh  command- 
ment? 

A.  The  duties  required  in  the  seventh  commandment 
are,  chastity  in  body,  mind,  affections,55  words,3  and  be- 
haviour;1' and  the  preservation  of  it  in  ourselves  and 
others;0  watchfulness  over  the  eyes  and  all  the  senses ;d 
temperance,6  keeping  of  chaste  company/  modesty  in  ap- 


die,  he  is  a  murderer:  the  mur- 
derer shall  surely  be  put  to  death. 
Ver.  21.  Or  in  enmity  smite  him 
with  his  hand,  that  he  die:  he  that 
smote  him  shall  surely  be  put  to 
death;  for  he  is  a  murderer:  the 
revenger  of  blood  shall  slay  the 
murderer  when  he  meeteth  him. 

x  Exod.  xx i.  from  Verse  18,  to 
the  end.  [Containing  laws  for 
smiters,  for  a  hurt  by  chance,  for 
an  ox  that  goreth,  and  for  him 
that  is  an  occasion  of 'harm.'] 

137.  y  Exod.  xx.  14. 

138.  z  1  Thess.  iv.  4.  That  every 
one  of  you  should  know  how  to 
possess  his  vessel  in  sanctification 
and  honour.  Job  xxxi.  1.  I  made 
a  covenant  with  mine  eyes;  why 
then  should  I  think  upon  a  maid] 
1  Cor.  vii.  34.  There  is  a  dif- 
ference also  between  a  wife  and 
a  virgin  :  the  unmarried  woman 
careth  for  the  things  of  the  Lord, 
that  she  may  be  holy,  both  in  body 
and  in  spirit;  but  she  that  is  mar- 
ried careth  for  the  things  of  the 
world,  how  she  may  please  her 
husband. 

*  Col.  iv.  6.  Let  your  speech 
be  ahvay  with  grace,  seasoned 
with  salt,  that  ye  may  know  how 
ye  ought  to  answer  every  man. 

b  1  Pet.  iii.  2.  While  they  behold 
your  chaste  conversation  coupled 
with  fear. 


c  1  Cor.  vii.  2.  Neverthe- 
less, to  avoid  fornication,  let 
every  man  have  his  own  wife, 
and  let  every  woman  have  her 
own  husband.  Ver.  35.  And  this 
I  speak  for  your  own  profit,  not  that 
I  may  cast  a  snare  upon  you,  but 
for  that  which  is  comely,  and  that 
ye  may  attend  upon  the  Lord  with- 
out distraction.  Ver.  36.  But 
if  any  man  think  that  he  be- 
haveth  himself  uncomely  toward 
his  virgin,  if  she  pass  the  flower 
of  her  age,  and  need  so  require, 
let  him  do  what  he  will,  he  sin- 
neth  not:  let  them  marry. 

d  Job  xxxi.  1.  I  made  a  covenant 
with  mine  eyes  ;  why  then  should 
I  think  upon  a  maid  ] 

e  Acts  xxiv.  24.  And  after  cer- 
tain days  when  Felix  came  with 
his  wife  Drusilla,  which  was  a 
Jewess,  he  sent  for  Paul,  and 
heard  him  concerning  the  faith  in 
Christ.  Ver.  25.  And  as  he  rea- 
soned of  righteousness,  tempe- 
rance, and  judgment  to  come,  Fe- 
lix trembled.— 

^Prov.  ii.  16.  To  deliver  thee 
from  the  strange  woman,  even 
from  the  stranger  which  flattereth 
with  her  words:  Ver.  17.  Which 
forsaketh  the  guide  of  her  youth, 
and  forgetteth  the  covenant  of 
her  God.  Ver.  18.  For  her  house 
inclineth    unto    death,    and    her 


310 


The  Larger  Catechism* 


parel;8  marriage  by  those  that  have  not  the  gift  of  conti- 
nency,11  conjugal  love,1  and  cohabitation ;k  diligent  labour 
in  our  callings;1  shunning  all  occasions  of  uncleanness,  and 
resisting  temptations  thereunto.m 

Q.  139.    What  are  the  sins  forbidden  in  the  seventh  com- 
mandment? 

Jl.  The  sins  forbidden  in  the  seventh  commandment,  besides 
the  neglect  of  the  duties  required,11  are,  adultery,  fornication,0 


paths  unto  the  dead.  Ver.  19.  None 
that  go  unto  her  return  again,  nei- 
ther take  they  hold  of  the  paths  of 
life.  Ver.  20.  That  thou  mayest 
walk  in  the  way  of  good  men,  and 
keep  the  paths  of  the  righteous. 

6  1  Tim.  ii.  9.  In  like  manner 
also,  that  women  adorn  themselves 
in  modest  apparel,  with  shameftced- 
ness  and  sobriety:  not  with  embroi- 
dered hair,  or  gold,  or  pearls,  or 
costly  array. 

h  1  Cor.  vii.  2.  Nevertheless,  to 
avoid  fornication,  let  every  man 
have  his  own  wife,  and  let  every 
woman  have  her  own  husband. 
Ver.  9.  But  if  they  cannot  contain, 
let  them  marry:  for  it  is  better  to 
marry  than  to  burn. 

1  Prov.  v.  19.  Let  her  be  as  the 
loving  hind  and  pleasant  roe;  let 
her  breasts  satisfy  thee  at  all  times, 
and  be  thou  ravished  always  with 
her  love-  Ver.  20.  And  why  wilt 
thou,  my  son,  be  ravished  with  a 
strange  woman,  and  embrace  the 
bosom  of  a  stranger? 

k  1  Pet.  iii.  7.  Likewise,  ye 
husbands,  dwell  with  them  ac- 
cording to  knowledge,  giving  ho- 
nour unto  the  wife,  as  unto  the 
weaker  vessel,  and  as  being  heirs 
together  of  the  grace  of  life;  that 
your  prayers  be  not  hindered. 

1  Prov.  xxxi.  11.  The  heart  of 
her  husband  doth  safely  trust  in 
her,  so  that  he  shall  have  no  need 


of  spoil.  Ver.  27.  She  looketh  well 
to  the  ways  of  her  household,  and 
eateth  not  the  bread  of  idleness. 
Ver.  28.  Her  children  rise  up,  and 
call  her  blessed:  her  husband  also, 
and  he  praiseth  her. 

m  Prov.  v.  8.  Remove  thy  way 
far  from  her,  and  come  not  nigh 
the  door  of  her  house.  Gen. 
xxxix.  8.  Butjie  refused,  and  said 
unto  his  master's  wife,  Behold, 
my  master  wotteth  not  what  is 
with  me  in  the  house,  and  he 
hath  committed  all  that  he  hath 
to  my  hand.  Ver.  9.  There  is 
none  greater  in  this  house  than 
I;  neither  hath  he  kept  back  any 
thing  from  me  but  thee,  because 
thou  art  his  wife:  how  then  can 
I  do  this  great  wickedness,  and 
sin  against  God?  Ver.  10.  And  it 
came  to  pass,  as  she  spake  to 
Joseph  day  by  day,  that  he  hear- 
kened not  unto  her,  to  lie  by  her, 
or  to  be  with  her. 

139. n  Prov.  v.  7.  Hear  me  now 
therefore,  O  ye  children,  and  de- 
part not  from  the  words  of  my 
mouth. 

0  Hob.  xiii.  4.  Marriage  is  ho- 
nourable in  all,  and  the  bed  un- 
dented; but  whoremongers  and 
adulterers  God  will  judge.  Gal. 
v.  19.  Now  the  works  of  the  flesh 
are  manifest,  which  are  these : 
Adultery,  fornication,  uncleanness, 
lasciviousness. 


TTie  Larger  Catechism. 


311 


rape,  incest,?  sodomy,  and  all  unnatural  lusts  ;q  all  unclean 
imaginations,  thoughts,  purposes,  and  affections ; r  all  cor- 
rupt or  filthy  communications,  or  listening  thereunto;5  wan- 
ton looks/  impudent  or  light  behaviour,  immodest  apparel ; T 


p  2  Sam.  xiii.  14.  Howbeit,  he 
would  not  hearken  unto  her 
voice;  but  being  stronger  than 
she,  forced  her,  and  lay  with  her. 
1  Cor.  v.  1.  It  is  reported  com- 
monly that  there  is  fornication 
among  you,  and  such  fornication  as 
is  not  so  much  as  named  among 
the  Gentiles,  that  one  should  have 
his  father's  wife. 

«  Rom.  i.  24.  Wherefore  God 
also  gave  them  up  to  unclean- 
ness,  through  the  lusts  of  their 
own  hearts,  to  dishonour  their 
own  bodies  between  themselves. 
Ver.  26.  For  this  cause  God  gave 
them  up  unto  vile  affections:  fur 
even  their  women  did  change  the 
natural  use  unto  that  which  is 
against  nature:  Ver.  27.  And  like- 
wise also  the  men,  leaving  the  na- 
tural use  of  the  woman,  burned  in 
their  lust  one  toward  another, 
men  with  men  working  that  which- 
is  unseemly,  and  receiving  in 
themselves  that  recompense  of 
their  error  which  was  meet.  Lev. 
xx.  15.  And  if  a  man  lie  with  a 
beast,  he  shall  surely  be  put  to 
death :  and  ye  shall  slay  the  beast. 
Ver.  16.  And  if  a  woman  approach 
unto  any  beast,  and  lie  down  there- 
to, thou  shalt  kill  the  woman  and 
the  beast:  they  shall  surely  be  put 
to  death:  their  blood  shall  be  upon 
them. 

'  Mat.  v.  28.  But  I  say  unto  you, 
That  whosoever  looketh  on  a  wo- 
man to  lust  after  her,  hath  com- 
mitted adultery  with  her  already 
in  his  heart.  'Mat.  xv.  19.  For 
out    of  the  heart    proceed    evil 


thoughts,  murders,  adulteries,  for- 
nications, thefts,  false  witness, 
blasphemies.  Col.  iii.  5-  Mor- 
tify therefore  your  members  which 
are  upon  the  earth ;  fornication, 
uncleanness,  inordinate  affection, 
evil  concupiscence,  and  covetous- 
ness,  which  is  idolatry. 

6  Eph.  v.  3.  But  fornication,  and 
all  uncleanness,  or  covetousness, 
let  it  not  be  once  named  among 
you,  as  becometh  saints:  Ver.  4. 
Neither  filthiness,  nor  foolish  talk- 
ing, nor  jesting,  which  are  not 
convenient;  but  rather  giving  of 
thanks.  Prov.  vii.  5.  That  they 
may  keep  thee  from  the  strange 
woman,  from  the  stranger  which 
flattereth  with  her  words.  Ver.  21. 
With  her  much  fair  speech  she 
caused  him  to  yield,  with  the  flat- 
tering of  her  lips  she  forced  him. 
Ver.  22.  He  goeth  after  her 
straightway  as  an  ox  goeth  to  the 
slaughter,  or  as  a  fool  to  the  cor- 
rection of  the  stocks. 

1  Isa.  16.  Moreover  the  Lord 
saith,  Because  the  daughters  of 
Zion  are  haughty,  and  walk  with 
stretched-forth  necks,  and  wanton 
eyes,  walking  and  mincing  as  they 
go,  and  making  a  tinkling  with 
their  feet.  2  Pet.  ii.  14.  Having 
eyes  full  of  adultery,  and  that  can- 
not cease  from  sin ;  beguiling  un- 
stable souls: — 

*  Prov.  vii.  10.  And,  behold, 
there  met  him  a  woman  with  the 
attire  of  a  harlot,  and  subtile  of 
heart.  Ver.  13.  So  she  caught  him, 
and  kissed  him,  and  with  an  im- 
pudent face  said  unto  him,— 


312 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


prohibiting  of  lawful,*  and  dispensing  with  unlawful  mar- 
riages;1 allowing/  tolerating,  keeping  of  stews,  and  resort- 
ing to  them ; y  entangling  vows  of  single  life,2  undue  delay  of 
marriage ; a  having  more  wives  or  husbands  than  one  at  the 


w  1  Tim.  iv.  3.  Forbidding  to 
marry,  and  commanding  to  abstain 
from  meats,  which  God  hath  cre- 
ated to  be  received  with  thanks- 
giving of  them  which  believe  and 
know  the  truth. 

x  Lev.  xviii.  from  Verse  1,  to  21. 
Mark  vi.  18.  For  John  had  said 
unto  Herod,  It  is  not  lawful  for 
thee  to  have  thy  brother's  wife. 
Mai.  ii.  11.  Judah  hath  dealt 
treacherously,  and  an  abomina- 
tion is  committed  in  Israel  and 
in  Jerusalem :  for  Judah  hath  pro- 
faned the  holiness  of  the  Lord 
which  he  loved,  and  hath  mar- 
ried the  daughter  of  a  strange 
god.  Ver.  12.  The  Lord  will  cut 
off  the  man  that  doeth  this;  the 
master  and  the  scholar  out  of  the 
tabernacles  of  Jacob,  and  him  that 
offereth  an  offering  unto  the  Lord 
of  hosts. 

'  1  Kings  xv.  12.  And  he  took 
away  the  Sodomites  out  of  the 
land,  and  removed  all  the  idols 
that  his  fathers  had  made.  2  Kings 
xxiii.  7.  And  he  brake  down  the 
houses  of  the  Sodomites  that 
were  by  the  house  of  the  Lord, 
where  the  women  wove  hang- 
ings for  the  grove.  Deut.  xxiii. 
17.  There  shall  be  no  whore  of 
the  daughters  of  Israel,  nor  a 
Sodomite  of  the  sons  of  Israel. 
Ver.  18.  Thou  shalt  not  bring  the 
hire  of  a  whore,  or  the  price  of  a 
dog,  into  the  house  of  the  Lord 
thy  God  for  any  vow:  for  even 
both  these  are  abomination  unto 
the  Lord  thy  God.  Lev.  xix. 
29.  Do  not  prostitute  thy  daugh- 
ter, to  cause  her  to  be  a  whore; 
lest  the   land   fall   to  whoredom, 


and  the  land  become  full  of  wick- 
edness. Jer.  v.  7.  How  shall  I 
pardon  thee  for  this?  thy  children 
have  forsaken  me,  and  sworn  by 
them  that  are  no  gods :  when  I 
had  fed  them  to  the  full,  they 
then  committed  adultery,  and  as- 
sembled themselves  by  troops  in 
the  harlots'  houses.  Prov.  vii.  24. 
Hearken  unto  me  now  therefore, 
O  ye  children,  and  attend  to  the 
words  of  my  mouth.  Ver.  25.  Let 
not  thine  heart  decline  to  her 
ways,  go  not  astray  in  her  paths. 
Ver.  26.  For  she  hath  cast  down 
many  wounded  :  yea,  many  strong 
men  have  been  slain  by  her. 
Ver.  27.  Her  house  is  the  way  to 
hell,  going  down  to  the  chambers 
of  death. 

z  Mat.  xix.  10.  His  disciples  say 
unto  him,  If  the  case  of  the  man 
be  so  with  his  wife,  it  is  not  good 
to  marry.  Ver.  11.  But  he  said 
unto  them,  All  men  cannot  receive 
this  saying,  save  they  to  whom  it 
is  given. 

a  1  Cor.  vii.  7.  For  I  would  that 
all  men  were  even  as  I  myself: 
but  every  man  hath  his  proper 
gift  of  God,  one  after  this  man- 
ner, and  another  after  that.     Ver. 

8.  I  say  therefore  to  the  unmar- 
ried and  widows,  It  is  good  for 
them  if  they  abide  even  as  I.   Ver. 

9.  But  if  they  cannot  contain,  let 
them  marry :  for  it  is  better  to 
marry  than  to  burn.  Gen.  xxxviii. 
26.  And  Judah  acknowledged 
them,  and  said,  She  hath  been 
more  righteous  than  I :  because 
that  I  gave  her  not  to  Shelah  my 
son.  And  he  kn*w  her  again  do 
more. 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


same  time  ; b  unjust  divorce,0  or  desertion ; d  idleness,  glut- 
tony, drunkenness,6  unchaste  company  ; f  lascivious  songs, 
books,  pictures,  dancings,  stage  plays ;  ~  and  all  other  pro- 


b  Mai.  ii.  14.  Yet  ye  say,  Where- 
fore !  Because  the  Lord  hath  been 
witness  between  thee  and  the 
wife  of  thy  youth,  against  whom 
thou  hast  dealt  treacherously: 
yet  is  she  thy  companion,  and 
the  wife  of  thy  covenant.  Ver.  15. 
And  did  not  he  make  one]  Yet 
had  he  the  residue  of  the  Spirit. 
And  wherefore  one?  That  he 
might  seek  a  godly  seed.  There- 
fore take  heed  to  your  spirit, 
and  let  none  deal  treacherously 
against  the  wife  of  his  youth. 
Alat.  xix.  5.  And  said,  For  this 
cause  shall  a  man  leave  father 
and  mother,  and  shall  cleave  to 
his  wife :  and  they  twain  shall  be 
one  flesh. 

c  Mai.  ii.  16.  For  the  Lord,  the 
God  of  Israel,  saith,  that  he  hateth 
putting  away :  for  one  covereth 
violence  with  his  garment,  saith 
the  Lord  of  hosts :  therefore  take 
heed  to  your  spirit,  that  ye  deal 
not  treacherously.  Mat.  v.  32. 
But  I  say  unto  you,  That  whoso- 
ever shall  put  away  his  wife, 
saving  for  the  cause  of  fornication, 
causeth  her  to  commit  adultery: 
and  whosoever  shall  marry  her 
that  is  divorced,  committeth  adul- 
tery. 

d  1  Cor.  vii.  12.  But  to  the  rest 
speak  I,  not  the  Lord:  If  any 
brother  hath  a  wife  that  belie veth 
not,  and  she  be  pleased  to  dwell 
with  him,  let  him  not  put  her 
away.  Ver.  13.  And  the  woman 
which  hath  a  husband  that  be- 
lieveth  not,  and  if  he  be  pleased  to 
dwell  with  her,  let  her  not  leave 
him. 

e  Ezek.  xvi.  49.  Behold,  this 
was  the  iniquity  of  thy  sister  So- 
27 


dom,  Pride,  fulness  of  bread,  and 
abundance  of  idleness,  was  in  her 
and  in  her  daughters;  neither  did 
she  strengthen  the  hands  of  the 
poor  and  needy.  Prov.  xxiii.  30. 
They  that  tarry  long  at  the  wine, 
they  that  go  to  seek  mixed  wine. 
Ver.  31.  Look  not  thou  upon  the 
wine  when  it  is  red,  when  it 
giveth  his  colour  in  the  cup,  when 
it  moveth  itself  aright.  Ver.  32. 
At  the  last  it  biteth  like  a  serpent, 
and  stingeth  like  an  adder.  Ver.  33. 
Thine  eyes  shall  behold  strange 
women,  and  thine  heart  shall  utter 
perverse  things. 

f  Gen.  xxxix.  10.  And  it  came 
to  pass,  as  she  spake  to  Joseph 
day  by  day,  that  he  hearkened 
not  unto  her,  to  lie  by  her,  or 
to  be  with  her.  Prov.  v.  8.  Re- 
move thy  way  far  from  her,  and 
come  not  nigh  the  door  of  her 
house. 

b  Eph.  v.  4.  Neither  filthiness, 
nor  foolish  talking,  nor  jesting, 
which  are  not  convenient:  but 
rather  giving  of  thanks.  Ezek. 
xxiii.  14.  And  that  she  increased 
her  whoredoms :  for  when  she 
saw  men  portrayed  upon  the 
wall,  the  images  of  the  Chal- 
deans portrayed  with  vermilion. 
Ver.  15.  Girded  with  girdles  upon 
their  loins,  exceeding  in  dyed 
attire  upon  their  heads,  alf  of 
them  princes  to  look  to,  after  the 
manner  of  the  Babylonians  of 
Chaldea,  the  land  of  their  na- 
tivity :  Ver.  16.  And  as  soon  as 
she  saw  them  with  her  eyes*  she 
doted  upon  them,  and  sent  mes- 
sengers unto  them  into  Chaldea. 
Isa.  xxiii.  15.  And  it  shall  come  to 
pass  in  that  day,  that  Tyre  shall 


314 


The  Larger  Catechism* 


vocations  to,  or  acts  of  uncleanness,  either  in  ourselves  or 
others.11 

Q.  140.  Which  is  the  eighth  commandment  ? 

Jl.  The  eighth  commandment  is,  Thou  shall  not  steal} 

Q.  141.  What  are  the  duties  required  in  the  eighth 
command?nent  ? 

•ft.  The  duties  required  in  the  eighth  commandment 
are,  truth,  faithfulness,  and  justice  in  contracts  and  com- 
merce between  man  and  man ; k  rendering  to  every  one  his 


be    forgotten    seventy   years,   ac- 
cording to  the  days  of  one  king: 
after   the   end    of  seventy   years 
shall     Tyre     sing    as    a     harlot. 
Ver.   16.   Take  a  harp,  go  about 
the    city,   thou    harlot    that    hast 
been   forgotten,  make  sweet  me- 
lody, sing  many  songs,  that  thou 
mayest  be  remembered.     Ver.  17. 
And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  after 
the    end   of    seventy   years,    that 
the  Lord  will  visit  Tyre,  and  she 
shall   turn  to  her  hire,  and  shall 
commit   fornication    with   all   the 
kingdoms  of  the  world   upon  the 
face   of  the   earth.      Isa.  iii.   16. 
Moreover,    the    Lord    saith,    Be- 
cause the  daughters  of  Zion   are 
haughty,  and  walk  with  stretched- 
forth     necks,   and    wanton    eyes, 
walking,  and  mincing  as  they  go, 
and   making  a  tinkling  with  their 
feet: — Mark    vi.   22.    And   when 
the  daughter  of  the  said  Herodias 
came  in,  and  danced,  and  pleased 
Herod,  and    them    that   sat   with 
him,  the  king  said  unto  the  dam- 
sel, Ask  of    me  whatsoever   thou 
wilt,   and    I    will    give    it    thee. 
Rom.  xiii.    13.    Let  us  walk  ho- 
nestly, as  in  the  day;   not  in  riot- 
ing and  drunkenness,  not  in  cham- 
bering   and    wantonness,   not    in 
strife  and  envying.     1  Pet.  iv.  3. 
For  the  time  past  of  our  life  may 
suffice    us    to    have  wrought   the 
will   of  the    Gentiles,    when    we 
walked    in    lasciviousness,   lusts, 


excess  of  wine,  revellings,  ban- 
quetings,  and  abominable  ido- 
latries. 

b  2  Kings  ix.  30.  And  when 
Jehu  was  come  to  Jezreel,  Jezebel 
heard  of  it;  and  she  painted  her 
face,  and  tired  her  head,  and 
looked  out  at  a  window.  Com- 
pared with  Jer.  iv.  30.  And  when 
thou  art  spoiled,  what  wilt  thou 
do?  though  thou  clothest  thyself 
with  crimson,  though  thou  deck- 
est  thee  with  ornaments  of  gold, 
though  thou  rendest  thy  face  with 
painting,  in  vain  shalt  thou  make 
thyself  fair,  thy  lovers  will  de- 
spise thee,  they  will  seek  thy  life. 
And  with  Ezek.  xxiii.  40.  And 
furthermore,  that  ye  have  sent 
for  men  to  come  from  far,  unto 
whom  a  messenger  was  sent;  and, 
lo,  they  came,  for  whom  thou 
didst  wash  thyself,  paintedst  thine 
eyes,  and  deckedst  thyself  with 
ornaments. 

140. s  Exod.  xx.  15. 
141.  k  Psal.  xv.  2.  He  that  walk- 
eth  uprightly,  and  workcth  right- 
eousness, and  speaketh  the  truth 
in  his  heart.  Ver.  4. — He  that 
sweareth  to  his  own  hurt,  and 
changeth  not.  Zech.  vii.  4.  Then 
came  the  word  of  the  Lord  of 
hosts  unto  me,  saying,  Ver.  10. — 
Oppress  not  the  widow,  nor  the 
fatherless,  the  stranger,  nor  the 
poor;  and  let  none  of  you  ima- 
gine evil  against  his  brother  in 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


15 


due  ;l  restitution  of  goods  unlawfully  detained  from  the  right 
owners  thereof;111  giving  and  lending  freely,  according  to 
our  abilities,  and  the  necessities  of  others  ;n  moderation  of  our 
judgments,  wills,  and  affections  concerning  worldly  goods  ;° 

Lord,  the  half  of  my  goods  I 
give  to  the  poor;  and  if  I  have 
taken  any  thing  from  any  man 
by  false  accusation,  I  restore  him 
fourfold. 

n  Luke  vi.  30.  Give  to  every 
man  that  asketh  of  thee :  and  of 
him  that  taketh  away  thy  goods, 
ask  them  not  again.  Ver.  38.  Give, 
and  it  shall  be  given  unto  you ; 
good  measure,  pressed  down,  and 
shaken  together,  and  running  over, 
shall  men  give  into  your  bosom. 
For  with  the  same  measure  that 
ye  mete  withal,  it  shall  be  mea- 
sured to  you  again.  1  John  iii.  17. 
But  whoso  hath  this  world's  good, 
and  seeth  his  brother  have  need, 
and  shutteth  up  his  bowels  of  com- 
passion from  him,  how  dwelleth 
the  love  of  God  in  him  ?  Eph. 
iv.  28.  Let  him  that  stole  steal 
no  more:  but  rather  let  him  la- 
bour, working  with  his  hands  the 
thing  which  is  good,  that  he  may 
have  to  give  to  him  that  need- 
eth.  Gal.  vi.  10.  As  we  have 
therefore  opportunity,  let  us  do 
good  unto  all  men,  especially  unto 
them  who  are  of  the  household  of 
faith. 

0  1  Tim.  vi.  6.  But  godliness 
with  contentment  is  great  gain. 
Ver.  7.  For  we  brought  nothing 
into  this  world,  and  it  is  certain 
we  can  carry  nothing  out.  Ver.  8. 
And  having  food  and  raiment,  let 
us  be  therewith  content.  Ver.  9. 
But  they  that  will  be  rich  fall 
into  temptation,  and  a  snare,  and 
into  many  foolish  and  hurtful 
lusts,  which  drown  men  in  de- 
struction and  perdition.  Gal.  vi. 
14.  But  God  forbid  that  I  should 


your  heart.  Zech.  viii.  16.  These 
are  the  things  that  ye  shall  do : 
Speak  ye  every  man  the  truth 
to  his  neighbour;  execute  the 
judgment  of  truth  and  peace 
in  your  gates.  Ver.  17.  And  let 
none  of  you  imagine  evil  in  your 
hearts  against  his  neighbour,  and 
love  no  false  oatk:  for  all  these 
are  things  that  I  hate,  saith  the 
Lord. 

1  Rom.  xiii.  7.  Render  therefore 
to  all  their  dues:  tribute  to  whom 
tribute  is  due,  custom  to  whom 
custom,  fear  to  whom  fear,  honour 
to  whom  honour. 

m  Lev.  vi.  2.  If  a  soul  sin,  and 
commit  a  trespass  against  the  Lord, 
and  lie  unto  his  neighbour  in  that 
*\vhich  was  delivered  him  to  keep, 
or  in  fellowship,  or  in  a  thing 
taken  away  by  violence,  or  hath 
deceived  his  neighbour;  Ver.  3. 
Or  have  found  that  which  was 
lost,  and  lieth  concerning  it,  and 
sweareth  falsely;  in  any  of  all 
these  that  a  man  doeth,  sinning 
therein  :  Ver.  4.  Then  it  shall  be, 
because  he  hath  sinned,  and  is 
guilty,  that  he  shall  restore  that 
which  he  took  violently  away,  or 
the  thing  which  he  hath  deceit- 
fully gotten,  or  that  which  was 
delivered  him  to  keep,  or  the  lost 
thing  which  he  found.  Ver.  5.  Or 
all  that  about  which  he  hath 
sworn  falsely;  he  shall  even  re- 
store it  in  the  principal,  and  shall 
add  the  fifth  part  more  thereto, 
and  give  it  unto  him  to  whom  it 
appertaineth,  in  the  day  of  his 
trespass-offering.  Compared  with 
Luke  xix.  8.  And  Zaccheus  stood 
and  said  unto  the   Lord,   Behold, 


16 


The  Larger  Catechism* 


a  provident  care  and  study  to  get,p  keep,  use,  and  dispose 
these  things  which  are  necessary  and  convenient  for  the  sus- 
tentation  of  our  nature,  and  suitable  to  our  condition  ;q  a 
lawful  calling,1  and  diligence  in  it;8  frugality;1  avoiding 
unnecessary  law-suits,v  and  suretiship,  or  other  like  engage- 
ments ;w  and  an  endeavour,  by  all  just  and  lawful  means,  to 


glory,  save  in  the  cross  of  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  by  whom  the 
world  is  crucified  unto  me,  and  I 
unto  the  work!. 

p  1  Tim-  v.  8.  But  if  any  provide 
not  for  his  own,  and  specially  for 
those  of  his  own  house,  he  hath 
denied  the  faith,  and  is  worse 
than  an   infidel. 

*»  Prov.  xxvii.  from  Verse  23, 
to  the  end.  Be  thou  diligent  to 
know  the  state  of  thy  flocks,  and 
look  well  to  thy  herds.  Ver.  24. 
For  riches  are  not  for  ever.  Eccl. 
ii.  24.  There  is  nothing  better  for 
a  man,  than  that  he  should  eat  and 
drink,  and  that  he  should  make  his 
soul  enjoy  good  in  his  labour.  This 
also  I  saw,  that  it  was  from  the 
hand  of  God.  Eccl.  iii.  12.  I  know 
that  there  is  no  good  in  them,  but 
for  a  man  to  rejoice,  and  to  do  good 
in  his  life.  Ver.  13.  And  also  that 
every  man  should  eat  and  drink, 
and  enjoy  the  good  of  all  his  labour, 
it  is  the  gift  of  God.  1  Tim.  vi. 
17.  Charge  them  that  are  rich  in 
this  world,  that  they  be  not  high- 
minded,  nor  trust  in  uncertain 
riches,  but  in  the  living  God,  who 
giveth  us  richly  all  things  to  en- 
joy: Ver.  18.  That  thou  do  good, 
that  they  be  rich  in  good  works, 
ready  to  distribute,  willing  to  com- 
municate. Isa.  xxxviii.  1.  In  those 
days  was  Ilezekiah  sick  unto  death: 
and  Isaiah  the  prophet,  the  son  of 
Amoz,  came  unto  him,  and  said  un- 
to him,  Thus  saith  the  Lord,  Set 
thine  house  in  order ;  for  thou  shalt 


die,  and  not  live.  Mat.  xi.  8.  Be- 
hold, they  that  wear  soft  clothing 
are  in  king's  houses. 

r  1  Cor.  vii.  20.  Let  every  man 
abide  in  the  same  calling  wherein 
he  was  called.  Gen.  ii.  15.  And 
the  Lord  God  took  the  man,  and 
put  him  into  the  garden  of  Eden, 
to  dress  it,  and  to  keep  it.  Gen. 
iii.  19.  In  the  sweat  of  thy  face 
shalt  thou  eat  bread,  till  thou  re- 
turn unto  the  ground. 

3  Eph.  iv.  28.  Let  him  that  stole 
steal  no  more:  but  rather  let  him 
labour,  working  with  his  hands  the 
thing  which  is  good,  that  he  may 
have  to  give  to  him  that  needeth. 
Prov.  x.  4.  He  becometh  poor  that 
dealeth  with  a  slack  hand  :  but  the 
hand  of  the  diligent  maketh  rich. 

1  John  vi.  12.  When  they  were 
filled,  he  said  unto  his  disciples, 
Gather  up  the  fragments  that  re- 
main, that  nothing  be  lost.  Prov. 
xxi.  20.  There  is  a  treasure  to  be 
desired,  and  oil  in  the  dwelling  of 
the  wise :  but  a  foolish  man  spend- 
eth  it  up. 

T  1  Cor.  vi.  from  Ver.  1  to  9. 
Dare  any  of  you,  having  a  matter 
against  another,  go  to  law  before 
the  unjust,  and  not  before  the 
saints?  &c. 

w  Prov.  vi.  from  Ver.  1  to  6. 
My  son,  if  thou  be  surety  for  thy 
friend,  if  thou  hast  stricken  thy 
hand  with  a  stranger,  thou  art 
snared  with  the  words  of  thy 
mouth,  &c.  Prov.  xi.  15.  He  that 
is  surety  for  a  stranger  shall  smart 


Tlie  Larger  Catechism. 


317 


procure,  preserve,  and  further  the  wealth  and  outward 
estate  of  others,  as  well  as  our  own.x 

Q.  142.  What  are  the  sins  forbidden  in  the  eighth  coin- 
mandment? 

A.  The  sins  forbidden  in  the  eighth  commandment,  be- 
sides the  neglect  of  the  duties  required/    are,  theft,2  rob- 


oerv, 


man-stealing/ 


and 


any  thing    that    is 


for  it;  and  he  that  hateth  sureti- 
ship,  is  sure. 

x  Lev.  xxv.  35.  And  if  thy  bro- 
ther be  waxen  poor,  and  fallen  in 
decay  with  thee,  then  thou  shalt 
relieve  him ;  yea,  though  he  be  a 
stranger,  or  a  sojourner;  that  he 
may  live  with  thee.  Deut.  xxii.  1. 
Thou  shalt  not  see  thy  brother's  ox 
or  his  sheep  go  astray,  and  hide 
thyself  from  them :  thou  shalt  in 
any  case  bring  them  again  unto 
thy  brother.  Ver.  2.  And  if  thy 
brother  be  not  nigh  unto  thee,  or 
if  thou  know  him  not,  then  thou 
shalt  bring  it  unto  thine  own 
house,  and  it  shall  be  with  thee 
until  thy  brother  seek  after  it, 
and  thou  shalt  restore  it  to  him 
again.  Ver.  3.  In  like  manner 
shalt  thou  do  with  his  ass,  and  so 
s_halt  thou  do  with  his  raiment; 
and  with  all  lost  things  of  thy 
brother's,  which  he  hath  lost,  and" 
thou  hast  found,  shalt  thou  do 
likewise :  thou  mayest  not  hide 
thyself.  Ver.  4.  Thou  shalt  not 
see  thy  brother's  ass  or  his  ox 
fall  down  by  the  way,  and  hide 
thyself  from  them:  thou  shalt 
surely  help  him  to  lift  them 
up  again.  Exod.  xxiii.  4.  If  thou 
meet  thine  enemy's  ox  or  his  ass 
going  astray,  thou  shaft  surely 
bring  it  back  to  him  again.  Ver. 
5.  If  thou  see  the  ass  of  him  that 
hateth  thee  lying  under  his  burden, 
and  wouldest  forbear  to  help  him, 
thou  shalt  surely  help  with    him. 


Gen.  xlvii.  14.  And  Joseph  ga- 
thered up  all  the  money  that  was 
found  in  the  land  of  Egypt,  and 
in  the  land  of  Canaan,  for  the 
corn  which  they  bought :  and  Jo- 
seph brought  the  money  into  Pha- 
raoh's house-  Ver.  20.  And  Joseph 
bought  all  the  land  of  Egypt  for 
Pharaoh;  for  the  Egyptians  sold 
every  man  his  field,  "because  the 
famine  prevailed  over  them  :  so  the 
land  became  Pharaoh's.  Phil.  ii.  4. 
Look  not  every  man  on  his  own 
things,  but  every  man  also  on  the 
things  of  others.  Mat.  xxii.  39. 
And  the  second  is  like  unto  it, 
Thou  shalt  love  thy  neighbour  as 
thyself. 

142.  *  James  ii.  15.  If  a  brother 
or  sister  be  naked,  and  destitute 
of  daily  food ;  Ver.  16.  And  one 
of  you  say*  unto  them,  Depart  in 
peace,  be  ye  warmed  and  filled; 
notwithstanding  ye  give  them  not 
those  things  which  are  needful  to 
the  body,  what  doth  it  profit?  1 
John  hi  17.  But  whoso  hath  this 
world's  good,  and  seeth  his  brother 
have  need,  and  shutteth  up  his 
bowels  of  compassion  from  him,  how 
dwelleth  the  love  of  God  in  him? 

z  Eph.  iv.  28.  Let  him  that  stole 
steal  no  more;  but  rather—. 

aPsal.  lxii.  10.  Trust  not  m 
oppress  on,  and  become  not  vain 
in  robberv  :  — 

b  1  Tim.  i.  10.  (The  law  was 
made)  for  whoremongers,  for 
them  that  defile  themselves  « 


18 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


stolen;0  fraudulent  dealing/  false  weights  and  measures,6 
removing  land  marks/  injustice  and  unfaithfulness  in  con- 
tracts between  man  and  man,8  or  in  matters  of  trust  ;h  op- 
pression,1 extortion,k  usury,1  bribery ,m  vexatious  lawsuits,11 


mankind,  for  men-stealers,  for 
liars,  for  perjured  persons,  and  if 
there  be  any  other  thing  that  is 
contrary  to  sound  doctrine. 

c  Prov.  xxix.  24.  Whoso  is  part- 
ner with  a  thief  hateth  his  own 
soul :  he  heareth  cursing,  and  be- 
wrayeth  it  not.  Psal.  1.  18.  When 
thou  sawest  a  thief,  then  thou 
consentedst  with  him. — 

d  1  Thess.  iv.  6.  That  no  man 
go  beyond  and  defraud  his  bro- 
ther in  any  matter;  because  that 
the  Lord  is  the  avenger  of  all 
such,  as  we  also  have  forewarned 
you,  and  testified. 

e  Prov.  xi.  1.  A  false  balance  is 
abomination  to  the  Lord:  but  a 
just  weight  is  his  delight.  Prov. 
xx.  10.  Divers  weights,  and  divers 
measures,  both  of  them  are  alike 
abomination  to  the  Lord. 

:Deut.  xix.  14.  Thou  shalt  not 
remove  thy  neighbour's  land- 
mark, which  they  of  old  time 
have  set  in  thine  inheritance. — 
Prov.  xxiii.  10.  Remove  not  the 
old  land-mark;  and  enter  not  into 
the  Holds  of  the  fatherless. 

«  Amos  viii.  5.  Saying,  When 
will  the  new-moon  be  gone,  that 
we  may  sell  corn  ?  and  the  sab- 
bath,  that  we  may  set  forth 
wheat,  making  the  ephah  small, 
and  the  shekel  great,  and  falsi- 
fying the  balances  by  deceit? 
Psal!  xxxvii.  '21.  The  wicked  bor- 
roweth,  and  payeth  not  again.— 

h  Luke  xvi.  10.  He  that  is 
faithful  in  that  which  is  least, 
b  faithful  also  in  much;  and 
he  that  ia  unjust  in  the  least,  is 
unjust  also  in  much.  Ver.  11.   If 


therefore  ye  have  not  been  faith- 
ful in  the  unrighteous  mammon, 
who  will  commit  to  your  trust  the 
true  riches  ?  Ver.  12.  And  if  ye 
have  not  been  faithful  in  that 
which  is  another  man's,  who  shall 
give  you  that  which  is  your  own? 

1  Ezek.  xxii.  29.  The  people  of 
the  land  have  used  oppression,  and 
exercised  robbery,  and  have  vexed 
the  poor  and  needy ;  yea,  they  have 
oppressed  the  stranger  wrongfully. 
Lev.  xxv.  17.  Ye  shall  not  there- 
fore oppress  one  another ;  but  thou 
shalt  fear  thy  God :  for  I  am  the. 
Lord  your  God. 

k  Mat.  xxiii.  25.  Wo  unto 
you,  scribes  and  Pharisees,  hypo- 
crites! for  ye  make  clean  the  out- 
side of  the  cup  and  of  the  plat- 
ter, but  within  they  are  full  of 
extortion  and  excess.  Ezek.  xxii. 
12.  In  thee  have  they  taken  gifts 
to  shed  blood:  thou  hast  taken 
usury  and  increase,  and  thou  hast 
greedily  gained  of  thy  neighbours., 
by  extortion,  and  hast  forgotten 
me,  saith  the  Lord  God. 

1  Psal.  xv.  5.  He  that  putteth 
not  out  his  money  to  usury,  nor 
taketh  reward  against  the  inno- 
cent.— - 

111  Job  xv.  34.  For  the  congre- 
gation of  hypocrites  shall  be  deso- 
late, and  fire  shall  consume  the 
tabernacles  of  bribery. 

a  1  Cor.  vi.  6.  But  brother  go- 
cth  to  law  with  brother,  and  that 
before,  the  unbelievers.  Ver.  7. 
Now  therefore  there  is  utterly 
a  fault  among  you,  because  ye  go 
to  law  one  with  another:  why 
do    ye  not  rather    take    wrong? 


The  Larger  Catechism, 


19 


unjust  enclosures  and  depopulations;0  engrossing  commodi- 
ties to  enhance  the  price ; ?  unlawful  callings/1  and  all  other 
unjust  or  sinful  ways  of  taking  or  withholding  from  our 
neighbour  what  belongs  to  him,  or  of  enriching  ourselves  ;r 
covetousness ; s  inordinate  prizing  and  affecting  worldly 
goods ; t  distrustful  and  distracting  cares  and  studies  in  get- 
ting, keeping,  and  using  them  ;v  envying  at  the  prosperity  of 


why  do  ye  not  rather  suffer  your- 
selves to  be  defrauded !  Ver.  8. 
Nay,  ye  do  wrong,  and  defraud, 
and  that  your  brethren.  Prov. 
iii.  29.  Devise  not  evil  against  thy 
neighbour,  seeing  he  dwelleth 
securely  by  thee.  Ver.  30.  Strive 
not  with  a  man  without  cause, 
if  he  have  done  thee  no  harm. 

0  Jsa.  v.  S.  Wo  unto  them  that 
join  house  to  house,  that  lay  field 
to  field,  till  there  be  no  place, 
that  they  may  be  placed  alone  in 
the  midst  of  the  earth !  Micah 
ii.  2.  And  they  covet  fields,  and 
take  them  by  violence;  and  houses, 
and  take  them  away:  so  they  op- 
press a  man  and  his  house,  even 
a  man  and  his  heritage. 

p  Prov.  xi.  26.  He  that  with, 
holdeth  corn,  the  people  shall 
curse  him :  but  blessing  shall  be 
upon  the  head  of  him  that  selleth 
it. 

q  Acts  xix.  19.  Many  also  of 
them  which  used  curious  arts 
brought  their  books  together, 
and  burned  them  before  all  men ; 
and  they  counted  the  price  of 
them,  and  found  it  fifty  thousand 
pieces  of  silver.  Ver.  24.  For  a 
certain  man,  named  Demetrius, 
a  silver-smith,  which  made  silver 
shrines  for  Diana,  brought  no 
small  gain  unto  the  craftsmen; 
Ver.  25.  Whom  he  called  together, 
with  the  workmen  of  like  occu- 
pation, and  said,  Sirs,  ye  know 
that  by  this  craft  we  have  our 
wealth" 


r  Job  xx.  19.  Because  he  hath 
oppressed,  and  hath  forsaken  the 
poor  ;  because  he  hath  violently 
taken  away  a  house  which  he 
builded.  not.  James  v.  4.  Behold, 
the  hire  of  the  labourers,  which 
have  reaped  down  your  fields: 
which  is  of  you  kept  back  by 
fraud,  crieth;  and  the  cries  of 
them  which  have  reaped  are  en- 
tered into  the  ears  of  the  Lord 
of  sabaoth.  Prov.  xxi.  6.  The 
getting  of  treasures  by  a  lying 
tongue  is  a  vanity  tossed  to  and 
fro  of  them  thai  seek  death. 

5  Luke  xii.  15.  And  he  said 
unto  them,  Take  heed,  and  be- 
ware of  covetousness:  for  a  man's 
life  consisteth  not  in  the  abun- 
dance of  the  things  which  he  pos- 
sessed. 

:  1  Tim.  vi.  5.  Perverse  dis- 
putings-  of  men  of  corrupt  minds, 
and  destitute  of  the  truth,  sup- 
posing that  gain  is  godliness:  from 
such  withdraw  thyself.  Col.  iii. 
2.  Set  your  affection  on  things 
above,  not  on  things  on  the  earth. 
Prov.  xxiii.  5.  Wilt  thou  set 
thine  eyes  upon  that  which  is 
not?-  for  riches  certainly  make 
themselves  wings,  they  fly  away 
as  an  eagle  towards  heaven.  Psal. 
Ixii.  10. —  If  riches  increase,  set  not 
your  heart  upon  them. 

v  Mat.  vi.  25.  Therefore  I  say 
unto  you,  Take  no  thought  for 
your  life,  what  ye  shall  eat,  or 
what  ye  shall  drink;  nor  yet  for 
your  body,  what  ye  shall  put  on : 


320 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


others; w  as  likewise  idleness, x  prodigality,  wasteful  gaming ; 
and  all  other  ways  whereby  we  do  unduly  prejudice  our 
own  outward  estate/  and  defrauding  ourselves  of  the  due 
use  and  comfort  of  that  estate  which  God  hath  given  us.z 

Q.  143.   Which  is  the  ninth  commandment? 

A.  The  ninth  commandment  is,  Thou  shall  not  bear  false 
witness  against  thy  neighbour.3' 

Q.  144.  What  are  the  duties  required  in  the  ninth  command- 
ment? 

A.  The  duties  required  in  the  ninth  commandment,  are, 
the  preserving  and  promoting  of  truth  between  man  and 
man,b  and  the  good  name  of  our  neighbour,  as  well  as  our 


is  not  the  life  more  than  meat,  and 
the  body  than  raiment  ?  Ver.  31. 
Therefore  take  no  thought,  say- 
ing, What  shall  we  eat? Ver. 

34.  Take  therefore  no  thought  for 
the  morrow :  for  the  morrow  shall 
take  thought  for  the  things  of  it- 
self: sufficient  unto  the  day  is  the 
evil  thereof.  Eccl.  v.  12.  The 
sleep  of  a  labouring  man  is  sweet, 
whether  he  eat  little  or  much  :  but 
the  abundance  of  the  rich  will  not 
suffer  him  to  sleep. 

w  Psal.  lxxiii.  3.  For  I  was  en- 
vious at  the  foolish,  when  I  saw  the 
prosperity  of  the  wicked.  Psal. 
xxxvii.  1.  Fret  not  thyself  because 
of  evil-doers,  neither  be  thou  en- 
vious against  the  workers  of  ini- 
quity. Ver.  7.  Rest  in  the  Lord, 
and  wait  patiently  for  him:  fret 
not  thyself  because  of  him  who 
prospereth  in  his  way,  because  of 
the  man  who  bringeth  wicked  de- 
vices to  pass. 

*  2  Thcss.  iii.  11.  For  we  hear 
that  there  are  some  which  walk 
among  you  disorderly,  working 
not  at  all,  but  are  busy-bodies. 
Prov.  xviii.  9.  He  also  that  is 
slothful  in  his  work  is  brother  to 
him  that  is  a  great  waster. 

i  Prov.  xxi.  17.  He  that  loveth 
pleasure  shall  be  a  poor  man;  he 
that  loveth  wine  and  oil  shall  not 


be  rich.  Prov.  xxiii.  20.  Be  not 
among  wine-bibbers;  among  riotous 
eaters  of  flesh.  Ver.  21.  For  the 
drunkard  and  the  glutton  shall  come 
to  poverty ;  and  drowsiness  shalL 
clothe  a  man  with  rags.  Prov. 
xxviii.  19.  He  that  tilleth  his 
land  shall  have  plenty  of  bread  : 
but  he  that  folio weth  after  vain 
persons  shall  have  poverty  enough. 

z  Eccl.  iv.  8.  There  is  one  alone, 
and  there  is  not  a  second ;  yea,  he 
hath  neither  child  nor  brother: 
yet  is  there  no  end  of  all  his  la- 
bour, neither  is  his  eyes  satisfied 
with  riches,  neither  saith  he,  For 
whom  do  I  labour,  and  bereave 
my  soul  of  good  1  This  is  also 
vanity;  yea,  it  is  a  sore  travail. 
Eccl.'  vi.  2.  A  man  to  whom  God 
hath  given  riches,  wealth,  and  ho- 
nour, so  that  he  wanteth  nothing 
for  his  soul  of  all  that  he  de- 
sireth,  yet  God  giveth  him  not 
power  to  eat  thereof,  but  a  stran- 
ger eateth  it;  this  is  vanity,  and 
it  is  an  evil  disease.  1  Tim.  v.  8. 
But  if  any  provide  not  &r  his 
own,  and  specially  for  those  of 
his  own  house,  he  hath  denied 
the  faith,  and  is  worse  than  an  in- 
fidel. 

143. a  Exod.  xx.  16. 

144.  b  Zech.  viii.  16.  These  are 
the  things  that  ye  shall  do:  Speak 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


121 


own;e  appearing  and  standing  for  the  truth  ;d  and  from  the 
heart,6  sincerely/  freely,5  clearly ,b  and  fully,1  speaking 
the  truth,  and  only  the  truth,  in  matters  of  judgment  and 
justice,k  and  in  all  other  things  whatsoever;1  a  charitable 


ye  every  man  the  truth  to  his 
neighbour;  execute  the  judgment 
of  truth  and  peace  in  your  gates. 

c  3  John,  Ver.  12.  Demetrius 
hath  good  report  of  all  men,  and 
of  the  truth  itself;  yea,  and  we 
also  bear  record,  and  ye  know  that 
our  record  is  true. 

d  Prov.  xxxi.  8.  Open  thy  mouth 
for  the  dumb,  in  the  cause  of  all 
such  as  are  appointed  to  destruc- 
tion. Ver.  9.  Open  thy  mouth, 
judge  righteously,  and  plead  the 
cause  of  the  poor  and  needy. 

e  Psal.  xv.  2.  He  that  walketh 
uprightly,  and  worketh  righte- 
ousness, and  speaketh  the  truth  in 
his  heart. 

f  2  Chron.  xix.  9.  And  he  char- 
ged them,  saving.  Thus  shall  ye 
do  in  the  fear  of  the  Lord,  faith- 
fully, and  with  a  perfect  heart. 

g  1  Sam.  xix.  4.  And  Jonathan 
spake  good  of  David  unto  Saul 
his  father,  and  said  unto  him, 
Let  not  the  king  sin  against  his 
servant,  against "  David  ;  because 
he  hath  not  sinned  against  thee, 
and  because  his  works  have  been 
to  thee-ward  very  good.  Ver.  5. 
For  he  did  put  "his  life  in  his 
hand,  and  slew  the  Philistine,  and 
the  Lord  wrought  a  great  salva- 
tion for  all  Israel:  thou  sawest 
it.  and  didst  rejoice:  wherefore 
then  wilt  thou  sin  against  inno- 
cent blood,  to  slay  David  without 
a  cause  J 

h  Josh.  vii.  19.  And  Joshua  said 
unto  Achan,  My  son,  give,  I  pray 
thee,  glory  to  the  Lord  God  of 
Israel,  and   make   confession    un- 


to him ;  and  tell  me  now  what 
thou  hast  done,  hide  it  not  from 
me. 

1  2  Sam.  xiv.  18.  Then  the  king 
answered  and  said  unto  the  wo- 
man, Hide  not  from  me,  I  pray 
thee,  the  thing  that  I  shall  ask 
thee.  And  the  woman  said,  Let 
my  lord  the  king  now  speak. 
Ver.  19-  And  the  king  said,  Is  not 
the  hand  of  Joab  with  thee  in  all 
this?  And  the  woman  answered 
and  said,  As  thy  soul  liveth,  my 
lord  the  king,  none  can  turn  to 
the  right  hand  or  to  the  left  from 
aught  that  my  lord  the  king  hath 
spoken :  for  thy  servant  Joab,  he 
bade  me,  and  he  put  all  these 
words  in  the  mouth  of  thine 
handmaid.  Ver.  20.  To  fetch 
about  this  form  of  speech  hath 
thy  servant  Joab  done  this  thing : 
and  my  Lord  is  wise, — 

k  Lev.  xix.  15.  Ye  shall  do 
no  unrighteousness  in  judgment: 
thou  shalt  not  respect  the  person 
of  the  poor,  nor  honour  the  per- 
son of  the  mighty  ;  but  in  right- 
eousness shalt  thou  judge  thy  neigh- 
bour. Prov.  xiv.  5.  A  faithful  wit- 
ness will  not  lie:  but  a  false  wit- 
ness will  utter  lies.  Ver.  25.  A 
true  witness  delivereth  souls:  buL 
a  deceitful  witness  speaketh  lies. 

1  2  Cor.  i.  17.  When  I  there- 
fore was  thus  minded,  did  I  use 
lightness]  or  the  things  that  I 
purpose,  do  I  purpose  according 
to  the  flesh,  that  with  me  there 
should  be  yea,  yea,  and  nay,  nay ! 
Ver.  IS.  But  as  God  is  true,  our 
word    toward   you    was    not   yea 


322 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


esteem  of  our  neighbours ; m  loving,  desiring,  and  rejoicing 
in  their  good  name ; n  sorrowing  for,0  and  covering  of  their 
infirmities; p  freely  acknowledging  of  their  gifts  and  graces,0- 
defending  their  innocency;r  a  ready  receiving  of  a  good  re- 
port,8  and  unwillingness  to  admit  of  an  evil  report,1  con- 


and  nay.  Eph.  iv.  25.  Where- 
fore, putting  away  lying,  speak 
every  man  truth  with  his  neigh- 
bour :  for  we  are  members  one 
of  another. 

m  Heb.  vi.  9.  But,  beloved,  we 
are  persuaded  better  things  of 
you,  and  things  that  accompany 
salvation,  though  we   thus   speak, 

1  Cor.  xiii.  7.  {Charity)  beareth 
all  things,  believeth  all  things, 
hopeth  all  things,  endureth  all 
things. 

11  Rom.  i.  8.  First,  I  thank  my 
God  through  Jesus  Christ  for  you 
all,  that  your  faith  is  spoken  of 
throughout     the      whole     world. 

2  John,  Ver.  4.  I  rejoiced  great- 
ly that  I  found  of  thy  children 
walking  in  truth,  as  we  have 
received  a  commandment  from 
the  Father.  3  John,  Ver.  3.  For 
I  rejoiced  greatly  when  the  bre- 
thren came  and  testified  of  the 
truth  that  is  in  thee,  even  as  thou 
walkestin  the  truth.  Yer.  4. 1  have 
no  greater  joy  than  to  hear  that 
my  children  walk  in  truth. 

0  2  Cor.  ii.  4.  For  out  of  much 
affliction  and  anguish  of  heart  I 
wrote  unto  you  with  many  tears ; 
not  that  ye  should  be  grieved, 
but  that  ye  might  know  the  love 
which  I  have  more  abundantly 
unto  you.  2  Cor.  xii.  21.  And 
lest  when  I  come  again,  my  God 
will  humble  me  among  ycu,  and 
that  I  shall  bewail  many  which 
have  sinned  already,  and  have 
not  repented  of  the  uncleanness, 
and  fornication,  and  lasciviousness, 
which  they  have  committed. 


p  Prov.  xvii.  9.  He  that  cover- 
eth  a  transgression  seeketh  love : 
but  he  that  repeateth  a  matter 
separateth  very  friends.  1  Pet. 
iv.  8.  And  above  all  things  have 
fervent  charity  among  yourselves: 
for  charity  shall  cover  the  multi- 
tude of  sins. 

*  1  Cor.  i.  4.  I  thank  my  God 
always  in  your  behalf,  for  the 
grace  of  God  which  is  given  you 
by  Jesus  Christ ;  Ver.  5.  That  in 
every  thing  ye  are  enriched  by 
him,  in  all  utterance,  and  in  all 
knowledge.  Ver.  7.  So  that  ye 
come  behind  in  no  gift;  waiting 
for  the  coming  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ.  2  Tim.  i.  4.  Greatly 
desiring  to  see  thee,  being  mind- 
ful of  thy  tears,  that  I  may  be 
filled  with  joy;  Ver.  5.  When  I 
call  to  remembrance  the  unfeign- 
ed faith  that  is  in  thee,  which 
dwelt  first  in  thy  grandmother 
Lois,  and  thy  mother  Eunice; 
and  I  am  persuaded  that  in  thee 
also. 

r  1  Sam.  xxii.  14.  Then  Ahime- 
lech  answered  the  king,  and  said, 
And  who  is  so  faithful  among  all 
thy  servants  as  David,  which  is 
the  king's  son-in-law,  and  goeth  at 
thy  bidding,  and  is  honourable  in 
thine  house'? 

8  1  Cor.  xiii.  6.  (Charity)  re- 
joiceth  not  in  iniquity,  but  re- 
joiceth  in  the  truth :  Ver.  7.  Bear- 
eth all  things,  believeth  all  things, 
hopeth  all  things,  endureth  all 
things. 

1  Psal.  xv.  3.  lie  that  backbiteth 
not  with  his  tongue,  nor  doeth  evil 


The  Larger  Catechism, 


123 


cerning  them;  discouraging  tale-bearers,T  flatterers,*  and 
slanderers:3"  love  and  care  of  our  own  good  name,  and  de- 
fending it  when  need  requireth; J  keeping  of  lawful  pro- 
mises;2 studying  and  practising  of  whatsoever  things  are 
true,  honest,  lovely,  and  of  good  report. a 

Q.  145.  What  are  the  sins  forbidden  in  the  ninth  command- 
ment? 

A.  The  sins  forbidden  in  the  ninth  commandment  are,  all 
prejudicing  the  truth,  and  the  good  name  of  our  neighbours, 
as  well  as  our  own,b  especially  in  public  judicature;0  giving 


to  his  neighbour,  nor  taketh  up  a 
reproach  against  his  neighbour. 

T  Prow  xxv.  23.  The  north  wind 
driveth  away  rain :  so  doth  an 
angry  countenance  a  backbiting 
tongue. 

wProv.  xxvi.  24.  He  that  hateth 
dissembleth  with  his  lips,  and  lay- 
eth  up  deceit  within  him.  Ver.  25. 
When  he  speaketh  fair,  believe 
him  not:  for  there  are  seven  abo- 
minations in  his  heart. 

x  Psal-  ci.  5.  Whoso  privily  slan- 
dereth  his  neighbour,  him  will  I 
cut  off:— 

y  Prov.  xxii.  1.  A  good  name  is 
rather  to  be  chosen  than  great  rich- 
es, and  loving  favour  rather  than 
silver  and  gold.  John  viii.  49.  Je- 
sus answered,  I  have  not  a  devil ; 
but  I  honour  my  Father,  and  ye  do 
dishonour  me. 

z  Psal.  xv.  4. — He  that  sweareth 
to  his  own  hurt,  and  changeth  not. 

a  Phil.  iv.  8.  Finally,  brethren, 
whatsoever  things  are  true,  what- 
soever things  are  honest,  whatso- 
ever things  are  just,  whatsoever 
things  are  pure,  whatsoever  things 
are  lovely,  whatsoever  things  are 
of  good  report;  if  there  be  any  vir- 
tue, and  if  there  be  any  praise, 
think  on  these  things, 

145.  b  1  Sam.  xvii.  28.  And  Eliab 
his  eldest  brother  heard  when  he 
spake  unto  the  men ;  and  Eliab's 


anger  was  kindled  against  David, 
and  he  said,  Why  earnest  thou 
down  hither]  and  with  whom 
hast  thou  left  those  few  sheep  in 
the  wilderness  }  I  know  thy  pride, 
and  the  naughtiness  of  thine  heart; 
for  thou  art  come  down  that  thou 
mightest  see  the  battle.  2  Sam. 
xvi.  3.  And  the  king  said,  And 
where  is  thy  master's  son  ]  And 
Ziba  said  unto  the  king,  Behold, 
he  abideth  at  Jerusalem :  for  he 
said,  To-day  shall  the  house  of  Is- 
rael restore  me  the  kingdom  of  my 
father.  2  Sam.  i.  9.  He  said  unto 
me  again,  Stand,  I  pray  thee,  upon 
me,  and  slay  me:  for  anguish  is 
come  upon  me,  because  my  life  is 
yet  whole  in  me.  Ver.  10.  So  I 
stood  upon  him,  and  slew  him,  be- 
cause I  was  sure  that  he  could  not 
live  after  that  he  was  fallen :  and 
I  took  the  crown  that  was  upon 
his  head,  and  the  bracelet  that  was 
on  his  arm,  and  have  brought  them 
hither  unto  my  lord.  Ver.  15.  And 
David  called  one  of  the  young  men, 
and  said,  Go  near,  and  fall  upon 
him.  And  he  smote  him  that  he 
died.  Ver.  16.  And  David  said 
unto  him,  Thy  blood  be  upon  thy 
head ;  for  thy  mouth  hath  testified 
against  thee,  saying,  I  have  slain 
the  Lord's  anointed. 

c  Lev.  xix.  15.    Ye  shall  do  no 
unrighteousness  in  judgment;  thou 


124 


The  Larger  Catechisrrt. 


false  evidence,11  suborning  false  witnesses,6  wittingly  appear- 
ing and  pleading  for  an  evil  cause,  out-facing  and  over-bear- 
ing the  truth; f  passing  unjust  sentence,8  calling  evil  good, 
and  good  evil ;  rewarding  the  wicked  according  to  the  work 
of  the  righteous,  and  the  righteous  according  to  the  work 


shalt  not  respect  the  person  of  the 
poor,  nor  honour  the  person  of  the 
mighty:  but  in  righteousness  shalt 
thou  judge  thy  neighbour.  Hab. 
i.  4.  Therefore  the  law  is  slacked, 
and  judgment  doth  never  go  forth; 
for  the  wicked  doth  compass  about 
the  righteous:  therefore  wrong 
judgment  proceedeth. 

d  Prov.  xix.  5.  A  false  witness 
shall  not  be  unpunished,  and  he  that 
speaketh  lies  shall  not  escape. 
Prov.  vi.  16.  These  six  things  doth 
the  Lord  hate,  yea,  seven  are  an 
abomination  unto  him:  Ver.  19.  A 
false  witness  that  speaketh  lies,  and 
him  that  soweth  discord  among 
brethren. 

e  Acts  vi.  13.  And  set  up  false 
witnesses,  which  said,  This  man 
ceaseth  not  to  speak  blasphemous 
words  against  this  holy  place  and 
the  law. 

f  Jer.  ix.  3.  And  they  bend  their 
tongues  like  their  bow  for  lies:  but 
they  are  not  valiant  for  the  truth 
upon  the  earth ;  for  they  proceed 
from  evil  to  evil,  and  they  know 
not  me,  saith  the  Lord.  Ver.  5. 
And  they  will  deceive  every  one 
his  neighbour,  and  will  not  speak 
the  truth :  they  have  taught  their 
tongue  to  speak  lies,  and  weary 
themselves  to  commit  iniquity. 
Acts  xxiv.  2.  And  when  he  was 
called  forth,  Tertullus  began  to  ac- 
cuse him, — Ver.  5.  For  we  have 
found  this  man  a  pestilent  fellow, 
and  a  mover  of  sedition  among  all 


the  Jews  throughout  the  world,  and 
a  ring-leader  of  the  sect  of  the  Na- 
zarenes.  Psal.  xii.  3.  The  Lord 
shall  cut  off  all  flattering  lips,  and 
the  tongue  that  speaketh  proud 
things.  Ver.  4.  Who  have  said, 
With  our  tongue  will  we  prevail, 
our  lips  are  our  own:  Who  is  lord 
over  us?  Psal.  lii.  1.  Why  boastest 
thou  thyself  in  mischief,  O  mighty 
man  ?  the  goodness  of  God  endureth 
continually.  Ver.  2.  Thy  tongue 
deviseth  mischiefs;  like  a  sharp  ra- 
zor, working  deceitfully.  Ver.  3. 
Thou  lovest  evil  more  than  good ; 
and  lying  rather  than  to  speak 
righteousness.  Selah.  Ver.  4.  Thou 
lovest  all-devouring  words,  O  thou 
deceitful  tongue. 

*  Prov.  xvii.  15.  He  that  justi- 
fieth  the  wicked,  and  he  that  con- 
demneth  the  just,  even  they  both 
are  abomination  to  the  Lord.  1 
Kings  xx i.  from  Verse  9,  to  14. 
And  she  {Jezebel)  wrote  in  the 
letters,  saying,  Proclaim  a  fast,  and 
setNaboth  on  high  among  the  peo- 
ple: Ver.  10.  And  set  two  men, 
sons  of  Belial,  before  him,  to  bear 
witness  against  him,  saying,  Thou 
didst  blaspheme  God  and  the  king; 
and  then  carry  him  out,  and  stone 
him,  that  he  may  die.  Ver.  11.  And 
the  men  of  his  city,  even  the  elders 
and  the  nobles  who  were  the  inha- 
bitants in  his  city,  did  as  Jezebel 
had  sent  unto  them.  Ver.  13. — 
And  {they)  stoned  him  with  stones, 
that  he  died. 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


325 


of  the  wicked ; h  forgery/  concealing  the  truth,  undue 
silence  in  a  just  cause,*  and  holding  our  peace  when  iniquity 
calleth  for  either  a  reproof  from  ourselves,1  or  complaint 
to  others  ;m  speaking  the  truth  unseasonably,11  or  mali- 
ciously to  a  wrong  end,0  or  perverting  it  to  a  wrong  mean- 
ing,1' or  in  doubtful  and  equivocal  expressions,  to  the  pre- 


h  Isa.  v.  23.  Which  justify  the 
wicked  for  a  reward,  and  take 
away  the  righteousness  of  the 
righteous  from  him. 

'  Psal.  cxix.  69.  The  proud  have 
forged  a  lie  against  me:  but  I 
will  keep  thy  precepts  with  my 
whole  heart.  Luke  xix.  8.  And 
Zaccheus  stood,  and  said  unto  the 
Lord,  Behold,  Lord,  the  half  of 
my  goods  I  give  to  the  poor ;  and 
if  I  have  taken  any  thing  ''from 
any  man  by  false  accusation,  I 
restore  him  tour-fold.  Luke  xvi.  5. 
So  he  called  every  one  of  his 
lord's  debtors  unto  him,  and  said 
unto  the  first,  How  much  owest 
thou  unto  my  lord]  Ver.  6.  And 
he  said,  A  hundred  measures  of 
oil.  And  he  said  unto  him,  Take 
thy  bill,  and  sit  down  quickly, 
and  write  fifty.  Ver.  7.  Then  said 
he  to  another,  And  how  much 
owest  thou? — 

k  Lev.  v.  1.  And  if  a  soul  sin, 
and  hear  the  voice  of  swearing, 
and  is  a  witness,  whether  he  hath 
seen  or  known  of  it,  if  he  do 
not  utter  it,  then  he  shall  bear 
his  iniquity.  Deut.  xiii.  8.  Thou 
shalt  not  consent  unto  him,  nor 
thine  eye  pity  him,  neither  shall 
hearken  unto  him,  neither  shalt 
thou  spare,  neither  shalt  thou  con- 
ceal him.  Acts  v.  3.  But  Peter 
said,  Ananias,  why  hath  Satan 
filled  thine  heart  to  lie  to  the 
Holy  Ghost,  and  to  keep  back 
part  of  the  price  of  the  land  1 
Ver.  8.  And  Peter  answered  unto 
her,  Tell  me  whether  ye  sold  the 

28 


land  for  so  much  1  And  she  said, 
Yea,  for  so  much.  Ver.  9.  Then 
Peter  said  unto  her,  How  is  it 
that  ye  have  agreed  together  to 
tempt  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  1 — 
2  Tim.  iv.  16.  At  my  first  answer 
no  man  stood  with  me,  but  all 
men  forsook  me:  I  pray  God 
that  it  may  not  be  laid  to  their 
charge. 

1 1  Kings  i.  6.  And  his  father  had 
not  displeased  him  at  any  time,  in 
saying,  Why  hast  thou  done  sol — 
Lev.  xix.  17.  Thou  shalt  not  hate 
thy  brother  in  thine  heart:  thou 
shalt  in  any  wise  rebuke  thy  neigh- 
bour, and  not  suffer  sin  upon 
him. 

mIsa.  lix.  4.  None  calleth  for  jus- 
tice, nor  any  pleadeth  for  truth: 
they  trust  in  vanity. — 

n  Prov.  xxix.  11.  A  fool  uttereth 
all  his  mind  :  but  a  wise  man  keep- 
eth  it  in  till  afterwards. 

0  1  Sam.  xxii.  9.  Then  answer- 
ed Doeg  the  Edomite,  which  was 
set  over  the  servants  of  Saul, 
and  said,  I  saw  the  son  of  Jesse 
coming  to  Nob,  to  Ahimelech 
the  son  of  Ahitub.  Ver.  10.  And 
he  inquired  of  the  Lord  for 
him:  and  gave  him  victuals,  and 
gave  him  the  sword  of  Goliath 
the  Philistine.  [Compared  with 
Psalm  lii.]  A  Psalm  of  David 
when  Doeg  the  Edomite  came  and 
told  Saul,—VQv.  1.  Why  boastest 
thou  thyself  in  mischief,  O  mighty 
man  1  dfrc.  to  Verse  5. 

p  Psal.  Ivi.  5.  Every  day  they 
wrest  my  words:  all  their  thoughts 


326 


The  Larger  Catechism, 


judice  of  truth  or  justice;*1  speaking  untruth/  lying,8  slander- 
ing,1 backbiting/  detracting,"  tale-bearing/  whispering^ 
scoffing,2  reviling,3  rash,b  harsh,c  and  partial  censuring  ;d 


are  against  me  for  evil.  John 
ii.  19.  Jesus  answered  and  said 
unto  them,  Destroy  this  temple, 
and  in  three  days  I  will  raise  it 
up.  Compared  with  Mat.  xxvi. 
60. — At  the  last  came  two  false 
witnesses,  Ver.  61.  And  said,  This 
fellow  said,  I  am  able  to  destroy 
the  temple  of  God,  and  to  build 
it  in  three  days. 

i  Gen.  iii.  5.  For  God  doth 
know,  that  in  the  day  ye  eat  there- 
of, then  your  eyes  shall  be  opened  : 
and  ye  shall  be  as  gods,  knowing- 
good  and  evil.  Gen.  xxvi.  7. 
And  the  men  of  the  place  asked 
him  of  his  wife;  and  he  said,  She 
is  my  sister:  for  he  feared  to  say, 
She  is  my  wife.  Ver.  9.  And  Abi- 
nulech  called  Isaac,  and  said, 
Behold,  of  a  surety  she  is  thy 
wife:  and  how  saidst  thou,  She 
is  my  sister  1 — 

r  Isa.  lix.  13.  In  transgressing 
aud  lying  against  the  Lord,  and 
departing  away  from  our  God, 
speaking  oppression  and  revolt, 
conceiving  and  uttering  from  the 
heart  words  of  falsehood. 

8  Lev.  xix.  11.  Ye  shall  not 
steal,  neither  deal  falsely,  neither 
lie  one  to  another.  Col.  iii.  9. 
Lie  not  one  to  another,  seeing 
that  ye  have  put  off  the  old  man 
with  his  deeds. 

*  Psal.  1.  20.  Thou  sittest  and 
speakest  against  thy  brother;  thou 
elanderest  thine  own  mother's  son. 

v  Psal.  xv.  3.  He  that  backbiteth 
not  with  his  tongue. — 

w  James  iv.  11.  Speak  not  evil 
one  of  another,  brethren.  He 
that  epeakcth  evil  of  his  brother, 
and  judgoth  his  brother,  spcaketh 


evil  of  the  law,  and  judgeth  the 
law :  but  if  thou  judge  the  law, 
thou  art  not  a  doer  of  the  law, 
but  a  judge.  Jer.  xxxviii.  4. 
Therefore  the  princes  said  unto 
the  king,  We  beseech  thee,  let 
this  man  be  put  to  death :  for 
thus  he  weakeneth  the  hands  of 
the  men  of  war  that  remain  in 
this  city,  and  the  hands  of  all  the 
people,  in  speaking  such  words 
unto  them:  for  this  man  seeketh 
not  the  welfare  of  this  people,  but 
the  hurt. 

x  Lev.  xix.  16.  Thou  shalt  not  go 
up  and  down  as  a  tale-bearer  among 
thy  people;  neither  shalt  thou 
stand  against  the  blood  of  thy 
neighbour :  I  am  the  Lord. 

y  Rom.  i.  29.  Being  filled  with 
all  unrighteousness,  fornication, 
wickedness,  covetousness,  mali- 
ciousness; full  of  envy,  murder, 
debate,  deceit,  malignity;  whis- 
perers, Ver.  30.  Backbiters,  haters 
of  God— 

2  Gen.  xxi.  9.  And  Sarah  saw 
the  son  of  Hagar  the  Egyptian, 
which  she  had  born  unto  Abra- 
ham, mocking.  Compared  with 
Gal.  iv.  29.  But  as  then  he  that 
was  born  after  the  flesh  persecuted 
him  that  was  born  after  the  Spi- 
rit, even  so  it  is  now. 

a  1  Cor.  vi.  10.  Nor  thieves, 
nor  covetous,  nor  drunkards,  nor 
revilers,  nor  extortioners,  shall 
inherit  the  kingdom  of  God. 

b  Mat.  vii.  1.  Judge  not,  that  yo 
be  not  judged. 

c  Acts  xxviii.  4.  And  when  the 
barbarians  saw  the  venomous  beast 
hang  on  his  hand,  they  said  among 
themselves,  No   doubt  this    man 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


327 


misconstructing  intentions,  words,  and  actions  ;e  flattering/ 
vain-glorious  boasting,5  thinking  or  speaking  too  highly  or 
too  meanly  of  ourselves  or  others ; b  denying  the  gifts  and 


is  a  murderer,  whom,  though  he 
hath  escaped  the  sea,  yet  ven- 
geance suffereth  not  to  live. 

d  Gen.  xxxviii.  24.  And  it  came 
to  pass  about  three  months  after, 
that  it  was  told  Judah,  saying, 
Tamar  thy  daughter-in-law  hath 
played  the  harlot ;  and  also,  be- 
hold, she  is  with  child  by  whore- 
dom. And  Judah  said,  Bring  her 
forth,  and  let  her  be  burnt.  Rom. 
ii.  1.  Therefore  thou  art  inexcusa- 
ble, O  man,  whosoever  thou  art, 
that  judgest:  for  wherein  thou 
judgest  another  thou  condemn- 
est  thyself;  for  thou  that  judgest 
doest  the  same  things. 

*  Neh.  vi.  6.  Wherein  was  writ- 
ten, It  is  reported  among  the 
heathen,  and  Gashmu  saith  it, 
that  thou  and  the  Jews  think  to 
rebel:  for  which  cause  thou  build- 
est  the  wall,  that  thou  may  est  be 
their  king,  according  to  these 
words.  Ver.  7.  And  thou  hast 
also  appointed  prophets  to  preach 
of  thee  at  Jerusalem,  saying, 
There  is  a  king  in  Judah ;  and 
now  shall  it  be  reported  tothe  king 
according  to  these  words.  Come 
now  therefore,  and  let  us  take 
counsel  together.  Ver.  3.  Then 
I  sent  unto  him,  saying,  There  are 
no  such  things  done  as  thou  sayest, 
but  thou  feignest  them  out  of  thine 
own  heart.  Rom.  iii.  8.  And  not 
rather,  (as  we  be  slanderously  re- 
ported, and  as  some  affirm  that 
we  say,)  Let  us  do  evil  that  good 
may  come:  whose  damnation  is 
just.  Psal.  ixix.  10.  When  1  wept, 
and  chastened  my  soul  with  fast- 
ing, that  was  to  my  reproach. 
1  Sam.  i.  13.  Now  Hannah,  she 


spake  in  her  heart,  only  her  lips 
moved,  but  her  voice  was  not 
heard :  therefore  Eli  thought  she 
had  been  drunken.  Ver.  14.  And 
Eli  said  unto  her,  How  long  wilt 
thou  be  drunken]  put  away  thy 
wine  from  thee.  Ver.  15.  And 
Hannah  answered  and  said,  No, 
my  lord ;  I  am  a  woman  of  a  sor- 
rowful spirit:  I  have  drunk  nei- 
ther wine  nor  strong  drink,  but 
have  poured  out  my  soul  before 
the  Lord.  2  Sam.  x.  3.  And  the 
princes  of  the  children  of  Ammon 
said  unto  Hanun  their  lord,  Think- 
est  thou  that  David  doth  honour 
thy  father,  that  he  hath  sent  com- 
forters unto  thee?  hath  not  David 
rather  sent  his  servants  unto  thee 
to  search  the  city,  and  to  spy  it 
out,  and  to  overthrow  it? 

f  Psal.  xii.  2.  They  speak  vanity 
every  one  with  his  neighbour: 
with  flattering  lips  and  with  a 
double  heart  do  they  speak.  Ver. 
3.  The  Lord  shall  cut  off  all  flat- 
tering lips,  and  the  tongue  that 
speaketh  proud  things. 

s  2  Tim.  iii.  2.  For  men  shall 
be  lovers  of  their  own  selves,  co- 
vetous, boasters. 

h  Luke  xviii.  9.  And  he  spake 
this  parable  unto  certain  which 
trusted  in  themselves  that  they 
were  righteous,  and  despised 
others.  Ver.  11.  And  the  Pharisee 
stood  and  prayed  thus  with  him- 
self, God,  I  thank  thee  that  I  am 
not  as  other  men  are,  extortion- 
ers, unjust,  adulterers,  or  even 
as  this  publican.  Rom.  xii.  16. — 
Mind  not  high  things,  but  conde- 
scend to  men  of  low  estate.  Be 
not  wise    in    your  own  conceits. 


328 


The  Larger  Catechism, 


graces  of  God;1  aggravating  smaller  faults  ;k  hiding,  excus- 
ing, or  extenuating  of  sins,  when  called  to  a  free  confession;1 
unnecessary  discovering  of  infirmities  ;m  raising  false  ru- 


1  Cor.  iv.  6.  And  these  things, 
brethren,  I  have  in  a  figure  trans- 
ferred to  myself,  and  to  Apollos, 
for  your  sakes ;  that  ye  might  learn 
in  us  not  to  think  of  men  above 
that  which  is  written,  that  no  one 
of  you  be  puffed  up  for  one  against 
another.  Acts  xii.  22.  And  the 
people  gave  a  shout,  saying,  It  is 
the  voice  of  a  god,  and  not  of  a  man. 
Exod.  iv.  10.  And  Moses  said  unto 
the  Lord,  O  my  Lord,  lam  not  elo- 
quent, neither  heretofore,  nor  since 
thou  hast  spoken  unto  thy  servant: 
but  I  am  slow  of  speech,  and  of  a 
slow  tongue.  Ver.  11.  And  the 
Lord  said  unto  him,  Who  hath 
made  man's  mouth  ?  or  who  maketh 
the  dumb,  or  deaf,  or  the  seeing,  or 
the  blind?  have  not  I  the  Lord? 
Ver.  12.  Now  therefore  go,  and  I 
will  be  with  thy  mouth,  and  teach 
thee  what  thou  shalt  say.  Ver. 
13.  And  he  said,  O  my  Lord,  send, 
I  pray  thee,  by  the  hand  of  him 
whom  thou  wilt  send.  Ver.  14.  And 
the  anger  of  the  Lord  was  kindled 
against  Moses,  &c. 

1  Job  xxvii.  5.  God  forbid  that  I 
should  justify  you:  till  I  die,  I 
will  not  remove  my  integrity  from 
me.  Ver.  6.  My  righteousness  I 
hold  fast,  and  will  not  let  it  go: 
my  heart  shall  not  reproach  me  so 
long  as  I  live.  Job  iv.  6.  Is  not 
this  thy  fear,  thy  confidence,  thy 
hope,  and  the  uprightness  of  thy 
ways? 

k  Mat  vii.  3.  And  why  beholdest 
thou  the  mote  that  is  in  thy  bro- 
ther's eye,  but  considerest  not  the 
beam  that  is  in  thine  own  eye? 
Ver.  4.   Or  how  wilt  thou  say  to 


thy  brother,  Let  me  pull  out  the 
mote  out  of  thine  eye;  and,  be- 
hold, a  beam  is  in  thine  own  eye? 
Ver.  5.  Thou  hypocrite,  first  cast 
out  the  beam  out  of  thine  own 
eye,  and  then  shalt  thou  see  clear- 
ly to  cast  out  the  mote  out  of 
thy  brother's  eye. 

1  Prov.  xxviii.  13.  He  that  cover- 
eth  his  sins,  shall  not  prosper :  but 
whoso  confesseth  and  forsaketh 
them  shall  have  mercy.  Prov.  xxx. 
20.  Such  is  the  way  of  an  adulter- 
ous woman ;  she  eateth,  and  wipeth 
her  mouth,  and  saith,  I  have  done 
no  wickedness.  Gen.  iii.  12.  And 
the  man  said,  The  woman,  whom 
thou  gavest  to  be  with  me,  she 
gave  me  of  the  tree,  and  I  did  eat. 
Ver.  13.  And  the  woman  said, 
The  serpent  beguiled  me,  and  I  did 
eat.  Jer.  ii.  25.  Yet  thou  sayest, 
Because  I  am  innocent,  surely  his 
anger  shall  turn  from  me:  behold, 
I  will  plead  with  thee,  because 
thou  sayest,  I  have  not  sinned.  2 
Kings  v.  25.  And  Elisha  said  unto 
him,  Whence  comest  thou,  Geha- 
zi?  And  he  said,  Thy  servant 
went  no  whither.  Gen.  iv.  9.  Ani 
the  Lord  said  unto  Cain,  Where  is 
Abel  thy  brother?  And  he  said,  I 
know  not.  Am  I  my  brother's 
keeper? 

m  Gen.  ix.  22.  And  Ham,  the 
father  of  Canaan,  saw  the  naked- 
ness of  his  father,  and  told  his  two 
brethren  without.  Prov.  xxv.  9. 
Debate  thy  cause  with  thy  neigh- 
bour himself;  and  discover  not  a 
secret  to  another:  Ver.  10.  Lest  he 
that  heareth  it  put  thee  to  shame, 
and  thine  infamy  turn  not  away. 


i- 

I 


The  Larger  Catechism, 


329 


mours,n  receiving  and  countenancing  evil  reports,0  and  stop- 
ping our  ears  against  just  defence  ;p  evil  suspicion  ;q  envying 
or  grieving  at  the  deserved  credit  of  any/  endeavouring 
or  desiring  to  impair  it,s  rejoicing  in  their  disgrace  and  in- 
famy;1 scornful  contempt/ fond  admiration ; w  breach  of 


nExod.  xxiii.  1.  Thou  shalt  not 
raise  a  false  report:  put  not  thine 
hand  with  the  wicked  to  be  an  un- 
righteous witness. 

0  Prov.  xxix.  12.  If  a  ruler 
hearken  to  lies,  all  his  servants 
are  wicked. 

p  Acts  vii.  56.  And  (Stephen) 
said,  Behold,  I  see  the  heavens 
opened,  and  the  Son  of  man 
standing  on  the  right  hand  of 
God.  Ver.  57.  Then  they  cried 
out  with  a  loud  voice,  and  stop- 
ped their  ears. — Job  xxxi.  13.  If 
I  did  despise  the  cause  of  my 
man-servant,  or  of  my  maid-ser- 
vant, when  they  contended  with 
me:  Ver.  14.  What  then  shall  I 
do  when  God  riseth  up]  and  when 
he  visiteth,  what  shall  I  answer 
him  1 

i  1  Cor.  xiii.  5.  (Charity)  doth 
not  behave  itself  unseemly,  seek- 
eth  not  her  own,  is  not  easily  pro- 
voked, thinketh  no  evil.  1  Tim. 
vi.  4.  He  is  proud,  knowing  no- 
thing, but  doting  about  questions 
and  strifes  of  words  whereof 
corneth  envy,  strife,  railings,  evil 
surmisings. 

r  Numb.  xi.  29.  And  Moses  said 
unto  him,  Enviest  thou  for  my 
sakel  Would  God  that  all  the 
Lord's  people  were  prophets,  and 
that  the  Lord  would  put  his  Spirit 
upon  them.  Mat.  xxi.  15.  And 
when  the  chief  priests  and  scribes 
saw  the  wonderful  things  that  he 
did,  and  the  children  crying  in 
the  temple,  and  saying,  Hosanna 
to  the  son  of  David,  they  were 
sore  displeased. 
28* 


8  Ezra  iv.  12.  Be  it  known  un- 
to the  king,  that  the  Jews  which 
came  up  from  thee  to  us  are 
come  unto  Jerusalem,  building 
the  rebellious  and  the  bad  city, 
and  have  set  up  the  walls  there- 
of, and  joined  the  foundations. 
Ver.  13.  Be  it  known  now  unto  the 
king,  that,  if  this  city  be  build- 
ed,  and  the  walls  set  up  again, 
then  will  they  not  pay  toll,  tri- 
bute, and  custom,  and  so  thou 
shalt  endamage  the  revenue  of 
the  kings. 

*  Jer.  xlviii.  27.  For  was  not  Is- 
rael a  derision  unto  theeT  was  he 
found  among  thieves]  for  since 
thou  spakest  of  him,  thou  skippedst 
for  joy. 

y  Psal.  xxxv,  15.  But  in  mine 
adversity  they  rejoiced,  and  ga- 
thered themselves  together;  yea, 
the  abjects  gathered  themselves  to- 
gether against  me. — Ver.  16.  With 
hypocritical  mockers  in  feasts, 
they  gnashed  upon  me  with  their 
teeth.  Ver.  21.  Yea,  they  opened 
their  mouth  wide  against  me,  and 
said,  Aha,  aha,  our  eye  hath  seen 
it.  Mat.  xxvii.  28.  And  they 
stripped  him,  and  put  on  him  a 
scarlet  robe.  Ver.  29.  And  when 
they  had  platted  a  crown  of  thorns, 
they  put  it  upon  his  head,  and  a 
reed  in  his  right  hand:  and  they 
bowed  the  knee  before  him,  and 
mocked  him,  saying,  Hail,  King 
of  the  Jews! 

w  Jude,  Ver.  16.  These  are  mur- 
murers,  complainers,  walking  af- 
ter their  own  lusts;  and  their 
mouth    speaketh    great    swelling 


130 


The  Larger  Catechism, 


lawful  promises ; x  neglecting  such  things  as  are  of  good 
report/  and  practising  or  not  avoiding  ourselves,  or  not 
hindering  what  we  can  in  others,  such  things  as  procure  an 
ill  name.''1 

Q.  146.  Which  is  the  tenth  commandment? 

A.  The  tenth  commandment  is,  Thou  shalt  not  covet  thy 
neighbour's  house,  thou  shalt  not  covet  thy  neighbour's  wife,  nor 
his  man-servant,  nor  his  maid-servant,  nor  his  ox,  nor  his  ass, 
nor  any  thing  that  is  thy  neighbour's.3' 

Q.  147.  What  are  the  duties  required  in  the  tenth  command- 
mentp 

A.  The  duties  required  in  the  tenth  commandment  are, 
such  a  full  contentment  with  our  own  condition,1*  and  such 
a  charitable  frame  of  the  whole  soul  toward  our  neighbour, 
as  that  all  our  inward  motions  and  affections  touching  him, 
tend  unto,  and  further  all  that  good  which  is  his.c 


words,  having1  men's  persons  in 
admiration  because  of  advantage. 
Acts  xii,  22.  And  the  people  gave 
a  shout,  saying,  It  is  the  voice  of  a 
god,  and  not  of  a  man. 

x  Rom.  i.  31.  Without  under- 
standing,   covenant-breakers, 

2  Tim.  iii.  3.  Without  natural  af- 
fection, truce-breakers,  false,  ac- 
cusers.— 

y  1  Sam.  ii.  24.  Nay,  my  sons: 
for  it  is  no  good  report  that  1  hear; 
ye  make  the  Lord's  people  to 
transgress. 

z2  Sam.  xiii.  12.  And  she  an- 
swered him,  Nay,  my  brother,  do 
not  force  me :  for  no  such  thing 
ought  to  be  done  in  Israel ;  do  uot 
thou  this  folly.  Ver.  13.  And  I, 
Whither  shall  I  cause  my  shame  to 
go  1  and  as  for  thee,  thou  shalt  be 
as  one  of  the  fools  in  Israel :  now 
therefore, — Prov.  v.  8.  Remove 
thy  way  far  from  her,  and  come 
not  nigh  the  door  of  her  house: 
Ver.  9.  Lest  thou  give  thine  ho- 
nour unto  others,  and  thy  years 
unto  the  cruel.  Prov.  vi.  33.  A 
wound    and    dishonour    shall    he 


get,  and  his  reproach  shall  not  be 
wiped  away. 

146.  a  Exod.  xx.  17. 

147.  b  Heb.  xiii.  5.  Let  your  con- 
versation be  without  covetousness; 
and  be  content  with  such  things  as 
ye  have :  for  he  hath  said,  I  will 
never  leave  thee,  nor  forsake 
thee.  1  Tim.  vi.  6.  But  godli- 
ness with  contentment  is  great 
gain. 

c  Job  xxxi.  29.  If  I  rejoiced  at 
the  destruction  of  him  that  hated 
me,  or  lifted  up  myself  when  evil 
found  him.  Rom.  xii.  15.  Rejoice 
with  them  that  do  rejoice,  and 
weep  with  them  that  weep.  Psal. 
exxii.  7.  Peace  be  within  thy 
walls,  and  prosperity  within  thy 
palaces.  Ver.  8.  For  my  brethren 
and  companions'  sake  I  will  now 
say,  Peace  be  within  thee.  Ver. 
9.  Because  of  the  house  of  the  Lord 
our  God  I  will  seek  thy  good. 
1  Tim.  i.  5.  Now  the  end  of  the 
commandment  is  charity,  out  of  a 
pure  heart,  and  of  a  good  con- 
science, and  of  faith  unfeigned. 
Esth.  x.  3.  For  Mordecai  the  Jevf 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


131 


Q.  148.  What  are  the  sins  forbidden  in  the  tenth  command- 
ment? 

A.  The  sins  forbidden  in  the  tenth  commandment  are,  dis- 
contentment with  our  own  estate/  envying e  and  grieving 
at  the  good  of  our  neighbour/  together  with  all  inordinate 
motions  and  affections  to  any  thing  that  is  his.g 


was  next  unto  king  Ahasuerus, 
and  great  among  the  Jews,  and 
accepted  of  the  multitude  of  his 
brethren,  seeking  the  wealth  of 
his  people,  arid  speaking  peace  to 
all  his  seed.  1  Cor.  xiii.  4. 
Charity  suffereth  long,  and  is  kind; 
charity  envieth  not;  charity  vaunt- 
eth  not  itself,  is  not  puffed  up.  Ver. 
5.  Doth  not  behave  itself  unseem- 
ly, seeketh  not  her  own,  is  not 
easily  provoked,  thinketh  no  evil; 
Ver.  6.  Rejoiceth  not  in  iniquity, 
but  rejoiceth  in  the  truth;  Ver.  7. 
Beareth  all  things,  believeth  all 
things,  hopeth  all  things,  endureth 
all  things. 

148.  d  1  Kings  xxi.  4.  And  Ahab 
came  into  his  house  heavy  and  dis- 
pleased, because  of  the  word  which 
Naboth  the  Jezreelite  had  spoken 
to  him :  for  he  had  said,  I  will  not 
give  thee  the  inheritance  of  my  fa- 
thers; and  he  laid  him  down  upon 
his  bed,  and  turned  away  his  face, 
and  would  eat  no  bread.  Esther 
v.  13.  Yet  all  this  availeth  me  no- 
thing, so  long  as  I  see  Mordecai 
the  Jew  sitting  at  the  king's  gate. 
1  Cor.  x.  10.  Neither  murmur  ye, 
as  some  of  them  also  murmured, 
and  were  destroyed  of  the  de- 
stroyer. 

e  Gal.  v.  26.  Let  us  not  be  de- 
sirous of  vain-glory,  provoking  one 
another,  envying  one  another. 
James  iii.  14.  But  if  ye  have  bitter 
envying  and  strife  in  your  hearts, 
glory  not,  and  lie  not  against  the 
truth.    Ver.  16.  For  where  envv- 


ing  and  strife  is,  there  is  "confusion, 
and  every  evil  work. 

f  Psal.  cxii.  9.  He  hath  dispersed, 
he  hath  given  to  the  poor ;  his 
righteousness  endureth  for  ever; 
his  horn  shall  be  exalted  with  ho- 
nour. Ver.  10.  The  wicked  shall 
see  it,  and  be  grieved;  he  shall 
gnash  with  his  teeth,  and  melt 
away:  the  desire  of  the  wicked 
shall  perish.  Neh.  ii.  10.  When 
Sanballat  the  Horonite,  and  To- 
biah  the  servant,  the  Ammonite, 
heard  of  it,  it  grieved  them  ex- 
ceedingly, that  there  was  come 
a  man  to  seek  the  welfare  of  the 
children  of  Israel. 

*  Rom.  vii.  7.  What  shall  we 
say  then]  Is  the  law  sin 3  God 
forbid.  Nay,  I  had  not  known  sin 
but  by  the  law ;  for  I  had  not 
known  lust,  except  the  law  had 
said,  Thou  shalt  not  covet.  Ver.  8. 
But  sin,  taking  occasion  by  the 
commandment,  wrought  in  me 
all  manner  of  concupiscence.  For 
without  the  law  sin  was  dead. 
Rom.  xiii.  9.  For  this,  Thou  shalt 
not  commit  adultery,  Thou  shalt 
not  kill,  Thou  shalt  not  steal, 
Thou  shalt  not  bear  false  witness, 
Thou  shalt  not  covet;  and  if  there 
be  any  other  commandment,  it  is 
briefly  comprehended  in  this  say- 
ing, namely,  Thou  shalt  love  thy 
neighbour  as  thyself.  Col.  iii.  5. 
Mortify  therefore  your  members 
which  are  upon  the  earth;  fornica- 
tion, uncleanness,  inordinate  affec- 
tion, evil  concupiscence,  and  covet- 


332 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


Q.  149.  Is  any  man  able  perfectly  to  keep  the  commandments 
of  God? 

A.  No  man  is  able  either  of  himself,11  or  by  any  grace 
received  in  this  life,  perfectly  to  keep  the  commandments 
of  God ;  *  but  doth  daily  break  them  in  thought,k  word,  and 
deed.1 


ness,  which  is  idolatry.  Deut.  v. 
21.  Neither  shalt  thou  desire  thy 
neighbour's  wife,  neither  shalt 
thou  covet  thy  neighbour's  house, 
his  field,  or  his  man-servant,  or  his 
maid-servant,  his  ox,  or  his  ass,  or 
any  thing  that  is  thy  neighbour's. 

149.  h  James  iii.  2.  For  in  many 
things  we  offend  all.  If  any  man 
offend  not  in  word,  the  same  is  a 
perfect  man,  and  able  also  to  bridle 
the  whole  body,  John  xv.  5.  I  am 
the  vine,  ye  are  the  branches: 
he  that  abideth  in  me,  and  I  in 
him,  the  same  bringeth  forth  much 
fruit:  for  without  me  ye  can  do 
nothing.  Rom.  viii.  3.  For  what 
the  law  could  not  do,  in  that  it 
was  weak  through  the  flesh,  God 
sending  his  own  Son  in  the  like- 
ness of  sinful  flesh,  and  for  sin  con- 
demned sin  in  the  flesh. 

1  Eccl.  vii.  20.  For  there  is 
not  a  just  man  upon  earth,  that 
doeth  good,  and  sinneth  not. 
1  John  i.  8.  If  we  say  that  we  have 
no  sin,  we  deceive  ourselves,  and 
the  truth  is  not  in  us,  Ver.  10.  If 
we  say  that  we  have  not  sinned, 
we  make  him  a  liar,  and  his  word 
is  not  in  us.  Gal.  v.  17.  For  the 
flesh  lusteth  against  the  Spirit,  and 
the  Spirit  against  the  flesh :  and 
these  are  contrary  the  one  to  the 
other;  so  that  ye  cannot  do  the 
things  that  ye  would.  Rom.  vii.. 
18.  For  I  know  that  in  me  (that  is, 
in  my  flesh)  dwelleth  no  good  thing: 
for  to  will  is  present  with  me,  but 
how  to  perform  that  which  is  good 


I  find  not.  Ver.  19.  For  the  good 
that  I  would  I  do  not:  but  the  evil 
which  I  would  not,  that  do  I. 

k  Gen.  vi.  5.  And  God  saw  that 
the  wickedness  of  man  was  great 
in  the  earth,  and  that  every  ima- 
gination of  the  thoughts  of  his 
heart  was  only  evil  continually. 
Gen.  viii.  21.  And  the  Lord  said 
in  his  heart,  I  will  not  again  curse 
the  ground  any  more  for  man's 
sake;  for  the  imagination  of  man's 
heart  is  evil  from  his  youth: 

1  Rom.  iii.  9.  We  have  before 
proved  both  Jews  and  Gentiles, 
that  they  are  all  under  sin;  Ver- 
10.  As  it  is  written,  There  is  none 
righteous,  no,  not  one.  Ver.  11. 
There  is  none  that  understandeth, 
there  is  none  that  seeketh  after 
God.  Ver.  12.  They  are  all  gone 
out  of  the  way,  they  are  together 
become  unprofitable;  there  is  none 
that  doeth  good,  no,  not  one: 
Ver.  13.  Their  throat  is  an  open 
sepulchre;  with  their  tongues  they 
have  used  deceit:  the  poison  of 
asps  is  under  their  lips:  Ver,  11. 
Whose  mouth  is  full  of  cursing 
and  bitterness:  Ver.  15.  Their  feet 
are  swift  to  shed  blood :  Ver.  16. 
Destruction  and  misery  are  in  their 
ways:  Ver.  17.  And  the  way  of 
peace  have  they  not  known: 
Ver.  18.  There  is  no  fear  of  God 
before  their  eyes.  Ver.  19.  Now  we 
know,  that  what  things  soever  the 
law  saith,  it  saith  to  them  who 
are  under  the  law;  that  every 
mouth  may  be  stopped,  and  all  the 


Tlie  Larger  Catechism. 


333 


Q.  150.  Are  all  transgressions  of  the  law  of  God  equally  hei- 
nous in  themselves,  and  in  the  sight  of  God? 

A.  All  transgressions  of  the  law  of  God  are  not  equally 
heinous ;  but  some  sins  in  themselves,  and  by  reason  of  se- 
veral aggravations,  are  more  heinous  in  the  sight  of  God 
than  others.m 

Q.  151.  What  are  those  aggravations  that  make  some  sins 
more  heinous  than  others  ? 

*fl.  Sins  receive  their  aggravations, 

1.  From  the  persons  offending: n  if  they  be  of  riper  age,0 
greater   experience    or   grace,p    eminent    for   profession,** 


world  may  become  guilty  before 
God.  James  iii.  from  Verse  2,  to 
13.  For  in  many  things  we  offend 
all. — 

150.  ■  John  xix.  11.  Jesus  an- 
swered, Thou  couldest  have  no 
power  at  aJl  against  me,  except 
it  were  given  thee  from  above: 
therefore  he  that  delivered  me 
unto  thee  hath  the  greater  sin. 
Ezek.  viii.  6.  But  turn  thee  vet 
again,  and  thou  shalt  see  greater 
abominations.  Ver.  13.  Turn  thee 
yet  again,  and  thou  shalt  see 
greater  abominations  that  they  do. 
Ver.  15.  Turn  thee  yet  again, 
and  thou  shalt  see  greater  abo- 
minations than  these.  1  John  v. 
16.  If  any  man  see  his  brother 
sin  a  sin  which  is  not  unto  death 
he  shall  ask,  and  he  shall  give  him 
life  for  them  that  sin  not  unto 
death.  There  is  a  sin  unto  death  : 
I  do  not  say  that  he  shall  pray  for 
it.  Psal.  lxxviii.  17.  And  they  sin- 
ned yet  more  against  him,  by  pro- 
voking the  Most  High  in  the  wil- 
derness. Ver.  32.  For  all  this  they 
sinned  still,  and  believed  not  for 
his  wondrous  works.  Ver.  56.  Yet 
they  tempted  and  provoked  the 
most  high  God,  and  kept  not  his 
testimonies. 

151.  n  Jer.  ii.  8.  The  priests  said 
not,  Where  is  the  Lord  )  and  they 
that  handle  the   law    knew    me 


not:  the  pastors  also  transgressed 
against  me,  and  the  prophets  pro- 
phesied by  Baal,  and  walked  after 
things  that  do  not  profit. 

°  Job  xxxii.  7-  I  said,  Days 
should  speak,  and  multitude  of 
years  should  teach  wisdom.  Ver. 
9.  Great  men  are  not  always  wise: 
neither  do  the  aged  understand 
judgment.  Eccl.  iv.  13.  Better  is 
a  poor  and  wise  child,  than  an  old 
and  foolish  king,  who  will  no  more 
be  admonished. 

p  1  Kings  xi.  4.  For  it  came  to 
pass,  when  Solomon  was  old,  that 
his  wives  turned  away  his  heart  af- 
ter other  gods:  and  his  heart  was 
not  perfect  with  the  Lord  his  God, 
as  was  the  heart  of  David  his  fa- 
ther. Ver.  9.  And  the  Lord  was 
angry  with  Solomon,  because  his 
heart  was  turned  from  the  Lord 
God  of  Israel,  which  had  appear- 
ed unto  him  twice. 

*>  2  Sam.  xii.  14.  Howbeit,  be- 
cause by  this  deed  thou  hast  given 
great  occasion  to  the  enemies  of 
the  Lord  to  blaspheme,  the  child 
also  that  is  born  unto  thee  shall 
surely  die.  1  Cor.  v.  1.  It  is 
reported  commonly  that  theTe 
is  fornication  among  you,  and 
such  fornication  as  is  not  so 
much  as  named  among  the  Gen- 
tiles, that  one  should  have  his 
father's  wife. 


334 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


gifts/  place,9  office,1  guides  to  others/  and  whose  example 
is  likely  to  be  followed  by  others." 


r  James  iv.  17.  Therefore  to  him 
that  knovveth  to  do  good,  and  do- 
eth  it  not,  to  him  it  is  sin.  Luke 
xii.  47.  And  that  servant  which 
knew  his  lord's  will,  and  prepared 
not  himself,  neither  did  according 
to  his  will?  shall  be  beaten  with 
many  stripes.  Ver.  48.  But  he  that 
knew  not,  and  did  commit  things 
worthy  of  stripes,  shall  be  beaten 
with  few  stripes.  For  unto  whom- 
soever much  is  given,  of  him  shall 
be  much  required :  and  to  whom 
men  have  commited  much,  of  him 
they  will  ask  the  more. 

» Jer.  v.  4.  Therefore  I  said,  Sure- 
ly these  are  poor,  they  are  foolish  ; 
for  they  know  not  the  way  of  the 
Lord,  nor  the  judgment  of  their 
God.  Ver.  5.  I  will  get  me  unto 
the  great  men,  and  will  speak  unto 
them ;  for  they  have  known  the 
way  of  the  Lord,  and  the  judg- 
ment of  their  God :  but  these  have 
altogether  broke  the  yoke,  and 
burst  the  bonds. 

t  2  Sam.  xii.  7.  And  Nathan  said 
to  David,  Thou  art  the  man.  Thus, 
saitli  the  Lord  God  of  Israel,  I 
anointed  thee  king  over  Israel, — 
Ver.  8.  And  I  gave  thee  thy  mas- 
ter's house,  and  thy  master's  wives 
into  thy  bosom,  and  gave  thee  the 
house  of  Israel  and  of  Judah;  and 
if  that  had  been  too  little,  I  would 
moreover  have  given  unto  thee 
such  and  such  things.  Ver.  9. 
Wherefore  hast  thou  despised  the 
commandment  of  the  Lord  to  do 
evil  in  his  sight?  Ezek.  viii.  11. 
And  there  stood  before  them  se- 
venty men  of  the  ancients  of  the 
house  of  Israel,  and  in  the  midst  of 
them  stood  Jaazaniah  the  son  of 
Shaphan,  with  every  man  his  cen- 


ser in  his  hand,  and  a  thick  cloud 
of  incense  went  up.  Ver.  12.  Then 
said  he  unto  me,  Son  of  man,  hast 
thou  seen  what  the  ancients  of  the 
house  of  Israel  do  in  the  dark, 
every  man  in  the  chambers  of  his 
imagery]  for  they  say,  The  Lord 
seeth  us  not,  The  Lord  hath  for- 
saken the  earth. 

T  Rom.  ii.  17.  Behold,  thou  art 
called  a  Jew,  and  restest  in  the  law, 
and  makest  thy  boast  of  God.  Ver. 
18.  And  knowest  his  will, — Ver.  19. 
And  art  confident  that  thou  thyself 
art  a  guide  of  the  blind,  a  light  of 
them  which  are  in  darkness,  Ver. 
20.  An  instructer  of  the  foolish,  a 
teacher  of  babes, — Ver.  21.  Thou 
therefore  which  teachest  another, 
teachest  thou  not  thyself?  thou  that 
preachest  a  man  should  not  steal, 
dost  thou  steal  ?  Ver.  22.  Thou  that 
say  est  a  man  should  not  commit 
adultery,  dost  thou  commit  adul- 
tery ?  thou  that  abhorrest  idols,  dost 
thou  commit  sacrilege?  Ver.  23. 
Thou  that  makest  thy  boast  of  the 
law,  through  breaking  the  law  dis- 
honourest  thou  God?  Ver.  24.  For 
the  name  of  God  is  blasphemed 
among  the  Gentiles  through  you. 

w  Gal.  ii.  11.  But  when  Peter 
was  come  to  Antioch,  I  withstood 
him  to.  the  face,  because  he  was  to 
bo  blamed.  Ver.  12.  For  before 
that  certain  came  from  James,  he 
did  eat  with  the  Gentiles:  but 
when  they  were  come,  he  with- 
drew, and  separated  himself,  fear- 
ing them  which  were  of  the  cir- 
cumcision. Ver.  13.  And  the  other 
Jews  dissembled  likewise  with 
him;  insomuch  that  Barnabas  also 
was  carried  away  with  their  dissi- 
mulation.   Ver.    14.    But  when  I 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


335 


2.  From  the  parties  offended;1  if  immediately  against 
God, y  his  attributes,55  and  worship ; a  against  Christ,  and  his 
grace ;b    the   Holy  Spirit,0  his   witness/  and  workings;6 


saw  that  they  walked  not  upright- 
ly, according  to  the  truth  of  the 
gospel,  I  said  unto  Peter  before 
them  all,  If  thou,  being  a  Jew, 
livest  after  the  manner  of  Gentiles, 
and  not  as  do  the  Jews,  why  com- 
pellest  thou  the  Gentiles  to  live  as 
do  the  Jews'? 

x  Mat.  xxi.  38.  But  when  the 
husbandmen  saw  the  son,  they 
said  among  themselves,  This  is 
the  heir;  come,  let  us  kill  him, 
and  let  us  seize  on  his  inheritance. 
Ver.  29.  And  they  caught  him, 
and  cast  him  out  of  the  vineyard, 
and  slew  him. 

y  1  Sam.  ii.  25.  If  one  man 
sin  against  another,  the  judge 
shall  judge  him :  but  if  a  man 
sin  against  the  Lord,  who  shall 
entreat  for  him? — Acts  v.  4. — 
Thou  hast  not  lied  unto  men,  but 
unto  God.  Psal.  Ii.  1.  Against 
thee,  thee  only,  have  I  sinned, 
and  done  this  evil  in  thy  sight: 
that  thou  mightest  be  justified 
when  thou  speakest,  and  be  clear 
when  thou  judgest. 

1  Rom.  ii.  4.  Or  despisest  thou 
the  riches  of  his  goodness,  and 
forbearance,  and  long-suffering;  not 
knowing  that  the  goodness  of  God 
leadeth  thee  to  repentance] 

*  Mai.  i.  8.  And  if  ye  offer  the 
blind  for  sacrifice,  is  it  not  evil  1 
and  if  ye  offer  the  lame  and  sick, 
is  it  not  evil?  offer  it  now  unto 
thy  governor,  will  he  be  pleased 
with  thee,  or  accept  thy  person? 
saith  the  Lord  of  hosts.  Ver.  14. 
But  cursed  be  the  deceiver,  which 
hath  in  his  flock  a  male,  and  vow- 
eth  and  sacrificeth  unto  the  Lord 
a  corrupt  thing :  for  I  am  a  great 


King,  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts,  and 
my  name  is  dreadful  among  the 
heathen. 

b  Heb.  ii.  2.  For  if  the  word 
spoken  by  angels  was  steadfast,  and 
every  transgression  and  disobedi- 
ence received  a  just  recompense 
of  reward ;  Ver.  3.  How  shall  we 
escape  if  we  neglect  so  great  sal- 
vation]— Heb.  xii.  25.  See  that 
ye  refuse  not  him  that  speaketh: 
for  if  they  escaped  not  who  re- 
fused him  that  spake  on  earth, 
much  more  shall  not  we  escape, 
if  we  turn  away  from  him  that 
speaketh  from  heaven. 

c  Heb.  x.  29.  Of  how  much 
sorer  punishment,  suppose  ye, 
shall  he  be  thought  worthy,  who 
hath  trodden  under  foot  the  Son 
of  God?— Mat.  xii.  31.  Where- 
fore I  say  unto  you,  All  manner 
of  sin  and  blasphemy  shall  be  for- 
given unto  men ;  but  the  blas- 
phemy against  the  Holy  Ghost 
shall  not  be  forgiven  unto  men. 
Ver.  32.  And  whosoever  speaketh 
a  word  against  the  Son  of  man,  it 
shall  be  forgiven  him :  but  who- 
soever speaketh  against  the  Holy 
Ghost,  it  shall  not  be  forgiven 
him  neither  in  this  world,  neither 
in  the  world  to  come. 

d  Eph.  iv.30.  And  grieve  not  the 
Holy  Spirit  of  God,  whereby  ye  are 
sealed  unto  the  day  of  redemption. 
e  Heb.  vi.  4.  For  it  is  impossible 
for  those  who  were  once  enlight- 
ened, and  have  tasted  of  the  hea- 
venly gift,  and  were  made  partakers 
of  the  Holy  Ghost,  Ver.  5.  And 
have  tasted  the  good  word  of  God, 
and  the  powers  of  the  world  to 
come ;    Ver.  6.   If  they  shall  fall 


;36 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


against  superiors,  men  of  eminency/  and  such  as  we  stand 
especially  related  and  engaged  unto ; s  against  any  of  the 
saints,h  particularly  weak  brethren,1  the  souls  of  them,  or 
any  other,k  and  the  common  good  of  all  or  many.1 


away,  to  renew  them  again  unto 
repentance. — 

f  Jude,  Ver.  8.  Likewise  also 
these  filthy  dreamers  'defile  the 
flesh,  despise  dominion,  and  speak 
evil  of  dignities.  Numb.  xii.  8. 
— Wherefore  then  were  ye  not 
afraid  to  speak  against  my  servant 
Moses?  Ver.  9.  And  the  anger  of 
the  Lord  was  kindled  against  them, 
and  he  departed.  Isa.  iii.5. — The 
child  shall  behave  himself  proudly 
against  the  ancient,  and  the  base 
against  the  honourable. 

*  Prov.  xxx.  17.  The  eye  that 
mocketh  at  his  father,  and  de- 
spiseth  to  obey  his  mother,  the 
ravens  of  the  valley  shall  pick  it 
out,  and  the  young  eagles  shall 
eat  it.  2  Cor.  xii.  15.  And  I  will 
very  gladly  spend  and  be  spent  for 
you,  though  the  more  abundantly 
I  love  you,  the  less  I  be  loved. 
Psalm  lv.  12.  For  it  was  not  an 
enemy  that  reproached  me,  then 
I  could  have  borne  it;  neither  was 
it  he  that  hated  me  that  did 
magnify  himself  against  me,  then 
I  would  have  hid  myself  from 
him  :  Ver.  13.  But  it  was  tliou,  a 
man,  mine  equal,  my  guide,  and 
mine  acquaintance.  Ver.  14.  We 
took  sweet  counsel  together,  and 
walked  unto  the  house  of  God  in 
company.  Ver.  15.  Lot  death  seize 
upon  them,  and  let  them  go  down 
quick  into  hell. — 

h  Zcjih.  ii.  8.  I  hare  heard  the 
reproach  of  Moab,  and  the  re- 
vilings  of  the  children  of  Ammon, 
whereby  they  have  reproached 
my  people. — Ver.  10.  This  shall 
they  have  for  their  pride,  because 


they  have  reproached  and  magni- 
fied themselves  against  the  people 
of  the  Lord  of  hosts.  Ver.  11. 
The  Lord  will  be  terrible  unto 
them: — Mat.  xviii.  6.  But  who- 
so shall  offend  one  of  these  little 
ones  which  believe  in  me,  it  were 
better  for  him  that  a  millstone  were 
hanged  about  his  neck,  and  that  he 
were  drowned  in  the  depth  of  the 
sea.  1  Cor.  vi.  8.  Nay,  ye  do  wrong, 
and  defraud,  and  that  your  bre- 
thren. Rev.  xvii.  6.  And  I  saw  the 
woman  drunken  with  the  blood  of 
the  saints  and  with  the  blood  of 
the  martyrs  of  Jesus. — 

1  1  Cor.  viii.  11.  And  through 
thy  knowledge  shall  the  weak 
brother  perish,  for  whom  Christ 
died?  Ver.  12.  But  when  ye  sin 
so  against  the  brethren,  and  wound 
their  weak  conscience,  ye  sin 
against  Christ.  Rom.  xiv.  13.  Let 
us  not  therefore  judge  one  another 
any  more;  but  judge  this  rather, 
that  no  man  put  a  stumblingblock, 
or  an  occasion  to  fall,  in  his  bro- 
ther's way.  Ver.  15.  But  if  thy 
brother  be  grieved  with  thy  meat, 
now  walkest  thou  not  charitably, 
Destroy  not.  him  with  thy  meat 
for  whom  Christ  died.  Ver.  21. 
It  is  good  neither  to  eat  flesh, 
nor  to  drink  wine,  nor  any  thing 
whereby  thy  brother  stumbleth,  or 
is  offended,  or  is  made  weak. 

k  Ezek.  xiii.  19.  And  will  ye 
pollute  mo  among  my  people  tor 
handfula  of  barley,  and  for  pieces 
of  bread,  to  slay  the  souls  that 
should  not  die,  and  to  save  the 
souls  alive  that  should  not  live, 
by  your  lying  to  my  people  that 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


S3? 


3.  From  the  nature  and  quality  of  the  offence:711  if  it  be 
against  the  express  letter  of  the  la\v,n  break  many  com- 
mandments, contain  in  it  many  sins:0  if  not  only  conceived 


hear  your  lies  1  1  Cor.  viii.  12. 
But  when  ye  sin  so  against  the 
brethren,  and  wound  their  weak 
consciences,  ye  sin  against  Christ. 
Rev.  xviii.  12.  The  merchandise  of 
gold, — Ver.  13.  And  cinnamon,  and 
odours,  and  ointments,  and  frank- 
incense, and  wine,  and  oil,  and 
fine  flour,  and  wheat,  and  beasts, 
and  sheep,  and  hoses,  and  cha- 
riots, and  slaves,  and  souls  of  men. 
Mat.  xxiii.  15.  Wo  unto  you, 
scribes  and  Pharisees,  hypocrites! 
for  ye  coin  piss  sea  and  land  to 
make  one  proselyte;  and,  when 
he  is  made,  ye  make  him  twofold 
more  the  child  of  hell  than  your- 
selves. 

1  1  Thess.  ii.  15.  Who  both 
killed  the  Lord  Jesus  and  their 
own  proph  ts,  and  have  persecuted 
us;  and  they  please  not  God,  and 
are  contrary  to  all  men:  Ver. 
16.  Forbidding  us  to  speak  to  the 
Gentiles,  that  they  mi^ht  be  saved. 
— Josh.  xxii.  20.  Did  not  Achan, 
the  son  of  Zerah,  commit  a  tres- 
pass in  the  accursed  thing,  and 
wrath  fell  on  all  the  congregation 
of  Israel  ?  and  that  man  perished 
not  alone  in  his  iniquity. 

a  Prov.  vi.  30.  Men 'do  not  de- 
spise a  thief,  if  he  steal  to  satisfy 
his  soul  when  he  is  hungry:  Ver. 
31.  But  if  he  be  found,  he  shall  re- 
store seven-fold  ; Ver.  32.  But 

whoso  committeth  adultery  with 
a  woman  lacketh  understanding: 
he  that  doeth  it  destroyeth  his 
own  soul.  Ver.  33.  A  wound  and 
dishonour  shall  he  get,  and  his 
reproach  6hall  not  be  wiped 
away.  And  so  on  to  the  end  of 
the  Chapter. 

29 


n  Ezra  ix.  10.  And  now,  O  our 
God,  what  shall  we  say  after  this ! 
for  we  have  forsaken  thy  com- 
mandments. Ver.  11.  Which  thou 
hast  commanded  by  thy  servants 
the  prophets,  saying,  The  land, 
unto  which  ye  go  to  possess  it,  is 
an  unclean  land  with  the  filthi- 
ness  of  the  people. — Ver.  12.  Now 
theref>re  give  not  your  daugh- 
ters unto  their  sons,  &c.  1  Kings 
xi.  9.  And  the  Lord  was  angry 
with  Solomon,  because  his  heart 
was  turned  from  the  Lord  God 
of  Israel,  which  had  appeared 
unto  him  twice,  Ver.  10.  And  had 
commanded  him  concerning  this 
thing  that  he  should  not  go  after 
other  gods:  but  he  kept  not  that 
which  the  Lord  commanded. 

0  Col.  iii.  5.  Mortify  therefore 
your  members  which  are  upon  the 
earth;  fornication,  uncleanness, 
inordinate  affection,  evil  concu- 
piscence, and  covetousness,  which 
is  idolatry.  1  Tim.  vi.  10.  For 
the  love  of  money  is  the  root  of 
all  evil:  which  while  some  covet- 
ed after,  they  have  erred  from 
the  faith,  and  pierced  themselves 
through  with  many  sorrows. 
Prov.  v.  8.  Remove  thy  way  far 
from  her,  and  come  not  nigh  the 
door  of  her  house :  Ver.  9.  Lest 
thou  give  thine  honour  unto 
others,  and  thy  years  unto  the 
cruel :  Ver.  10.  Lest  strangers  be 
filled  with  thy  wealth :— Ver.  11. 
And  thou  mourn  at  the  last,  when 
thy  flesh  and  thy  body  are  con- 
sumed, Ver.  12.  And  say.  How 
have  I  hated  instruction,  and  my 
heart  despised  reproof!  Pr<  v. 
vi.    32.    But    whoso    committeth 


!38 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


in  the  heart,  but  breaks  forth  in  words  and  actions,?  scan- 
dalize others,q  and  admit  of  no  reparation  :r  if  against  means,' 


adultery  with  a  woman  lacketh 
understanding:  he  that  doeth  it 
destroyeth  his  own  soul.  Ver.  33. 
A  wound  and  dishonour  shall  he 
get.— Josh.  vii.  21.  When  I  saw 
among  the  spoils  a  goodly  Babylo- 
nish garment,  and  two  hundred 
shekels  of  silver,  and  a  wedge  of 
gold  of  fifty  shekels  weight,  then  I 
coveted  them,  and  took  them. — 

p  James  i.  14.  But  every  man  is 
tempted  when  he  is  drawn  away 
of  his  own  lust,  and  enticed. 
Ver.  15.  Then  when  lust  hath  con- 
ceived it  bringeth  forth  sin :  and 
sin,  when  it  is  finished,  bringeth 
forth  death.  Mat.  v.  22.  But  I 
say  unto  you,  That  whosoever  is 
angry  with  his  brother  without  a 
cause  shall  be  in  danger  of  the 
judgment:  and  whosoever  shall 
say  to  his  brother,  Raca,  shall  be 
in  danger  of  the  council:  but 
whosoever  shall  say,  Thou  fool, 
shall  be  in  danger  of  hell-fire. 
Micah  ii.  1.  Wo  to  them  that  de- 
vise iniquity,  and  work  evil  upon 
their  beds!  when  the  morning  is 
light  they  practise  it,  because  it  is 
in  the  power  of  their  hand. 

*»  Mat.  xviii.  7.  Wo  unto  the 
world  because  of  offences!  for  it 
must  needs  be  that  offences  come ; 
but  wo  to  that  man  by  whom  the 
offence  cometh!  Rom.  ii.  23. 
Thou  that  makest  thy  boast  of  the 
law,  through  breaking  the  law 
dishonourest  thou  God  1  Ver.  24. 
For  the  name  of  God  is  blasphemed 
among  the  Gentiles  through  you, 
as  it  is  written. 

1  Dcut.  xxii.  22.  If  a  man  be 
found  lying  with  a  woman  mar- 
ried to  a  husband,  then  they 
shall  both  of  them  die,  both  the 
man   that  lay  with   the   woman, 


and  the  woman:  so  shalt  thou  put 
away  evil  from  Israel.  Compared 
with  Ver.  28.  If  a  man  find  a  dam- 
sel that  is  a  virgin,  which  is  not 
betrothed,  and  lay  hold  on  her, 
and  lie  with  her,  and  they  be 
found :  Ver.  29.  Then  the  man 
that  lay  with  her  shall  give  unto 
the  damsel's  father  fifty  shekels 
of  silver,  and  she  shall  be  his 
wife ;  because  he  hath  humbled 
her,  he  may  not  put  her  away 
all  his  days.  Prov.  vi.  32.  But 
whoso  committeth  adultery  with 
a  woman  lacketh  understanding: 
he  that  doeth  it  destroyeth  his 
own  soul.  Ver.  33.  A  wound  and 
dishonour  shall  he  get,  and  his 
reproach  shall  not  be  wiped 
away.  Ver.  34.  For  jealousy  is  the 
rage  of  a  man :  therefore  he  will 
not  spare  in  the  day  of  vengeance. 
Ver.  35.  He  will  not  regard  any  ran- 
som: neither  will  he  rest  content, 
though   thou   givest  many  gifts. 

8  Mat.  xi.  21.  Wo  unto  thee, 
Chorazin!  wo  unto  thee,  Beth- 
saida !  for  if  the  mighty  works 
which  were  done  in  you  had 
been  done  in  Tyre  and  Sidon, 
they  would  have  repented  long  ago 
in  sackcloth  and  ashes.  Ver.  22. 
But  I  say  unto  you,  It  shall  be 
more  tolerable  for  Tyre  and  Si- 
don at  the  day  of  judgment,  than 
for  you.  Ver.  23.  And  thou,  Ca- 
pernaum, which  art  exalted  unto 
heaven,  shalt  be  brought  down  to 
hell :  for  if  the  mighty  works 
which  have  been  done  in  thee 
had  been  done  in  Sodom,  it  would 
have  remained  until  this  day. 
Ver.  24.  But  I  say  unto  you,  That 
it  shall  be  more  tolerable  for  the 
land  of  Sodom — John  xv.  22. 
If   I   had   not  come  and  spoken 


Tlie  Larger  Catechism,  3S9 

mercies,1  judgments,7  light  of  nature,"  conviction  of  con- 
science,* public  or  private  admonition/  censures  of  the 
church,2  civil  punishments;1  and   our    prayers,  purposes, 


unto  them,  they  had  not  had  sin  ; 
but  now  they  have  no  cloak  for 
their  sin. 

1  Isa.  i.  3.  The  ox  knoweth  his 
owner,  and  the  ass  his  master's 
crib;  but  Israel  doth  not  know, 
my  people  doth  not  consider.  Deut. 
xxxii.  0.  Do  ye  thus  requite  the 
Lord,  O  foolish  people  a%nd  unwise  ! 
is  not  he  thy  father*  that  hath 
bought  thee]  hath  he  not  made 
thee,  and  established  thee? 

v  Amos  iv.  S.  So  two  or  three 
cities  wandered  unto  one  city  to 
drink  water;  but  they  were*  not 
satisfied  :  yet  have  ye  not  return- 
ed unto  me,  saith  the  Lord.  Ver.  9. 
I  have  smitten  you  with  blasting" 
and  mildew;  when  your  gardens, 
and  your  vineyards,  and  your  fig- 
trees,  and  your  olive-trees  in- 
creased, the  palmer- worm  de- 
voured them :  yet  have  ye  not  re- 
turned unto  me,  saith  the  Lord. 
Ver.  10.  I  have  sent  among  you  the 
pestilence  after  the  manner  of 
Egypt:  your  young  men  have  I 
slain  with  the  sword,  and  have 
taken  away  your  horses;  and  I 
have  made  the  stink  of  your  camps 
to  come  up  unto  your  nostrils:  yet 
have  ye  not  returned  unto  me, 
saith  the  Lord.  Ver.  11.  I  have 
overthrown  some  of  you,  as  God 
overthrew  Sodom  and  Gomorrah, 
and  ye  were  as  a  fire-brand  pluck- 
ed out  of  the  burning:  yet  have 
ye  not  returned  unto  rne, "saith  the 
Lord.  Jer.  v.  3.  O  Lord,  are  not 
thine  eyes  upon  the  truth }  thou 
nast  strickerr  them,  but  they  have 
not  grieved ;  thou  hast  consumed 
them,  but  they  have  refused  to  re- 
ceive correction :  they  have  made 


their  faces  harder  than  a  rock,  they 
have  refused  to  return. 

w  Rom.  i.  26.  For  this  cause 
God  gave  them  up  unto  vile  affec- 
tions: for  even  their  women  did 
change  the  natural  use  into  that 
which  is  against  nature:  Ver.  27. 
And  likewise  also  the  men,  leav- 
ing the  natural  use  of  the  woman, 
burned  in  their  lust  one  toward 
another,  men  with  men  working 
that  which  is  unseemly,  and  re- 
ceiving in  themselves  that  recom- 
pense of  their  error  which  was 
meet. 

x  Rom.  i.  32.  Who  knowing 
the  judgment  of  God,  (that  they 
wh;ch  commit  such  things  are 
worthy  of  death.)  not  only  do 
the  same,  but  have  pleasure  in 
them  that  do  them.  Dan.  v.  22. 
And  thou  his  son,  O  Beishazzar, 
hast  not  humbled  thine  heart, 
though  thou  k newest  all  this. 
Tit.  iii.  10  A  man  that  is  a  he- 
retic, after  the  first  and  second  ad- 
monition, reject:  Ver.  11.  Know- 
ing that  he  that  is  such  is  subvert- 
ed, and  sinneth,  being  condemned 
of  himself. 

y  Prov.  xxix.  1.  He  that,  being 
often  reproved,  hardeneth  his  neck, 
shall  suddenly  be  destroyed,  and 
that  without  remedy. 

z  Tit.  iii.  10.  A  man  that  is  a  he- 
retic, after  the  first  and  second  ad- 
monition, reject-  Mat.  xviii.  17. 
And  if  he  shall  neglect  to  hear 
them,  tell  it  unto  the  church:  but 
if  he  neglect  to  hear  the  church, 
let  him  be  unto  thee  as  a  heathen 
man,  and  a  publican. 

*  Prov.  xxvii.  22.  Though  thou 
6houldest  bray  a   fool  in  a  mortaj 


340 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


promises,b  vows,0  covenants,11  and  engagements  to  God  or 
men:6    if  done    deliberately/   wilfully,6    presumptuously,11 


among1  wheat  with  a  pestle,  yet 
will  not  his  foolishness  depart  from 
him.  Prov.  xxiii.  35.  They  have 
stricken  me,  shalt  thou  say,  and  I 
was  not  sick ;  they  have  beaten  me, 
and  I  felt  it  not:  when  shall  I 
awake?  I  will  seek  it  yet  again. 

b  Psal.  Ixxviii.  34.  When  he 
slew  them,  then  they  sought  him: 
and  they  returned  and  inquired 
early  after  God.  Ver.  35.  And  they 
remembered  that  God  was  their 
rock,  and  the  high  God  their 
redeemer.  Ver.  36.  Nevertheless 
they  did  flatter  him  with  their 
mouth,  and  they  lied  unto  him 
with  their  tongues.  Ver.  37.  For 
their  heart  was  not  right  with 
him,  neither  were  they  steadfast 
in  his  covenant.  Jer.  ii.  20.  For 
of  old  time  I  have  broken  thy 
yoke,  and  burst  thy  bands,  and 
thou  saidst,  I  will  not  transgress; 
when  upon  every  high  bill,  and 
under  every  green  tree,  thou 
wandcrest,  playing  the  harlot. 
Jer.  xlii.  5.  Then  they  said  to. 
Jeremiah,  The  Lord  be  a  true 
and  faithful  witness  between  us, 
if  we  do  not  even  according  to 
all  things  for  which  the  Lord  thy 
God  shall  send  thee  to  us.  Ver.  6. 
Whether  it  be  good,  or  whether 
it  be  evil,  we  will  obey  the  voice 
of  the  Lord  our  God,  to  whom  we 
send  thee. — Ver.  20.  For  ye  dissem- 
bled in  your  hearts,  when  ye  sent 
me  unto  the  Lord  your  God,  say- 
ing, Pray  for  us  unto  the  Lord  our 
God:  and  according  unto  all  that 
the  Lord  our  God  shall  say,  so  de- 
clare unto  us,  and  we  will  do  it. 
Ver.  21.  And  now  I  have  this  day 
declared  it  to  you;  but  ye  have  not 
obeyed  the  voice  of  the  Lord  your 


God,  nor  any  thing  for  the  which 
he  hath  sent  me  unto  you. 

c  Eccl.  v.  4.  When  thou  vowest 
a  vow  unto  God,  defer  not  to  pay 
it:  for  he  hath  no  pleasure  in 
"fools;  pay  that  which  thou  hast 
vowed.  Ver.  5.  Better  is  it  that 
thou  shouldest  not  vow,  than  that 
thou  shouldest  vow  and  not  pay. 
Ver.  6.  Suffer  not  thy  mouth  to 
cause  thy  flesh  to  sin;  neither  say 
thou  before  the  angel  that  it  was 
an  error:  wherefore  should  God 
be  angry  at  thy  voice,  and  destroy 
the  work  of  thine  hands?  Prov. 
xx.  25.  It  is  a  snare  to  the  man 
who  devoureth  that  which  is 
holy,  and  after  vows  to  make 
inquiry.. 

d  Lev.  xxvi.  25.  And  I  will 
bring  a  sword  upon  you,  that  shall 
avenge  the  quarrel  of  my  cove- 
nant.— 

e  Prov.  ii.  17.  Which  forsaketh 
the  guide  of  her  youth,  and  for- 
gctteth  the  covenant  of  her  God. 
Ezek,  xvii.  18.  Seeing  he  despised 
the  oath  by  breaking  the  cove- 
nant, (when,  lo,  he  had  given  his 
hand,)  and  hath  done  all  these 
things,  he  shall  not  escape.  Ver. 
19.  Therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord 
God,  As  I  live,  surely  mine  oath 
that  he  hath  despised,  and  my 
covenant  that  he  hath  broken,  ever 
it  will  I  recompense  upon  his  own 
head. 

f  Psal.  xxxvi.  4.  He  deviset 
mischief  upon  his  bed  ;  he  setteth 
himself  in  a  way  that  is  not  good;, 
he  abhorreth  not  evil. 

*  Jer.  vi.  16.  Thus  saith  the 
Lord,  Stand  ye  in  the  ways,  ar 
see,  and  ask  for  the  old  paths, 
where  is  the  good  way,  and  wall 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


341 


identlv.1  boa?tingly,k  maliciously,1  frequently,01  obsti- 
nately,0 with  delight,0  continuance,?  or  relapsing  after  re- 
pentance.'1 


therein,  and  ye  shall  find  rest  for 
your  souls.  But  they  said,  We 
will  not  walk  therein. 

b  Numb.  xv.  30.  But  the  soul 
that  doeth  aught  presumptuously, 
(whether  he  be  born  in  the  land 
er  a  stranger.)  the  same  reproach- 
eth  the  Lord;  and  that  soul  shall 
be  cut  off  from  among  his  people. 
Exod.  xxi.  14  But  it'  a  man  come 
sumptuously  upon  his  r>.  _  - 
hour  to  slay  him  with  guile;  thou 
shait  lake  him  from  mine  akar, 
that  he  may  die. 

'  Jerera.  iii.  3.  Therefore  the 
showers  have  been  witliholden, 
and  there  hath  been  no  latter  rain; 
and  thou  hadst  a  whore's  furehead, 
thou  refusedst  to  be  ashamed. 
Prov.  vii.  13.  So  she  caught  him, 
and  kissed  him,  and  with  an  im- 
pudent face  said  unto  him, — 

k  Psal.  Iii.  1.  Why  boas:est  thou 
thyself  in  mischief,  O  mighty 
man  ] 

1  3  John,  Ver.  10.  Wherefore  if 
I  cr  me,  I  will  remember  his  deeds 
which  he  doeth,  prating  against  us 
with  malici  s: — 

■  Numb.  xiv.  22.  Because  all 
those  men  which  have  seen  my 
glory,  and  my  miracles,  which  I 
did  in  Ejypt,  and  in  the  wilder- 
ness, have  tempted  me  now  these 
ten  times,  and  have  not  hearkened 
to  my  voice. 

*Zech.  vii.  11.  But  they  refused 
to  hearken,  and  pulled  away  the 
shoulder,  and  stopped  th»  ir  ears, 
that  they  should  not  hear.  Ver.  12. 
Yea,  they  made  their  hearts  as  an 
adamant  stone,  le?t  they  should 
hear  the  law,  and  the  words 
which  the  Lord  of  hosts  halh  sent 
in  his  Spirit  by  the  former  pro- 
£9* 


phets;    therefore    came    a    great 
wrath  from  the  Lord  of  hosts. 

0  Prov.  ii.  14.  Who  rejoice  to 
do  evil,  and  delight  in  the  froward- 
ness  of  the  wic 

p  La.  Ivii.  17.  For  the  iniquity 
of  his  covetousness  was  I  wroth, 
and  smote  him :  I  hid  me,  and  was 
wroth,  and  he  went  on  frowardly 
in  the  way  of  his  heart. 

q  Jer.  x.xx...  BL  T.  s  is  the  word 
that  came  unto  Jeremiah  from  the 
Lord,  after  that  the  king  Zede- 
kiah  had  made  a  covenant  with 
all  the  people  which  were  at  Je- 
rusalem, to  proclaim  liberty  unto 
them;  Ver.  9.  That  every  man 
should  let  his  man-servant,  and 
every  man  his  maid-servant,  be- 
ing a  Hebrew,  or  a  Hebrewese, 
go  free,  that  none  should  serve 
himself  of  them,  to  wit,  of  a  Jew 
his  brother.  Ver.  10.  Now,  when 
ail  the  prinees,  and  all  the  people, 
which  had  entered  into  the  co- 
venant, heard  that  every  one 
should  let  his  man-servant  and 
every  one  his  maid-servant  go 
free,  that  none  should  serve  them- 
selves of  them  any  more,  then 
they  obeyed,  and  let  them  go. 
Ver.  II.  But  afterwards  they 
turned  and  caused  the  servants, 
and  the  handmaics,  whom  they 
had  let  go  free,  to  return,  and 
brought  them  into  subjection  for 
servants,  and  for  handmaids.  2 
Pet.  ii.  20.  For  if  after  they  have 
escaped  the  pollutions  of  the 
world,  through  the  knowledge  of 
the  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ, 
they  are  again  entangled  therein, 
and  overcome ;  the  latter  end  is 
with  them  than  the  begin- 
Ver.  21.  For  it  had  been 


342 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


4.  From  circumstances  of  time r  and  place:8  if  on  the 
Lord's  day,1  or  other  times  of  divine  worship ; v  or  imme- 
diately before  w  or  after  these,*  or  other  helps  to  prevent  or 


better  for  them  not  to  have 
known  the  way  of  righteousness,, 
than,  after  they  have  known  it, 
to  turn  from  the  holy  command- 
ment delivered  unto  them.  Ver. 
22.  But  it  is.  happened  unto  them 
according  to  the  true  proverb, 
The  dog  is  turned  to  his  own 
vomit  again  ;  and,  The  sow  that 
was  washed  to  her  wallowing  in 
the  mire. 

r  2  Kings  v.  26.  And  he  said  unto 
him,  (Gehazi)  Went  not  mine 
heart  with  thee,  when  the  man 
turned  again  from  his  chariot  to 
meet  thee]  Is  it  a  time  to  receive 
money,  and  to  receive  garments, 
and  oliveyards,  and  vineyards, 
and  sheep  and  oxen,  and  men-ser- 
vants, and  maid-servants  J 

•  Jer.  vii.  10.  And  come  and 
stand  before  me  in  this  house, 
which  is  called  by  my  name,  and 
say,  We  are  delivered  to  do  all 
these  abominations.  Isa.  xxyi. 
10.  Let  favour  be  showed  to  the 
wicked,  yet  will  b.e  not  learn 
righteousness:  in  the  land  of  up- 
rightness will  he  deal  unjustly, 
and  will  not  behold  the  majesty  of 
the  Lord. 

•:  Ezek.  xx-iii.  37.  That  they 
have  committed  adultery,  and 
blood  is  in  their  bands,  and  with 
their  idols  have  they  committed 
adultery; — Ver.  38.  Moreover,  this 
they  have  done  unto  me:  they 
have  defiled  my  sanctuary  in  the 
same  day,  and  have  profaned  my 
sabbaths.  Ver.  '69.  For  when  they 
had  slain  their  children  to  their 
idols,  then  they  came  the  same 
day  into  my  sanctuary  to  profane 
it;  and,  lo,  thus  have  they  done 
in  the  midst  of  mine  house. 


v  Isa.  lviii.  3.  Wherefore  have 
we  fasted,  say  they,  and  thou  seest 
not?  wherefore  have  we  afflicted 
our  soul,  and  thou,  takest  no 
knowledge?  Behold,  in  the  day 
of  your  fast  ye  find  pleasure,  and 
exact  all  your  labours.  Ver.  4. 
Behold,  ye  fast  for  strife  and  de- 
bate, and  to  smite  with  the  fist 
of  wickedness;  ye  shall  not  fast 
as  ye  do  this  day,  to  make  your 
voice  to  be  heard  on  high.  Ver.  5. 
Is  it  such  a  fast  that  I  have  cha> 
sen  ?  a  day  for  a  man  to  afflict 
his  soul?  is  it  to  bow  down  his 
head  as- a  bulrush,  and  to  spread 
sackcloth  and  ashes  under  him? 
wilt  thou  call  this  a  fast,  and 
an  acceptable  day  to  the  Lord  ? 
Numb.  xxv.  6.  And,  behold,  one 
of  the  children  of  Israel  came 
and  brought  unto  his  brethren 
a  Midianitish  woman,  in  the  sight 
of  Moses,  and  in  the  sight  of  all 
the  congregation  of  the  children 
of  Israel,  who  were  weeping  be- 
fore the  door  of  the  tabernacle 
of  the  congregation.  Ver.  7.  And 
when  Phinehas,  the  son  of  Sleazar, 
the  son  of  Aaron  the  priest,  saw 
it,  he  rose  up  from  among  the 
congregation,  and  took  a  javelin 
in  his  hand. 

w  1  Cor.  xi.  20.  When  ye  co 
together  therefore  into  one  plac 
this  is  not  to  eat  the  Lord's  supper 
Ver.  21.  For  in  eating  every  one 
taketh  before  other  his  own  sup- 
per: and  one  is  hungry,  and  ano- 
ther is  drunken. 

x  Jer.  vii.  8.  Behold,  ye  trust  in 
lying  words,  that  cannot  profit. 
Ver.  9.. Will  ye  steal,  murder,  and 
commit  adultery,  and  swear  false- 
ly, and    burn  incense  unto  Baal, 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


343 


remedy  such  miscarriages  :*  if  in  public,  or  in  the  pre- 
sence of  others,  who  are  thereby  likely  to  be  provoked  or 
defiled.2 

Q,.   152.    What  doth  every  sin  deserve  at  the  hands  of  God? 

A.  Every  sin,  even  the  least,  being  against  the  sovereignty,1 
goodness,b  and  holiness  of  God,c  and  against  his  righteous 


and  walk  after  other  gods  whom 
ye  know  not;  Ver.  10.  And  come 
and  stand  before  me  in  this  house,, 
which  is  called  by  my  name,  and 
say,  We  are  delivered  to  do  all 
these  abominations'?  Prov.  vii.  14. 
I  have  peace-offerings  with  me; 
this  day  have  I  paid  my  vows. 
Ver.  15.  Therefore  came  I  for'h 
to  meet  thee,  diligently  to  seek 
thy  face,  and  I  have  found  thee. 
J.ohn  xiii.  27.  And  after  the  sop 
Satan  entered  into  him.  Then 
said  Jesus  unto  him,  That  thou 
doest,  do  quickly.  Ver.  30.  He 
then  having  received  the  sop, 
went  immediately  out: — 

y  Ezra  ix.  18,  And  after  all  that 
is  come  upon  us  for  our  evil  deeds, 
and  for  our  great  trespass,  seeing 
that  thou  our  God  hast  punished 
us  less  than  our  iniquities  deserve, 
and  hast  given  us  such  deliverance 
as  this;  Ver.  14.  Should  we  again 
break  thy  commandments,  and  join 
in  affinity  with  the  people  of  those 
abominations?  wouldest  not  thou 
be  angry  with  us  till  thou  hadst 
consumed  usl — 

2  2  Sam.  xvi.  22.  So  they  spread 
Absalom  a  tent  upon  the  top  of 
the  house,  and  Absalom  went  in 
unto  his  father's  concubines  in  the 
sight  of  all  Israel.  1  Sam.  ii.  22, 
Now  Eli  was  very  old,  and  heard 
all  that  his  sons,  did  unto  all  Is- 
rael, and  how  they  lay  with  the 
women  that  assembled  at  t'he  door 
of  the  tabernacle  of  the  congrega- 
tion. Ver.  23.  And  he  said  unto 
them,  Why    do  ye  such   things'? 


for  I  hear  of  your  evil  dealings  by 
all  this  people.  Ver.  24,  Nay,  my 
sons:  for  it  is  no  good  report  that 
I  hear;  ye  make  the  Lord's  people 
to  transgress. 

152.  a  James  ii.  10.  For  whoso- 
ever shall  keep  the  whole  law, 
and  yet  offend  in  one  point,  he  is- 
guilty  of. all.  Ver.  11.  For  he  that 
said,  Do  not  commit  adultery, 
said  also,  do  not  kill. — 

6  Exod.  xx.  1.  God  spake  all 
these  words,  saying,  Ver.  2.  I 
am  the  Lord  thy  God,  which 
have  brought  thee  out  of  the 
land  of  Egypt,  out  of  the  house  of 
bondage. 

c  Hab.  i.  13.;  Thou  art  of  purer 
eyes  than  to  behold  evil,  and  canst 
not  look  on  iniquity:  wherefore 
lookest  thou  upon  them  that  deal 
treacherously,  and  holdest  thy 
tongue  when  the  wicked  devour* 
eth  the  man  that  is  more  righte- 
ous than  he?  Lev.  x.  3.  Then 
JVloses  said  unto  Aaron,  This  is  it 
that  the  Lord  sp;ike,  saying,  I. 
wiil  be  sanctified  in  them  that 
come  nigh  me,  and  before  all  the 
people  I  wiij^be  glorified. — Lev, 
xi.  44.  For  1  am  the  Lord  your 
God:  ye  shall  therefore  sanctify 
yourselves,  and  ye  shall  he  holy;, 
for  I  am  holy:  neither  shall  ye  de- 
file yourselves  with  any  manner  of 
creeping  thing  that  creepeth  upon 
the  earth.  Ver.  45.  For  I  am  the 
Lord  that  bringeth  you  up  out  of 
the  land  of  Egypt,  to  be  your  God  : 
ye  shall  therefore  be  holy;  for  I 
am  holy. 


344 


The  Larger  Cateehism. 


law,d  deserveth  his  wrath  and  curse,*  both  in  this  life/ 
and  fhat  which  is  to  come;8  and  cannot  be  expiated  but 
by  the  blood  of  Christ.h 

Q.  153.  What  doth  God  require  of  us,  that  ice  may  escape 
his  wrath  and  curse  due  to  us  by  reason  of  the  transgression 
of  the  law? 

A.  That  we  may  escape  the  wrath  and  curse  of  God  due 
to  us  by  reason  of  the  transgression  of  the  law,  he  requireth 
of  us  repentance  toward  God,  and  faith  toward  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,1  and  the  diligent  use  of  the  outward  means 


*  1  John  iii.  4.  Whosoever  com- 
mitteth  sin,  transgresseth  also  the 
law:  for  sin  is  the  transgression  of 
the  law.  Rom.  vii.  12.  Wherefore 
the  law  is  holy,  and  the  command- 
ment holy,  and  just,  and  good. 

e  Eph.  v.  6.  Let  no  man  deceive 
you  with  vain  words:  for  because 
of  these  things  cometh  the.  wrath 
of  God  upon  the  children  of  dis- 
obedience. Gal.  iii.  10.  For  as 
many  as  are  of  the  works  of  the 
law  are  under  the  curse:  for  it  is 
written,  Cursed  is  every  one  that 
continueth  not  in  all  things  which 
are  written  in  the  book  of  the  law 
to  do  them. 

f  Lam.  iii.  39.  Wherefore  doth 
a  living  man  complain,  a  man  for 
the  punishment  of  his  sins!  Deut. 
xxviii.  from  Verse  15,  to  the  end. 
But  it  shall  come  to  pass,  if  thou 
wilt  not  hearken  unto  the  voice  of 
the  Lord  thy  God,  to  observe  to 
do  all  his  commandments  and  his 
statutes,  which  I  command  thee 
this  day,  that  all  these  curses  shall 
come  upon  thee,  and  overtake  thee. 
Ver.  16.  Cursed  shalt  thou  be  in  the 
city,  and  cursed  shalt  thou  be  in 
the  field.  Ver.  17.  Cursed  shall  be 
thy  basket  and  thy  store,  <$c. 

s  Mat.  xxv.  41.  Depart  from 
me,  ye  cursed,  into  everlasting 
fire,  prepared  for  the  devil  and 
his  anirels. 


h  Heb.  ix.  22.  And  almost  all 
things  are  by  the  law  purged  with 
blood;,  and  without  shedding  of 
blood  is  no  remission.  1  Pet.  i.  18. 
Forasmuch  as  ye  know  that  ye 
were  not  redeemed  with  corrup- 
tible things,  as  silver  and  gold, 
from  your  vain  conversation,  re- 
ceived by  tradition  from  your  fa- 
thers; Ver.  19.  But  with  the  pre- 
cious blood  of  Christ,  as  of  a  lamb 
without  blemish,  and  without 
spot. 

153.  5  Acts  xx.  21.   Testifying 
both  to  the  Jews,  and  also  to  the 
Greeks,   repentance   toward   God, 
and  faith   toward   our  Lord   Jesus 
Christ.    Mat.  iii.  7.  But  when  he 
saw    many  of  the   Pharisees  and 
Sadducees   come    to   his  baptism, 
he  said  unto  them,  O  generation 
of  vipers!    who  hath  wained  you 
to  flee    rom  the  wrath  to  come] 
Ver.  8.  Bring  forth  therefore  fruits 
meet  for   repentance.     Luke  xiii. 
3,  5.  I  tell  you,  Nay:  but,  except 
ye   repent,  ye  shall   all    likewise 
perish.    Acts   xvi.    30.    And  {the 
jailer)     brought    them    out,    and' 
said,  Sirs,   what  must  I  do  to  be 
saved  ?  Ver.  31.  And  they  said,  Be- 
lieve on   the    Lord    Jesus   Chrisf, 
and  thou  shalt  be  saved,  and  thine 
house.     John  iii.  10.   For  God  so 
loved  the  world,  that  he  gave  his 
only    begotten    Son,   that    whoso- 


Hie  Larger  Catechism. 


345 


whereby  Christ  communicates  to  us  the  benefits  of  his  me- 
diation.11 

Q.  154.  What  are  the  outward  means  whereby  Christ 
communicates  to  us  the  benefits  of  his  mediation  ? 

•#.  The  outward  and  ordinary  means  whereby  Christ 
communicates  to  his  church  the  benefits  of  his  mediation, 
are  all  his  ordinances,  especially  the  word,  sacraments,  and 
prayer ;  all  which  are  made  effectual  to  the  elect  for  their 
salvation.1 

Q.    155.  How  is  the  word  made  effectual  to  salvation? 

•ft.  The  Spirit  of  God  maketh  the  reading,  but  especially 
the  preaching  of  the  word,  an  effectual  means  of  enlightening,™ 


ever  believeth  in  him  should  not 
perish,  but  have  everlasting-  life. 
Yer.  IS.  He  that  believeth  on  him 
is  not  condemned:  but  he  that 
believeth  not  is  condemned  al- 
ready. 

kProv.  ii.  1.  My  son,  if  thou 
wilt  receive  my  words,  and  hide 
my  commandments  with  thee; 
Ver.  2.  So  that  thou  incline  thine 
ear  unto  wisdom,  and  apply  thine 
heart  to  understanding ;  Ver.  3. 
Yea,  if  thou  criest  after  know- 
ledge, and  lifted  up  thy  voice 
for  understanding  ;  Yer.  4-  If  thou 
seekest  her  as  silver,  and  searchest 
for  her  as  for  hid  treasures ;  Ver.  5. 
Then  shalt  thou  understand  the 
fear  of  the  Lord,  and  find  the 
knowledge  of  God.  Prov.  viii.  33. 
Hear  instruction,  and  be  wise,  and 
refuse  it  not.  Ver.  34.  Bie^sed  is 
the  man  that  heareth  me,  watching 
daily  at  my  gates,  waiting  at  the 
posts  of  my  doors.  Ver.  35.  . 
whoso  findcth  me,  finrieth  life, 
and  shall  obtain  favour  of  the  Lord. 
Yer.  36.  But  he  that  sinneth 
against  me  wrongeth  his  own  soul : 
all  they  that  hate  me  love  death. 

154.  '  Mat.  xxviii.  19.  Go  ye 
therefore,  and  teach  all  nations, 
baptizing  them  in  the  name  of  the 
Father,  and  of  the   Son,   and  of 


the  Holy  Ghost;  Ver.  20.  Teach- 
ing them  to  observe  all  things 
whatsoever  I  have  commanded 
you :  and,  lo,  I  am  with  you  al- 
way,  even  unto  the  end  of  the 
world.  Amen.  Acts  ii.  42.  And 
they  continued  steadfastly  in  the 
apostles'  doctrine  and  fellowship, 
and  in  breaking  of  bread,  and  in 
prayers.  Ver.  46.  And  they,  con- 
tinuing daily  with  one  accord  in 
the  temple,  and  breaking  bread 
from  house  to  house,  did  eat  their 
meat  with  gladness  and  single- 
ness of  heart.  Ver.  47.  Praising 
God,  and  having  favour  with  all 
the  people.  And  the  Lord  added 
to  the  church  daily  such  as  should 
be  saved. 

155.  m  Nehem.  viii.  8.  So  they 
read  in  the  book  of  the  law  of 
God  distinctly,  and  gave  the  sense, 
and  caused  them  to  understand 
the  reading.  Acts  xxvi.  18.  To 
open  their  eyes,  and  to  turn 
them  from  darkness  to  light, 
and  from  the  power  of  Satan  un- 
to God,  that  they  may  receive 
forgiveness  of  sins,  and  inherit- 
ance among  them  which  are  sanc- 
tified by  faith  that  is  in  me.  Psal. 
xix.  8.  The  commandment  of  the 
Lord  is  pure,  enightening  the 
eves. 


546 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


convincing,  and  humbling  sinners  ;n  of  driving  them  out  of 
themselves,  and  drawing  them  unto  Christ;0  of  conform- 
ing them  to  his   image,p  and  subduing  them   to   his  \vill;q 

n  ICor.  xiv.  24.  But  if  all  pro- 
phesy, and  there  come  in  one  that 
believeth  not,  or  one  unlearned, 
he  is  convinced  of  all,  he  i.s  judged 
of  all:  Ver.  25.  And  thus  are  the 
secrets  of  his  heart  made  mani- 
fest; and  so,  falling  down  on  his 
face,  he  will  worship  God,  and 
report  that  God  is  in  you  of  a 
truth.  2  Chron.  xxxiv.  18.  Then 
Shaphan  the  scribe  told  the  king, 
saying,  Hilkiah  the  priest  hath 
given  me  a  book.  And  Shaphan 
read  it  before  the  king.  Ver.  19. 
And  it  came  to  pass,  when  the 
king  had  heard  the  words  of  the 
law,  that  he  rent  his  clothes. 
Ver.  26.  And  as  for  the  king  of  Ju- 
dah,  who  sent  you  to  inquire  of 
the  Lord,  so  shall  ye  say  unto 
him,  Thus  saith  the  Lord  God  of 
Israel  concerning  the  words  which 
thou  hast  heard;  Ver.  27.  Because 
thine  heart  was  tender,  and 
thou  didst  hum'ole  thyself  before 
God,  when  thou  heardest  his 
words  against  this  place,  and 
against  the  inhabitants  thereof, 
and  humbledst  thyself  before 
me,  and  didst  rend  thy  clothes, 
and  weep  before  me;  I  have 
even  heard  thee  also,  saith  the 
Lord.  Ver.  28.  Behold,  I  will 
gather  thee  to  thy  fathers,  and 
thou  shalt  be  gathered  to  thy  grave 
in  peace. 

0  Acts  ii.  37.  Now  when  they 
heard  this,  they  were  pricked  in 
their  heart,  and  said  unto  Peter, 
and  to  tin?  rest  of  the  apostles, 
Men  and  brethren,  what  shall  we 
do?  Ver.  41.  Then  they  that  glad- 
ly  received  his  word  were  baptized  : 
and  the  same  day  there  were  add- 
ed unto   them  about    three  thou- 


sand souls.  Acts  viii.  from  Verse 
27,  to  39. — And,  behold,  a  man  of 
Ethiopia,  a  eunuch  of  great  au- 
thority,— Ver.  28.  Was  returning, 
and  sitting  in  his  chariot,  read 
Esaias  the  prophet.  Ver.  29.  Then 
the  Spirit  said  unto  Philip,  Go 
near,  and  join  thyself  to  this  cha- 
riot. Ver.  30.  And  Philip  ran 
thither  to  him,  and  heard  him 
read  the  prophet  Esaias,  and  said, 
Understandest  thou  what  thou 
readest ]— Ver.  35;  Then  Philip 
opened  his  mouth,  and  began  at 
the  same  scripture,  and  preached 
unto  him  Jesus.  Ver.  36. — And 
the  eunuch  said,  See,  here  is  wa- 
ter; what  doth  hinder  me  to  be 
baptized!  Ver.  37.  And  Philip 
said,  If  thou  believest  with  all 
thine  heart,  thou  mayest.  And  he 
answered  and  said,  I  believe  that 
Jesus  Christ  is  the  Son.  of  God. 
Ver.  38. — And  they  went  down 
both  into  the  water,  both  Philip 
and  the  eunuch;  and  he  bap- 
tized him, 

p  2  Cor.  iii.  18.  But  we  all  with 
open  face,  beholding  as  in  a  glass 
the  giory  of  the  Lord,  are  changed 
into  the  same  image,  from  glory 
to  glory,  even  as  by  the  Spirit  of 
the  Lord. 

i  2  Cor.  x.  4.  For  the  weapons 
of  our  warfare  are  not  carnal, 
but  mighty  through  God  to  the 
pulling  down  of  strong  holds: 
Ver.  5.  Casting  down  imaginations, 
and  every  high  thing  that  exalt? 
eth  itself  against  the  knowledge 
of  God,  and  bringing  into  capti- 
vity every  thought  to  tin;  obedi- 
ence of  Christ :  Ver.  0.  And  hav- 
ing in  a  readiness  to  revenge  all 
disobedience,    when    your   obedir 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


347 


of  strengthening  them  against  temptations  and  corruptions;' 
of  building  them  up  in  grace,"  and  establishing  their  hearts 
in  holiness  and  comfort  through  faith  unto  salvation.1 


ence  is  fulfilled.  Rom.  vi.  17.  But 
God  be  lhanked,  that  ye  were  the 
servants  of  sin ;  but  ye  have  obey- 
ed from  the  heart  that  form  of 
doctrine  which  was  delivered  you. 
r  Mat.  iv.  4.  But  he  answered 
and  said,  It  is  written,  Man  shall 
not  live  by  bread  alune,  but  by 
every  word  that  proceedeth  out  of 
the  mouth  of  God.  Ver.  7.  Jesus 
said  unto  him,  It  is  written  again, 
Thou  shalt  not  tempt  the  Lord  thy 
God.  Ver.  10.  Then  saith  Jesus 
unto  him,  Get  thee  hence,  Satan: 
for  it  is  written,  Thou  shalt  wor- 
ship the  Lord  thy  God,  and  him 
only  shalt  thou  serve.  Eph.  vi.  16. 
Above  all,  taking  the  shield  of 
faith,  wherewith  ye  shall  be  r.ble 
to  quench  all  the  fiery  ,darts  of  the 
wicked.  Ver.  17.  And  take  the 
helmet  of  salvation,  and  the  sword 
of  the  Spirit,  which  is  the  word  of 
God.  Psal.  xix.  11.  Moreover,  by 
them  is  thy  servant  warned;  and 
in  keeping  of  them  there  is  great 
reward.  1  Cor.  x.  11.  Now  all 
these  things  happened  unto  them 
for  ensamples:  and  they  arc  writ- 
ten for  our  admonition,  upon  whom 
the  ends  of  the  world  are  come. 

"Actsxx.  32.  And  now,  brethren, 
I  commend  you  to  God,  and  to 
the  word  of  his  grace,  which  is 
able  to  build  you  up,  and  to  give 
you  an  inheritance  among  all 
them  which  are  sanctified.  2  Tim. 
iii.  15.  And  that  from  a  child  thou 
hast  known  the  holy  scriptures, 
which  are  able  to  make  thee  wise 
unto  solvation,  through  faith  which 
is  in  Christ  Jesus.  Ver.  16.  All 
scripture  is  given  by  inspiration  of 
God,  and  is  profitable  for  doctrine, 


for  reproof,  for  correction,  for  in- 
struction in  righteousness:  Ver. 
17.  That  the  man  of  God  may  be 
perfect,  thoroughly  furnished  unto 
all  £ood  works. 

'Rom.  xvi.  25.  Now  to  him 
that  is  of  power  to  establish  you 
according  to  my  gospel,  and  the 
preaching  of  Jesus  Christ,  ac- 
cording to  the  revelation  of  the 
mystery,  which  was  kept  secret 
since  the  world  began.  1  Thess. 
iii.  2.  And  sent  Timotheus  our 
brother,  and  minister  of  God,  and 
our  fellow-labourer  in  the  gospel 
of  Christ,  to  establish  you,  and 
to  comfort  you  concerning  your 
faith:  Ver.  10.  Night  and 'day 
praying  exceedingly  that  we  might 
see  your  face,  and  might  perfect 
that  which  is  lacking  in  your 
faith.  Ver.  11.  Now  God  himself 
and  our  Father,  and  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  direct  our  way  unto 
you:  Ver.  13.  To  the  end  he  may 
establish  your  hearts  unblameable 
in  holiness  before  God,  even  our 
Father,  at  the  coming  of  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ  with  all  his 
saints.  Rom.  xv.  4.  Fur  whatso- 
ever things  were  written  afore- 
time were  written  for  our  learn- 
ing; that  we,  through  patience 
and  comfort  of  the  scriptures, 
might  have  hope.  -  Rom.  x.  13. 
For  whosoever  shall  call  upon  the 
name  of  the  Lord  shall  be  saved. 
Ver.  14.  How  then  shall  they 
call  on  him  in  whom  they  have 
not  believed?  and  how  shall  they 
believe  in  him  of  whom  they  have 
not  heard]  and  how  shall  they 
hear  without  a  preacher?  Ver. 
15.    And  how  shall   they  preach 


348 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


Q.   156.  Is  the  word  of  God  to  be  read  by  all? 

A.  Although  all  are  not  to  be  permitted  to  read  the  word 
publicly  to  the  congregation/  yet  all  sorts  of  people  are 
bound    to   read   it   apart   by  themselves/  and  with  their 


except  they  be  sent?  as  it  is 
written,  How  beautiful  are  the 
feet  of  them  that  preach  the  gos- 
pel of  peace,  and  bring  glad  ti- 
dings of  good  things!  Ver.  16. 
But  they  have  not  all  obeyed  the 
gospel:  for  Esaias  saith,  Lord, 
who  hath  believed  our  report? 
Ver.  17.  So  then  faith  cometh  by 
hearing,  and  hearing  by  the  word 
of  God.  Rom.  i.  16.  For  I  am 
not  ashamed  of  the  gospel  of 
Christ:  for  it  is  the  power  of  God 
unto  salvation  to  every  one  that 
believeth,  to  the  Jew  first,  and 
also  to  the  Greek. 

156.  v  Deut.  xxxi.9.  And  Moses 
wrote  this  law,  and  delivered  it 
unto  the  priests,  the  sons  of  Levi, 
which  bare  the  ark  of  the  cove- 
nant of  the  Lord,  and  unto  all  the 
elders  oflsrael.  Ver.  11.  When  all 
Israel  is  come  to  appear  before 
the  Lord  thy  God  in  the  place 
which  he  shall  choose,  thou  shalt 
read  this  law  before  all  Israel  in 
their  hearing.  Ver.  12.  Gather 
the  people  together,  men,  and 
women,  and  children,  and  thy 
stranger  that  is  within  thy  gates, 
that  they  may  hear,  and  that 
they  may  learn,  and  fear  the 
Lord  your  God,  and  observe  to 
do  all  the  words  of  this  law: 
Ver.  13.  And  that  their  children, 
which  have  not  known  any  thing, 
may  hear,  and  learn  to  fear  the 
Lord  your  God,  as  long  as  ye 
live  in  the  land,  whither  ye  go 
over  Jordan  to  possess  it.  Neh. 
viii.  2.  And  Ezra  the  priest  brought 
the  law  before  the  congregation, 
both  of  men  and  women,  and  all 
that  could  hear  with  understand- 


ing, upon  the  first  day  of  the  se- 
venth month.  Ver.  3.  And  he  read 
therein  before  the  street  that  was 
before  the  water-gate,  from  the 
morning  until  mid-day,  before 
the  men,  and  the  women,  and 
those  that  could  understand ;  and 
the  ears  of  all  the  people  were 
attentive  unto  the  book  of  the 
law.  Neh.  ix.  3.  And  they  stood 
up  in  their  place,  and  read  in  the 
book  of  the  law  of  the  Lord  their 
God  one  fourth  part  of  the  day, 
and  another  fourth  part  they  con- 
fessed, and  worshipped  the  Lord 
their  God.  Ver.  4.  Then  stood  up 
upon  the  stairs,  of  the  Levites, 
Jeshua,  and  Bani,  <fyc.  and  cried 
with  a  loud  voice  unto  the  Lord 
their  God.  Ver.  5.  Then  the  Le- 
vites, Jeshua,  and  Kadmiel,  c£c. 
said,  Stand  up,  and  bless  the  Lord 
your  God  for  ever  and  ever;  and 
blessed  be  thy  glorious  name, 
which  is  exalted  above  all  blessing 
and  praise. 

w  Deut.  xvii.  19.  And  it  shall  be 
with  him,  and  he  shall  read  there- 
in all  the  days  of  his  life:  that  he 
may  learn  to  fear  the  Lord  his 
God,  to  keep  all  the  words  of  this 
law,  and  these  statutes,  to  do 
them.  Rev.  i.  3.  Blessed  is  he 
that  readeth,  and  they  that  hear 
the  words  of  this  prophecy,  and 
keep  those  things  which  are  writ- 
ten therein:  for  the  time  is  at 
hand.  John  v.  39-  Search  the 
scriptures,  for  in  them  ye  think 
ye  have  eternal  life,  and  they  are 
they  which  testify  of  me.  Isa- 
xxxiv.  16.  Seek  ye  out  of  the 
book  of  the  Lord,  and  read:  no 
one  of  these  6hal)  fail. — 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


>49 


families:*  to  which  end,  the  holy  scriptures  are  to  be  trans- 
lated out  of  the  original  into  vulgar  languages.7 

Q.   157.  How  is  the  word  of  God  to  be  read? 

Jl.  The  holy  scriptures  are  to  be  read  with  a  high  and 
reverent  esteem  of  them ; z  with  a  firm  persuasion  that  they 

utter  by  the  tongue  words  easy  to 
be  understood,  how  shall  it  be 
known  what  is  spoken  ]  for  ye 
shall  speak  into  the  air.  Ver.  11. 
Therefore,  if  I  know  not  the 
meaning  of  the  voice,  I  shall  be 
unto  him  that  speaketh  a  barba- 
rian, and  he  that  speaketh  shall 
be  a  barbarian  unto  me.  Ver.  12. 
Even  so  ye,  forasmuch  as  ye  are 
zealous  of  spiritual  gifts,  seek  that 
ye  may  excel  to  the  edifying  of 
the  church.  Ver.  15.  What  is 
it  then !  I  will  pray  with  the 
spirit,  and  I  will  pray  with  the 
understanding  also;  I  will  sing 
with  the  spirit,  and  I  will  sing 
with  the  understanding  also.  Ver. 
16.  Else,  when  thou  shalt  bless 
with  the  spirit,  how  shall  he  that 
occupieth  the  room  of  the  unlearn- 
ed say  Amen  at  thy  giving  of 
thanks,  seeing  he  understandeth 
not  what  thou  sayest?  Ver.  24. 
But  if  all  prophesy,  and  there 
come  in  one  that  believeth  not, 
or  one  unlearned,  he  is  convinced 
of  all,  he  is  judged  of  all.  Ver.  27. 
If  any  man  speak  in  an  unknown 
tongue,  let  it  be  by  two,  or  at 
the  most  by  three,  and  that  by 
course;  and  let  one  interpret. 
Ver.  28.  But  if  there  be  no  inter- 
preter, let  him  keep  silence  in  the 
church;  and  let  him  speak  to  him- 
self, and  to  God. 

157.  z  Psal.  xix.  10.  More  to  be 
desired  are  they  than  gold,  yea, 
than  much  fine  gold:  sweeter  "also 
than  honey,  and  the  honey-comb. 
Neh.  viii.  3.  And  he  read  therein 
before  the  street  that  was  before 
the  water-gate,  from  the  morning 


x  Deut.  vi.  6.  And  these  words, 
which  I  command  thee  this  day, 
shall  be  in  thine  heart:  Ver.  7. 
And  thou  shalt  teach  them  dili- 
gently unto  thy  children  ;  and  shalt 
talk  of  them  when  thou  sittest  in 
thine  house,  and  when  thou  walk- 
est  by  the  way,  and  when  thou 
liest  down,  and  when  thou  risest 
up.  Ver.  8.  And  thou  shalt  bind 
them  for  a  sign  upon  thine  hand, 
and  they  shall  be  as  frontlets  be- 
tween thine  eyes.  Ver.  9.  And  thou 
shalt  write  them  upon  the  posts  of 
thy  house,  and  on  thy  gates.  Gen. 
xviii.  17.  And  the  Lord  said,  Shall 
I  hide  from  Abraham  that  thing 
which  I  do?  Ver.  19.  For  I  know 
him,  that  he  will  command  his 
children  and  his  household  after 
him,  and  they  shall  keep  the  way 
of  the  Lord. — Psal.  lxxviii.  5. 
For  he  established  a  testimony  in 
Jacob,  and  appointed  a  law  in 
Israel,  which  he  commanded  our 
fathers,  that  they  should  make 
them  kncwn  to  their  children; 
Ver.  6.  That  the  generation  to 
come  might  know  them,  even  the 
children  which  should  be  born, 
who  should  arise  and  declare 
them  to  their  children :  Ver.  7. 
That  they  might  set  their  hope 
in  God,  and  not  forget  the  works 
of  God,  but  keep  his  command- 
ments. 

7  1  Cor.  xiv.  6.  Now,  brethren, 
if  I  come  unto  you  speaking  with 
tongues,  what  shall  I  profit  you, 
except  I  shall  speak  to  you  either 
by  revelation,  or  by  knowledge, 
or  by  prophesying,  or  by  doctrine? 
Ver.  9.  So  likewise  ye,  except  ve 
30 


350 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


are  the  very  word  of  God/  and  that  he  only  can  enable  us 
to  understand  them;b  with  desire  to  know,  believe,  and  obey 
the  will  of  God  revealed  in  them;0  with  diligence,"1  and  at- 


until  mid-day,  before  the  men  and 
the  women,  and  those  that  could 
understand;  and  the  ears  of  all 
the  people  were  attentive  unto  the 
book  of  the  law.  Ver.  4.  And  Ezra 
the  scribe  stood  upon  a  pulpit  of 
wood,  which  they  had  made  for 
the  purpose; — Ver.  5.  And  Ezra 
opened  the  book  in  the  sight  of  all 
the  people ;  (for  he  was  above  all 
the  people;)  and  when  he  opened 
it,  all  the  people  stood  up:  Ver.  6. 
And  Ezra  blessed  the  Lord,  the 
great  God.  And  all  the  people  an- 
swered, Amen,  amen,  with  lifting 
up  their  hands:  and  they  bowed 
their  heads,  and  worshipped  the 
Lord  with  their  faces  to  the  ground, 
4*c,  to  Verse  10.  Exod.  xxiv.  7. 
And  he  (Moses)  took  the  book  of 
the  covenant,  and  read  in  the  au- 
dience of  the  people:  and  they  said, 
All  that  the  Lord  hath  said,  will 
we  do,  and  be  obedient.  2  Chron. 
xxxiv.  27.  Because  thine  heart 
was  tender,  and  thou  didst  humble 
thyself  before  God,  when  thou 
heardest  his  words  against  this 
place,  and  against  the  inhabitants 
thereof,  and  humbledst  thyself  be- 
fore me,  and  didst  rend  thy  clothes, 
and  weep  before  me;  I  have  even 
heard  thee  also,  saith  the  Lord. 
Isa.  lxvi.  2. — But  to  this  man  will 
I  look,  even  to  him  that  is  poor, 
and  of  a  contrite  spirit,  and  trem- 
bleth  at  my  word. 

a  2  Pet.  i.  19.  We  have  also  a 
more  sure  word  of  prophecy; 
•whereunto  ye  do  well  that  ye  take 
heed,  as  unto  a  light  that  shineth 
in  a  dark  place,  until  the  day 
dawn,  and  the  day-star  arise  in 
your  hearts.  Ver.  20.  Knowing  this 


first,  that  no  prophecy  of  the  scrip- 
ture is  of  any  private  interpreta- 
tion. Ver.  21.  For  the  prophecy 
came  not  in  old  time  by  the  will 
of  man;  but  holy  men  of  God 
spake  as  they  were  moved  by  the 
Holy  Ghost. 

b  Luke  xxiv.  45.  Then  opened 
he  their  understanding,  that  they 
might  understand  the  scriptures. 
2  Cor.  iii.  13.  And  not  as  Moses, 
which  put  a  vail  over  his  face, 
that  the  children  of  Israel  could 
not  steadfastly  look  to  the  end  of 
that  which  is  abolished.  Ver.  14. 
But  their  minds  were  blinded:  for 
until  this  day  remaineth  the  same 
vail  untaken  away  in  the  reading 
of  the  old  testament;  which  vail 
is  done  away  in  Christ.  Ver.  15. 
But  even  unto  this  day,  when  Mo- 
ses is  read,  the  vail  is  upon  their 
heart.  Ver.  16.  Nevertheless, 
when  it  shall  turn  to  the  Lord,  the 
vail  shall  be  taken  away. 

c  Deut.  xvii.  19.  And  it  shall  be 
with  him,  and  he  shall  read  there- 
in all  the  days  of  his  life;  that  he 
may  learn  to  fear  the  Lord  his 
God,  to  keep  all  the  words  of  this 
law,  and  these  statutes,  to  do  them  : 
Ver.  20.  That  his  heart  be  not 
lifted  up  above  his  brethren,  and 
that  he  turn  not  aside  from  the 
commandment  to  the  right  hand 
or  to  the  left;  to  the  end  that  he 
may  prolong  his  days. 

d  Acts  xvii.  11.  These  (Bereans) 
were  more  noble  than  those  in 
Thessalonica,  in  that  they  received 
the  word  with  all  readiness  of 
mind,  and  searched  the  scriptures 
daily,  whether  those  things  were 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


m 


tention  to  the  matter  and  scope  of  them;6  with  meditation/ 
application,8  self-denial,h  and  prayer.1 

Q,.    158.  By  whom  is  the  word  of  God  to  be  preached? 

A.  The  word  of  God  is  to  be  preached  only  by  such  as 
are  sufficiently  gifted,k  and  also  duly  approved  and  called 
to  that  office.1 


e  Acts  viiL  30.  And  Philip  ran 
thither  to  him,  and  heard  him 
read  the  prophet  Esaias,  and  said, 
Understandest  thou  what  thou 
readest!  Ver.  34.  And  the  eunuch 
answered  Philip,  and  said,  I  pray 
thee,  of  whom  speaketh  the  pro- 
phet this!  of  himself,  or  of  some 
other  man!  Luke  x.  26.  He  said 
unto  him,  What  is  written  in  the 
law!  how  readest  thou?  Ver.  27. 
And  he  answering-,  said,  Thou 
shalt  love  the  Lord  thy  God  with 
all  thy  heart,  and  with  all  thy 
soul,  and  with  all  thy  strength, 
and  with  all  thy  mind ;  and  thy 
neighbour  as  thyself.  Ver.  28.  And 
he  said  unto  him,  Thou  hast  an- 
swered right:  this  do,  and  thou 
shalt  live. 

f  Psal.  i.  2.  But  his  delight  is  in 
the  law  of  the  Lord,  and  in  his  law 
doth  he  meditate  day  and  night. 
Psal.  cxix.  97.  O  how  love  I  thy 
law  !  it  is  my  meditation  all  the  day. 

5  2  Chron.  xxxiv.  21.  Go,  in- 
quire of  the  Lord  for  me,  and  for 
them  that  are  left  in  Israel,  and 
in  Judah,  concerning  the  words  of 
the  book  that  is  found;  for  great 
is  the  wrath  of  the  Lord  that  is 
poured  out  upon  us,  because  our 
fathers  have  not  kept  the  word  of 
the  Lord,  to  do  after  all  that  is 
written  in  this  book. 

b  Prov.  iii.  5.  Trust  in  the  Lord 
with  all  thine  heart;  and  lean 
not  unto  thine  own  understand- 
ing. Deut.  xxxiii.  3.  Yea,  he 
loved  the  people;  all  his  saints 
are   in   thy   hand :  and   they    sat 


down  at  thy  feet;  every  one  shall 
receive  of  thy  words. 

1  Prov.  ii.  1.  My  son,  if  thou 
wilt  receive  my  words,  and  hide 
my  commandments  with  thee ;  Ver. 
2.  So  that  thou  incline  thine  ear 
unto  wisdom,  and  apply  thine 
heart  to  understanding:  Ver.  3. 
Yea,  if  thou  criest  after  knowledge, 
and  ltftest  up  thy  voice  for  under- 
standing: Ver.  4.  If  thou  seekest 
her  as  silver,  and  searchest  for 
her  as  for  hid  treasures :  Ver.  5. 
Then  shalt  thou  understand  the 
fear  of  the  Lord,  and  find  the 
knowledge  of  God.  Ver.  6.  For 
the  Lord  giveth  wisdom ;  out  of 
his  mouth  cometh  knowledge  and 
understanding.  Psal.  cxix.  18. 
Open  thou  mine  eyes,  that  I  may 
behold  wondrous  things  out  of  thy 
law.  Neh.  viii.  6.  And  Ezra 
blessed  the  Lord,  the  great  God. 
And  all  the  people  answered,  Amen, 
amen,  with  lifting  up  their  hands: 
and  they  bowed  their  heads,  and 
worshipped  the  Lord  with  their 
faces  to  the  ground.  Ver.  8.  So 
they  read  in  the  book,  in  the  law  of 
God  distinctly. — 

158.  k  1  Tim.  iii.  2.  A  bishop 
then  must  be  blameless,  the  hus- 
band of  one  wife,  vigilant,  sober, 
of  good  behaviour,  given  to  hos- 
pitality, apt  to  teach;  Ver.  6.  Not 
a  novice,  lest,  being  lifted  up  with 
pride,  he  fall  into  the  condemna- 
tion of  the  devil.  Eph.  iv.  8. 
Wherefore  he  saith,  When  he 
ascended  up  on  high,  he  led  cap- 
tivity captive,  and  gave  gifts  unto 


152 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


Q.  159.  How  is  the  word  of  God  to  be  preached  by  those 
that  are  called  thereunto  ? 

J2.  They  that  are  called  to  labour  in  the  ministry  of  the 
word,  are  to  preach  sound  doctrine,1"  diligently,"  in  season  and 
out  of  season;0  plainly,*  not  in  the  enticing  words  of  man's 
wisdom,  but  in  demonstration  of  the  Spirit,  and  of  power  ;q 


men.  Ver.  9.  (Now  that  he  as- 
cended, what  is  it  but  that  he 
also  descended  first  into  the  lower 
parts  of  the  earth  1  Ver.  10.  He 
that  descended  is  the  same  also 
that  ascended  up  far  above  all 
heavens,  that  he  might  fill  all 
things.)  Ver.  11.  And  he  gave 
some,  apostles;  and  some,,  pro- 
phets; and  some,  evangelists;  and 
some,  pastors  and  teachers.  Hosea 
iv.  6.  My  people  are  destroyed 
for  lack  of  knowledge :  because 
thou  hast  rejected  knowledge,  I 
will  also  reject  thee,  that  thou 
shalt  be  no  priest  to  me;  see- 
ing thou  hast  forgotten  the  law 
of  thy  God,  I  will  also  forget  thy 
children.  Mai.  ii.  7.  For  the 
priest's  lips  should  keep  know- 
ledge, and  they  should  seek  the 
law  at  his  mouth:  for  he  is  the 
messenger  of  the  Lord  of  hosts. 
2  Cor.  iii.  6.  Who  also  hath  made 
us  able  ministers  of  the  new  testa- 
ment; not  of  the  letter,  but  of 
the  spirit:  for  the  letter  killeth, 
but  the  spirit  giveth  life. 

1  Jer.  xiv.  15.  Therefore  thus 
saith  the  Lord,  concerning  the 
prophets  that  prophesy  in  my 
name,  and  I  sent  them  not, — 
Rom.  x.  15.  And  how  shall  they 
preach,  except  they  be  sent? — 
Heb.  v.  4.  And  no  man  taketh 
this  honour  unto  himself,  but 
he  that  is  called  of  God,  as  was 
Aaron.  1  Cor.  xii.  28.  And  God 
hath  set  some  in  the  church; 
first,  apostles;  secondarily,  pro- 
phets; thirdly,  teachers;  after  that 


miracles;  then  gifts  of  healings, 
helps,  governments,  diversities  of 
tongues.  Ver.  29.  Are  all  apostles? 
are  all  prophets?  are  all  teach- 
ers? are  all  workers  of  miracles? 
1  Tim.  iii.  10.  And  let  these  also 
first  be  proved ;  then  let  them  use 
the  office  of  a  deacon,  being  found 
blameless.  1  Tim.  iv.  14.  Neglect 
not  the  gift  that  is  in  thee,  which 
was  given  thee  by  prophecy,  with 
the  laying  on  of  the  hands  of  the 
presbytery.  1  Tim.  v.  22.  Lay 
hands  suddenly  on  no  man ;  nei- 
ther be  partaker  of  other  men's 
sins:  keep  thyself  pure. 

159.  m  Tit.  ii.  1.  But  speak  thou 
the  things  which  become  sound 
doctrine.  Ver.  8.  Sound  speech 
that  cannot  be  condemned ;  that 
he  that  is  of  the  contrary  part  may 
be  ashamed,  having  no  evil  thing 
to  say  of  you. 

n  Acts  xviii.  25.  This  man  was 
instructed  in  the  way  of  the  Lord; 
and,  being  fervent  in  the  spirit, 
he  spake  and  taught  diligently 
the  things  of  the  Lord. — 

0  2  Tim.  iv.  2.  Preach  the  word, 
be  instant  in  season,  out  of  season; 
reprove,  rebuke,  exhort,  with  all 
long-suffering  and  doctrine. 

p  1  Cor.  xiv.  19.  Yet  in  the 
church  I  had  rather  speak  five 
words  with  my  understanding, 
that  by  my  voice  I  might  teach 
others  also,  than  ten  thousand 
words  in  an  unknown  tongue. 

i  1  Cor.  ii.  4.  And  my  speech, 
and  my  preaching,  was  not  with 
enticing  words  of  man's  wisdom, 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


ODO 


faithfully/  making  known  the  whole  counsel  of  God ; s 
wisely,1  applying  themselves  to  the  necessities  and  ca- 
pacities of  the  hearers : T  zealously,"  with  fervent  love  to 
God1    and   the  souls  of  his  people  ;y   sincerely,2   aiming 


but  in  demonstration  of  the  Spirit, 
and  of  power. 

r  Jer.  xxiii.  25.  The  prophet 
that  hath  a  dream,  let  him  tell  a 
dream;  and  he  that  hath  my 
word,  let  him  speak  my  word 
faithfully :  what  is  the  chatf  to  the 
wheat!  saith  the  Lord.  1  Cor. 
iv.  1.  Let  a  man  so  account  of  us 
as  of  the  ministers  of  Christ,  and 
stewards  of  the  mysteries  of  God. 
Ver.  2.  Moreover,  it  is  required  in 
stewards  that  a  man  be  found 
faithful. 

*  Acts  xx.  27.  For  I  have  not 
shunned  to  declare  unto  you  all 
the  counsel  of  God. 

1  Col.  i.  25.  Whom  we  preach, 
warning  every  man,  and  teach- 
ing every  man  in  all  wisdom; 
that  we  may  present  every  man 
perfect  in  Christ  Jesus.  2  Tim. 
ii.  15.  Study  to  show  thyself  ap- 
proved unto  God,  a  workman  that 
needeth  not  to  be  ashamed,  rightly 
dividing  the  word  of  truth. 

T  1  Cor.  iii.  2.  I  have  fed  you 
with  milk,  and  not  with  meat: 
for  hitherto  ye  were  not  able  to 
bear  it,  neither  yet  now  are  ye 
able.  Heb.  v.  12.  For  when  for 
the  time  ye  ought  to  be  teachers, 
ye  have  need  that  one  teach  you 
again  which  be  the  first  principles 
of  the  oracles  of  God ;  and  are 
become  such  as  have  need  of  milk, 
and  not  of  strong  meat.  Ver.  13. 
For  every  one  that  useth  m;lk  is 
unskilful  in  the  word  of  righteous- 
ness: for  he  is  a  babe.  Ver.  14.  But 
strong  meat  belongeth  to  them 
that  are  of  full  age,  even  those 
who  by  reason  of  use  have  their 


senses  exercised  to  discern  both 
good  and  evil.  Luke  xii.  42.  And 
the  Lord  said,  Who  then  is  that 
faithful  and  wise  steward,  whom 
his  lord  shall  make  ruler  over  his 
household,  to  give  them  their  por- 
tion of  meat  in  due  season  ! 

w   Acts    xviii.    25.    This    man 

was  instructed  in  the  way  of  the 

Lord ;   and,  being   fervent   in  the 

spirit,  he  spake   and    taught   dili- 

tlie  things  of  the  Lord. — 

x  2*  Cor.  v.  13.  For  whether  we 
be  beside  ourselves,  it  is  to  God; 
or  whether  we  be  sober,  it  is  for 
vour  cause.  Ver.  14.  For  the  love 
of  Christ  constraineth  us,  because 
we  thus  judge,  that  if  one  died 
for  all,  then  were  all  dead.  Phil. 
i.  15.  Some  indeed  preach  Christ 
even  of  envy  and  strife;  and  some 
also  of  good- will :  Ver.  16.  The  one 
preach  Christ  of  contention,  not 
sincerely,  supposing  to  add  af- 
fliction to  my  bonds :  Ver.  17.  But 
the  other  of  love,  knowing  that 
I  am  set  for  the  defence  of  the 
gospel. 

»  Col.  iv.  12.  Epaphras,  who  is 
one  of  you,  a  servant  of  Christ, 
saluteth  you,  always  labouring 
fervently  for  you  in  prayers,  that 
ye  may  stand  perfect  and  complete 
in  all  the  will  of  God.  2  Cor.  xii. 
15.  And  I  will  very  gladly  spend 
and  be  spent  for  you  ;  though  the 
more  abundantly  1  love  you,  the 
less  I  be  loved. 

1  2  Cor.  ii.  17.  For  we  are  not 
as  many,  which  corrupt  the  word 
of  God:  but  as  of  sincerity,  but 
as  of  God,  in  the  sight  of  God 
speak  we  in  Christ,     2  Cor.  iv.  2. 


354 


The  Larger  Catechism, 


at  his  glory,*  and  their  conversiorj,b  edification,0  and  sal- 
vation.d 

Q.  160.  What  is  required  of  those  that  hear  the  word 
preached? 

A.  It  is  required  of  those  that  hear  the  word  preached, 
that  they  attend  upon  it  with  diligence,6  preparation/  and 


But  have  renounced  the  hidden 
things  of  dishonesty,  not  walking 
in  craftiness,  not  handling  the  word 
q£  God  deceitfully,  but,  by  mani- 
festation of  the  truth,  commending 
ourselves  to  every  man's  con- 
science in  the  sight  of  God. 

a  1  Thess.  ii.  4.  But  as  we  were 
allowed  of  God  to  be  put  in  trust 
with  the  gospel,  even  so  we  speak, 
not  as  pleasing  men,  but  God, 
which  trieth  our  hearts.  Ver.  5. 
For  neither  at  any  time  used  we 
flattering  words,  as  ye  know,  nor 
a  cloak  of  covetousness:  God  is 
witness.  Ver.  6.  Nor  of  men  sought 
we  glory,  neither  of  you,  nor  yet 
of  others,  when  we  might  have 
been  burdensome,  as  the  apostles 
of  Christ.  John  vii.  18.  He  that 
speaketh  of  himself  seeketh  his 
own  glory:  but  he  that  seeketh 
his  glory  that  sent  him,  the  same 
is  true,  and  no  unrighteousness  is 
in  him. 

b  1  Cor.  ix.  19.  For  though  I  be 
free  from  all  men,  yet  have  f  made 
myself  servant  unto  all,  that  I 
might  gain  the  more.  Ver.  20.  And 
unto  the  Jews  I  became  as  a  Jew, 
that  I  might  gain  the  Jews:  to  them 
that  are  under  the  law,  as  under 
the  law,  that  I  might  gain  them 
that  are  under  the  law;  Ver.  21. 
To  them  that  are  without  law,  as 
without  law,  (being  not  without  law 
to  God,  but  under  the  law  to  Christ,) 
that  I  might  gain  them  that  are 
without  law.  Ver.  22.  To  the  weak 
became  I  as  weak,  that  I   might 


gain  the  weak:  I  am  made  all 
things  to  all  men,  that  I  might  by 
all  means  save  some. 

c  2  Cor.  xii.  19.  Again,  think  ye 
that  we  excuse  ourselves  unto  you  1 
we  speak  before  God  in  Christ:  but 
we  do  all  things,  dearly  beloved, 
for  your  edifying.  Eph.  iv.  12. 
For  the  perfecting  of  the  saints, 
for  the  work  of  the  ministry, 
for  the  edifying  of  the  body  of 
Christ. 

d  1  Tim.  iv.  16.  Take  heed  unto 
thyself,  and  unto  the  doctrine;  con- 
tinue in  them:  for  in  doing  this 
thou  shalt  both  save  thyself  and 
them  that  hear  thee.  Acts  xxvi. 
16.  But  rise,  and  stand  upon  thy 
feet:  for  I  have  appeared  unto  thee 
for  this  purpose,  to  make  thee  a 
minister  and  a  witness  both  of  these 
things  which  thou  hast  seen,  and 
of  those  things  in  the  which  I  will 
appear  unto  thee;  Ver.  17.  Deli- 
vering thee  from  the  people,  and 
from  the  Gentiles,  unto  whom  now 
I  send  thee,  Ver.  18.  To  open  their 
eyes,  and  to  turn  them  from  dark- 
ness to  light,  and  from  the  power 
of  Satan  unto  God,  that  they  may 
receive  forgiveness  of  sins,  and  in- 
heritance among  them  which  are 
sanctified  by  faith  that  is  in  me. 

160.  e  Prov.  viii.  34.  Blessed  is 
the  man  that  heareth  me,  watch- 
ing daily  at  my  gates,  waiting  at 
the  posts  of  my  doors. 

f  1  Pet.  ii.  1.  Wherefore,  lay- 
ing aside  all  malice,  and  all  guile, 
and  hypocrisies,  and    envies,  and 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


355 


prayer;8  examine  what  they  hear  by  the  scriptures ;  h  re- 
ceive the  truth  with  faith,1  love,k  meekness,1  and  readiness 
of  mind,m  as  the  word  of  God : n  meditate,0  and  confer  of 
it ;  p  hide  it  in  their  hearts/1  and  bring  forth  the  fruit  of  it  in 
their  lives/ 

all  evil-speakings,  Ver.  2.  As  new- 
born babes,  desire  the  sincere  milk 
of  the  word,  that  ye  may  grow 
thereby.  Luke  viii.  IS.  Take 
heed  therefore  how  ye  hear:  for 
whosoever  hath,  to  him  shall  be 
given ;  and  whosoever  hath  not, 
from  him  shall  be  taken  even  that 
which  he  seemeth  to  have. 

■  PaaL  cxix.  IS.  Open  thou 
mine  eyes,  that  I  may  behold 
wondrous  things  out  of  thy  law. 
Eph.  vi.  18.  Praying  always  with 
all  prayer  and  supplication  in 
the  Spirit,  and  watching  there- 
unto with  all  perseverance,  and 
supplication  for  ali  saints;  Ver.  19. 
And  for  me,  that  utterance  may 
be  given  unto  me,  that  I  may 
open  my  mouth  bohliy,  to  make 
known  the  mystery  of  the  gospel. 

h  Acts  xv'ii.  11.  These  were 
more  noble  than  those  in  Thessa- 
lonica,  in  that  they  received  the 
word  with  all  readiness  of  mind, 
and  searched  the  scr  ptures  daily, 
whether  those  things  were  so. 

1  Heb.  iv.  2.  For  unto  us  was 
the  gospel  preached  as  well  as 
unto  them :  but  the  word  preach- 
ed did  not  profit  them,  not  be- 
ing mixed  with  faitli  in  them  that 
heard  it. 

k  2  Thess.  ii.  10.  And  with 
all  deceivableness  of  unrighteous- 
ness in  them  that  perish:  because 
they  received  not  the  love  of  the 
truth,  that  they  might  be  saved. 

1  James  i.  21.  Wherefore,  lay 
apart  all  filthiness,  and  superfluity 
of  naughtiness,  and  receive  with 
meekness  the  ingrafted  word, 
which  is  able  to  save  your  souls. 


m  Acts  xvii.  11.  These  were 
more  noble  than  those  in  Thessa- 
lonica,  in  that  they  received  the 
word  with  all  readiness  of  mind, 
and  searched  the  scriptures  daily, 
whether  tho^e  things  were  so. 

n  1  Tness.  ii.  13.  For  this  cause 
also  thank  we  God  without  ceasing, 
because  when  ye  received  the  word 
of  God  which  ye  heard  of  us,  ye  re- 
ceived it  not  as  the  word  of  men, 
but  (as  it  is  in  truth)  the  word  of 
God,  which  effectually  worketh 
also  in  you  that  believe. 

0  Luke  ix.  44.  Let  these  sayings 
sink  down  in  your  ears:  for  the 
Son  of  man  shall  be  delivered  into 
the  hands  of  men.  *  Heb.  ii.  1. 
Therefore  we  ought  to  give  the 
more  earnest  heed  to  the  things 
which  we  have  heard,  lest  at  any 
time  we  should  let  them  slip. 

p  Luke  xx iv.  14.  And  they  talked 
together  of  all  these  things  which 
had  happened.  Deut.  vi.  6.  And 
these  words,  which  I  command 
thee  this  day,  shall  be  in  thine 
heart.  Ver.  7.  And  thou  shalt 
teach  them  diligently  unto  thy 
children;  and  shalt  talk  of  them 
when  thou  sittest  in  thine  house, 
and  when  thou  walkest  by  the 
way,  and  when  thou  liest  down, 
and  when  thou  risest  up. 

*  Prov.  ii.  1.  My  son,  if  thou 
wilt  receive  my  words,  and  hide 
my  commandments  with  thee. 
Psal.  cxix.  11.  Thy  word  have 
I  hid  in  mine  heart,  that  I  might 
not  sin  against  thee. 

r  Luke  viii.  15.  But  that  on  the 
good  ground  are  they,  which,  in 
an  honest  and  good  heart,  having 


356 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


Q,.  161.  How  do  the  sacraments  become  effectual  means 
of  salvation  ? 

J2.  The  sacraments  become  effectual  means  of  salvation, 
not  by  any  power  in  themselves,  or  any  virtue  derived  from 
the  piety  or  intention  of  him  by  whom  they  are  adminis- 
tered, but  only  by  the  working  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  the 
blessing  of  Christ,  by  whom  they  are  instituted.3 

Q.  162.  What  is  a  sacrament  ? 

A.  A  sacrament  is  a  holy  ordinance  instituted  by  Christ 
in  his  church,1  to  signify,  seal,  and  exhibit v  unto  those  that 

heard  the  word,  keep  it,  and  bring 
forth  fruit  with  patience.  James 
i.  25.  But  whoso  looketh  into  the 
perfect  law  of  liberty,  and  con- 
tinueth  therein,  he  being  not  a 
forgetful  hearer,  but  a  doer  of  the 
work,  this  man  shall  be  blessed  in 
his  deed. 

161.  8  1  Pet.  iii.  21.  The  like 
figure  whereunto,  even  baptism, 
doth  also  now  save  us,  (not  the 
putting  away  of  the  filth  of  the 
flesh,  but  the  answer  of  a  good 
conscience  towards  God,)  by  the 
resurrection  of  Jesus  Christ.  Acts 
viii.  13.  Then  Simon  himself  be- 
lieved also:  and  when  he  was  bap- 
tized, he  continued  with  Fhilip,  and 
wondered,  beholding  the  miracles 
and  signs  which  were  done.  Com- 
pared with  Ver.  23.  For  I  perceive, 
(said  Peter  to  Simon,)  that  thou 
art  in  the  gall  of  bitterness,  and  in 
the  bond  of  iniquity.  1  Cor.  iii.  6. 
I  have  planted,  Apollos  watered ; 
but  God  gave  the  increase.  Ver.  7. 
So  then,  neither  is  he  that  plant- 
eth  any  thins",  neither  he  that 
watereth;  but  God  that  giveth  the 
increase.  1  Cor.  xii.  13.  For  by 
one  Spirit  are  we  all  baptized 
into  one  body,  whether  we  be 
Jews  or  Gentiles,  whether  we 
be  bond  or  free;  and  have  been 
all  made  to  drink  into  one 
Spirit. 


162.  »  Gen.  xvii.  7.  And  I  will 
establish  my  covenant  between  me 
and  thee,  and  thy  seed  after  thee, 
in  their  generations,  for  an  ever- 
lasting covenant;  to  be  a  God 
unto  thee,  and  to  thy  seed  after 
thee.  Ver.  10.  This  is  my  covenant, 
which  ye  shall  keep  between  me 
and  you,  and  thy  seed  after  thee; 
Every  man-child  among  you  shall 
be  circumcised.  Exod.  Chap.  xii. 
containing  the  institution  of  the 
passover.  *  Mat.  xxviii.  19.  Go  ye 
therefore,  and  teach  all  nations, 
baptizing  them  in  the  name  of  the 
Father,  and  of  the  Son,  and  of  the 
Holy  Ghost.  Matth.  xxvi.  26.  And, 
as  they  were  eating,  Jesus  took 
bread,  and  blessed  it,  and  brake  it, 
and  gave  it  to  the  disciples,  and 
said,  Take,  eat;  this  is  my  body. 
Ver.  27.  And  he  took  the  cup,  and 
gave  thanks,  and  gave  it  to  them, 
saying,  Drink  ye  all  of  it:  Ver.  28. 
For  this  is  my  blood  of  the  new 
testament,  which  is  shed  for  many, 
for  the  remission  of  sins. 

T  Rom.  iv.  11.  And  he  received 
the  sign  of  circumcision,  a  seal 
of  the  righteousness  of  the  faith 
which  he  had  yet  being  uncir- 
cumcised;  that  he  might  be  the 
father  of  all  them  that  believe, 
though  they  be  not  circumcised ; 
that  righteousness  might  be  im- 
puted  unto    them    also.      1  Cor. 


The  Larger  Catechism, 


357 


are  within  the  covenant  of  grace,"  the  benefits  of  his  media- 
tion;1 to  strengthen  and  increase  their  faith,  and  all  other 
graces ; y  to  oblige  them  to  obedience ; z  to  testify  and 
cherish  their  love  and  communion  one  with  another ; a  and 
to  distinguish  them  from  those  that  are  without.b 

Q,.    1G3.    What  are  the  parts  of  a  sacrament? 

A.  The  parts  of  a  sacrament  are  two ;  the  one  an  out- 
ward and  sensible  sign,  used  according  to  Christ's  own  ap- 


xi.  24.  And,  when  he  had  given 
thanks,  he  brake  it,  and  said, 
Take,  eat;  this  is  my  body, 
which  is  broken  for  you:  this  do 
in  remembrance  of  me.  Ver.  25. 
After  the  same  manner  also  he  took 
the  cup,  when  he  had  supped,  say- 
ing1, This  cup  is  the  new  testament 
in  my  blood:  this  do  ye,  as  oft  as 
ye  drink  it,  in  remembrance  of 
me. 

w  Rom.  xv.  6.  Now  I  say,  that 
Jesus  Christ  was  a  minister  of  the 
circumcision  for  the  truth  of  God, 
to  confirm  the  promises  made 
unto  the  fathers.  Exod.  xii.  48. 
And  when  a  stranger  shall  so- 
journ with  thee,  and  will  keep 
the  passover  to  the  Lord,  let  all 
his  males  be  circumcised,  and 
then  let  him  come  near  and  keep 
it;  and  he  shall  be  as  one  that 
is  born  in  the  land:  for  no  uncir- 
cumcised  person  shall  eat  there- 
of. 

x  Acts  ii.  38.  Then  Peter  said 
unto  them,  Repent,  and  be  bap- 
tized every  one  of  you  in  the 
name  of  Jesus  Christ  "for  the  re- 
mission of  sins,  and  ve  shall  re- 
ceive the  gift  of  the  Holy  Ghost 
1  Cor.  x.  16.  The  cup  of  blessing 
which  we  bless,  is  it  not  the  com° 
rnunion  of  the  blood  of  Christ?  the 
bread  which  we  break,  is  it  not 
the  communion  of  the  body  of 
Christ] 

7  Rom.  iv.  11.  [See  in  v  above.] 
Gal.  iii.  27.  For  as  many  of  you  as 


have  been  baptized  into  Christ 
have  put  on  Christ. 

z  Rom.  vi.  3.  Know  ye  not, 
that  so  many  of  us  as  were 
baptized  into  Jesus  Christ  were 
baptized  into  his  death  ]  Ver.  4. 
Therefore  we  are  buried  with 
him  by  baptism  into  death ;  that 
like  as  Christ  was  raised  up  from 
the  dead  by  the  glory  of  the 
Father,  even  so  we  also  should 
walk  in  newness  of  life.  1  Cor* 
x.  21.  Ye  cannot  drink  the  cup  of 
the  Lord  and  the  cup  of  devils; 
ye  cannot  be  partakers  of  the 
Lord's  table  and  of  the  table  of 
devils. 

*  Eph.  iv.  2.  With  all  lowliness 
and  meekness,  with  long-suffer- 
ing, forbearing  one  another  in 
love ;  Ver.  3.  Endeavouring  to 
keep  the  unity  of  the  Spirit  in  the 
bond  of  peace.  Ver.  4.  There  is 
one  body  and  one  Spirit,  even 
as  ye  are  called  in  one  hope  of 
your  calling;  Ver.  5.  One  Lord, 
one  faith,  one  baptism.  1  Cor. 
xii.  13.  For  by  one  Spirit  are  we 
all  baptized  into  one  body,  whe- 
ther we  be  Jews  or  Gentiles,  whe- 
ther we  be  bond  or  free  ;  and  have 
been  all  made  to  drink  into  one 
Spirit. 

b  Eph.  ii.  11.  Wherefore  re- 
member that  ye  being  in  time 
past  Gentiles  in  the  flesh,  who 
are  called  uncircumcision  by  that 
which  is  called  the  circumcision 
in  the  flesh  made  by  hands ;  that 


358 


The  Larger  Catechism, 


pointment ;  the  other  an  inward  and  spiritual  grace  thereby 
signified.0 

Q,.  164.  How  many  sacraments  hath  Christ  i?istituted  in  his 
church  under  the  New  Testament  ? 

Ji.  Under  the  New  Testament  Christ  hath  instituted  in 
his  church  only  two  sacraments,  baptism  and  the  Lord's 
supper.d 

Q,.    165.    What  is  baptism? 

A.  Baptism  is  a  sacrament  of  the  New  Testament,  where- 
in Christ  hath  ordained  the  washing  with  water  in  the  name 
of  the  Father,  and  of  the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost,e  to 
be  a  sign  and  seal  of  ingrafting  into  himself/  of  remission 
of  sins  by  his  blood,8  and  regeneration  by  his  Spirit  ;h  of 


at  that  time  ye  were  without  Christ, 
being  aliens  from  the  common- 
wealth of  Israel,  and  strangers 
from  the  covenants  of  promise, 
having-  no  hope,  and  without  God 
in  the  world.  Gen.  xxxiv.  14. 
And  they  snid  unto  them,  We 
cannot  do  this  thing,  to  give  our 
sister  to  one  that,  is  uncircumcised  : 
for  that  were  a  reproach  unto  us. 

163.  c  Mat.  iii.  11.  I  indeed 
baptize  you  with  water  unto  re- 
pentance ;  but  he  that  cometh  after 
me  is  mightier  than  I,  whose 
Bhoes  1  am  not  worthy  to  bear :  he 
shall  baptize  you  with  the  Holy 
Ghost,  and  with  fire.  1  Pot.  iii. 
21.  The  like  figure  whcreunto, 
even  baptism,  doth  also  now  save 
us  (not  the  putting  away  of  the 
filth  of  the  flesh,  but  t lie  answer  of 
a  good  conscience  towards  God)  by 
the  resurrection  of  Jesus  Christ. 
Rom.  ii.  28.  For  he  is  not  a  Jew 
which  is  one  outwardly :  neither  is 
that  circumcision  which  is  outward 
in  the  flesh :  Vcr.  29.  But  he  is  a 
Jew  which  isone  inwardly;  and  cir- 
cumcision is  thatof  the  heart,  in  the 
spirit,  and  not  in  the  letter;  whose 
praise  is  not  of  men,  but  of  God. 

d  164.  Matth.  xxviii.  19.  Go  ye 


therefore,  and  teach  all  nations, 
baptizing  them  in  the  name  of  the 
Father,  and  of  the  Son,  and  of  the 
Holy  Ghost.  1  Cor.  xi.  20.  When 
ye  come  together  therefore  into 
one  place,  this  is  not  to  eat  the 
Lord's  supper.  Ver.  23.  For  I 
have  received  of  the  Lord  that 
which  also  I  delivered  unto  you, 
That  the  Lord  Jesus,  the  same 
night  in  which  he  was  betrayed, 
took  bread.  Mat.  xxvi.  26,  27,  28. 
[See  above  in  *.] 

165.  e  Mat.  xxviii.  19.  Go  ye 
therefore,  and  teach  all  nations, 
baptizing  them  in  the  name  of  the 
Father,  and  of  the  Son,  and  of  the 
Holy  Ghost. 

f  Gal.  iii.  27.  For  as  many  of  you 
as  have  been  baptized  into  Christ 
have  put  on  Christ. 

e  Mark  i.  4.  John  did  baptize  in 
the  wilderness,  and  preach  the  bap- 
tism of  repentance  for  the  remis- 
sion of  sins.  Rev.  i.  5.  Unto  him 
that  loved  us,  and  washed  us  from 
our  sins  in  his  own  blood. 

h  Tit.  iii.  5.  Not  by  works  of 
righteousness  which  we  have 
done,  but  according  to  his  mercy 
he  saved  us,  by  the  washing  of  re- 
generation, and   renewing  of  the 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


359 


adoption,1  and  resurrection  unto  everlasting  life ; k  and 
whereby  the  parties  baptized  are  solemnly  admitted  into  the 
visible  church,1  and  enter  into  an  open  and  professed  en- 
gagement to  be  wholly  and  only  the  Lord's.m 

Q.   J 665.   Unto  whom  is  baptism  to  be  administered! 

A.  Baptism  is  not  to  be  administered  to  any  that  are  out 
of  the  visible  church,  and  so  strangers  from  the  covenant 
of  promise,  till  they  profess  their  faith  in  Christ,  and  obe- 
dience to  him,n  but  infants  descended  from  parents,  either 
both  or  but  one  of  them  professing  faith  in  Christ,  and  obe- 
dience to  him,  are,  in  that  respect,  within  the  covenant,  and 
to  be  baptized.0 


Holy  Ghost.  Eph.  v.  26.  That  he 
might  sanctify  and  cleanse  it  with 
the  washing  of  water  by  the 
word. 

1  Gal.  iii.  26.  For  ye  are  all  the 
children  of  God  by  faith  in  Christ 
Jesus.  Ver.  27.  For  as  many  of 
you  as  have  been  baptized  into 
Christ,  have  put  on  Christ. 

k  1  Cor.  xv.  29.  Else  what  shall 
they  do  which  are  baptized  for 
the  dead,  if  the  dead  rise  not  at 
all  ]  why  are  they  then  baptized 
for  the  dead  1  Rom.  vi.  5.  For  if 
we  have  been  planted  together 
in  the  likeness  of  his  death,  we 
shall  be  also  in  the  likeness  of  his 
resurrection. 

1  1  Cor.  xii.  13.  For  by  one  Spi- 
rit are  we  all  baptized  into  one 
body,  whether  we  be  Jews  or 
Gentiles,  whether  we  be  bond  or 
free  ;  and  have  been  all  made  to 
drink  into  one  Spirit. 

m  Rom.  vi.  4.  Therefore  we  are 
buried  with  him  by  baptism  into 
death:  that,  like  as  Christ  was 
raised  up  from  the  dead  by  the 
glory  of  the  Father,  even  so  we 
a'so  should  walk  in  newness  of 
life. 

166.  n  Acts  viii.  36.  And  as  they 
went  on  their  way,  they  came  unto 
a  certain  water:   and  the  eunuch 


said,  See,  here  is  water ;  what  doth 
hinder  me  to  be  baptized]  Ver.  37. 
And  Philip  said,  If  thou  believest 
with  all  thine  heart,  thou  mayest. 
And  he  answered  and  said,  I  be- 
lieve that  Jesus  Christ  is  the  Son 
of  God.  Acts.  ii.  33.  Then  Peter 
said  unto  them,  Repent,  and  be 
baptized  every  one  of  you  in  the 
name  of  Jesus  Christ,  for  the  re- 
mission of  sins,  and  ye  shall  receive 
the  gift  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 

0  Gen.  xvii.  7.  And  I  will  esta- 
blish my  covenant  between  me 
and  thee,  and  thy  seed  after  thee, 
in  their  generations,  for  an  ever- 
lasting covenant,  to  be  a  God 
unto  thee,  and  to  thy  seed  af- 
ter thee.  Ver.  9.  And  God  said 
unto  Abraham,  Thou  shalt  keep 
my  covenant  therefore,  thou,  and 
thy  seed  after  thee,  in  their  gene- 
rations. Compared  with  Gal.  iii. 
9.  So  then  they  which  bo  of  faith 
are  blessed  with  faithful  Abraham. 
Ver.  14.  That  the  blessing  of  Abra- 
ham might  come  on  the  Gentiles 
through  Jesus  Christ;  that  we 
might  receive  the  promise  of  the 
Spirit  through  faith.  And  with 
Col.  ii.  11.  In  whom  also  ye  are 
circumcised  with  the  circumcision 
made  without  hands,  in  putting 
off  the  body  of  the   sins  of  the 


360 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


Q,.  167.  How  is  our  baptism  to  be  improved  by  us  ? 

A.  The  needful  but  much  neglected  duty  of  improving  our 
baptism,  is  to  be  performed  by  us  all  our  life  long,  especially 
in  the  time  of  temptation,  and  when  we  are  present  at  the 
administration  of  it  to  others  ;p  by  serious  and  thankful  con- 
sideration of  the  nature  of  it,  and  of  the  ends  for  which  Christ 
instituted  it,  the  privileges  and  benefits  conferred  and  sealed 
thereby,  and  our  solemn  vow  made  therein  ;q  by  being  hum- 


flesh  by  the  circumcision  of  Christ: 
Ver.  12.  Buried  with  him  in  bap- 
tism, wherein  also  ye  are  risen 
with  him  through  the  faith  of  the 
operation  of  God,  who  hath  raised 
him  from  the  dead.  And  with 
Acts  ii.  38.  Then  Peter  said  unto 
them,  Repent,  and  be  baptized 
every  one  of  you  in  the  name  of 
Jesus  Christ,  for  the  remission  of 
sins,  and  ye  shall  receive  the  gift 
of  the  Holy  Ghost.  Ver.  39.  For 
the  promise  is  unto  you,  and  to  your 
children,  and  to  all  that  are  afar 
off,  even  as  many  as  the  Lord 
our  God  shall  call.  And  with 
Rom.  iv.  11.  And  he  received  the 
sign  of  circumcision,  a  seal  of  the 
righteousness  of  the  faith  which 
he  had  yet  being  uncircumcised  : 
that  he  might  be  the  father  of  all 
them  that  believe,  though  they  be 
not  circumcised ;  that  righteous- 
ness might  be  imputed  unto  them 
also:  Ver.  12.  And  the  father  of 
circumcision  to  them  who  are  not 
of  the  circumcision  only,  but  also 
walk  in  the  steps  of  that  faith 
of  our  father  Abraham,  which 
he  had  being  yet  uncircumcised. 
1  Cor.  vii.  14.  For  the  unbelieving 
husband  is  sanctified  by  the  wife, 
and  the  unbelieving  wife  is  sancti- 
fied by  the  husband ;  else  were 
your  children  unclean,  but  now 
are  they  holy.  Mat.  xxviii.  19. 
Ge  ye  therefore,  and  teach  all 
nations,  baptizing  them  in  the 
name   of  the    Father,  and   of  the 


Son,  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  Luke 
xviii.  15.  And  they  brought  unto 
him  also  infants,  that  he  would 
touch  them ;  but  when  his  dis- 
ciples saw  it,  they  rebuked  them. 
Ver.  16.  But  Jesus  called  them  un- 
to him,  and  said,  Suffer  little  chil- 
dren to  come  unto  me,  and  forbid 
them  not:  for  of  such  is  the  king- 
dom of  God.  Rom.  xi.  16.  For  if 
the  first-fruit  be  holy,  the  lump 
is  also  holy :  and  if  the  root  be  holy, 
so  are  the  branches. 

167.  p  Col.  ii.  11.  In  whom  also 
ye  are  circumcised  with  the  cir- 
cumcision made  without  hands,  in 
putting  off  the  body  of  the  sins  of 
the  flesh  by  the  circumcision  of 
Christ:  Ver.  12.  Buried  with  him 
in  baptism;  wherein  also  ye  are 
risen  with  him,  through  the  faith 
of  the  operation  of  God,  who  hath 
raised  him  from  the  dead.  Rom. 
vi.  4.  Therefore  we  are  buried 
with  him  by  baptism  into  death; 
that  like  as  Christ  was  raised  up 
from  the  dead  by  the  glory  of  the 
Father,  even  so  we  also  should 
walk  in  newness  of  life.  Ver.  G. 
Knowing  this,  that  our  old  man  is 
crucified  with  him,  that  the  body 
of  sin  might  be  destroyed,  that 
henceforth  we  should  not  serve 
sin.  Ver.  11.  Likewise  reckon  ye 
also  yourselves  to  be  dead  indeed 
unto  sin,  but  alive  unto  God 
through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord. 

i  Rom.  vi.  8.  Know  ye  not,  that 
so  many  of  us   as  were   baptized 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


361 


bled  for  our  sinful  defilement,  our  falling  short  of,  and  walk- 
ing contrary  to,  the  grace  of  baptism,  and  our  engage- 
ments;' by  growing  up  to  assurance  of  pardon  of  sin,  and 
of  all  other  blessings  sealed  to  us  in  that  sacrament ; '  by 
drawing  strength  from  the  resurrection  and  death  of  Christ, 
into  whom  we  are  baptized,  for  the  mortifying  of  sin,  and 
quickening  of  grace;1  and  by  endeavouring  to  live  by 
faith,*  to  have  our  conversation  in  holiness  and  righteous- 
ness,'7 as  those  that  have  therein  given  up  their  names  to 
Christ;  x  and  to  walk  in  brotherly  love,  as  being  baptized 
by  the  same  Spirit  into  one  body.7 


into  Jesus  Christ  were  baptized 
into  his  death  ?  Ver.  4.  Therefore 
we  are  buried  with  him  in  bap- 
tism into  death;  that  like  as 
Christ  was  raised  up  from  the 
dead  by  the  glory  of  the  Father, 
even  so  we  also  should  walk  in 
newness  of  life.  Ver.  5.  For  if  we 
have  been  planted  together  in  the 
likeness  of  his  death,  we  shall  be 
also  in  the  likeness  of  his  resurrec- 
tion. 

■  1  Cor.  i.  11.  For  it  hath  been 
declared  unto  me  of  you,  my  bre- 
thren, by  them  which  are  of  the 
house  of  Chloe,  that  there  are  con- 
tentions among  you.  Ver.  12.  Now 
this  I  say,  that  every  one  of  you 
saith,  I  am  of  Paul,  and  I  of  Apol- 
los,  and  I  of  Cephas,  and  I  of 
Christ.  Ver.  13.  Is  Christ  divided  ! 
was  Paul  crucified  for  you  1  or 
were  ye  baptized  in  the  name  of 
Paul?  Rom.  vi.  2.  God  forbid: 
how  shall  we  that  are  dead  to  sin 
live  any  longer  therein.  Ver.  3. 
Know  ye  not,  that  so  many  of  us 
as  were  baptized  into  Jesus  Christ 
were  baptized  into  his  death. 

•  Rom.  iv.  11.  And  he  received 
the  sign  of  circumcision,  a  seal 
of  the  righteousness  of  the  faith 
which  he  had  yet  being  uncircum- 
cised;  that  he  might  be  the  father 
of  all  them  that  believe,  though 
31 


they  be  not  circumcised;  that 
righteousness  might  be  imputed 
unto  them  also:  Ver.  12.  And  the 
father  of  circumcision  to  them 
who  are  not  of  the  circumcision 
only,  but  also  walk  in  the  steps  of 
that  faith  of  our  father  Abraham, 
which  he  had  being  yet  uncir- 
cumcised.  1  Pet.  iii.  21.  The 
like  figure  whereunto,  even  bap- 
tism, doth  also  now  save  us  (not 
the  putting  away  of  the  filth  of  the 
flesh,  but  the  answer  of  a  good  con- 
science towards  God)  by  the  resur- 
rection of  Jesus  Christ. 

1  Rom.  vi.  3,  4,  5.  [See  above 
in*-] 

Y  Gal.  iii.  26.  For  ye  are  all  the 
children  of  God  by  faith  in  Christ 
Jesus.  Ver.  27.  For  as  many  of 
you  as  have  been  baptized  into 
Christ  have  put  on  Christ. 

w  Rom.  vi.  22.  But  now  being 
made  free  from  sin,  and  become 
servants  to  God,  ye  have  your 
fruit  unto  holiness,  and  the  end 
everlasting  life. 

*  Acts  ii.  38.  Then  Peter  said 
unto  them,  Repent,  and  be  baptized 
every  one  of  you  in  the  name  of 
Jesus  Christ,  for  the  remission  of 
sins,  and  ye  shall  receive  the  gift 
of  the  Holy  Ghost. 

»  1  Cor.  xii.  13.  For  by  one  Spi- 
rit are  we  all  baptized  into  one 
c 


362 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


Q.   168.   What  is  the  Lord's  supper? 

A.  The  Lord's  supper  is  a  sacrament  of  the  New  Tes- 
tament^ wherein,  by  giving  and  receiving  bread  and  wine 
according  to  the  appointment  of  Jesus  Christ,  his  death  is 
showed  forth;  and  they  that  worthily  communicate  feed 
upon  his  body  and  blood,  to  their  spiritual  nourishment  and 
growth  in  grace  ;a  have  their  union  and  communion  with  him 
confirmed ; b  testify  and  renew  their  thankfulness,0  and  en- 
gagement to  God,d  and  their  mutual  love  and  fellowship 
each  with  other,  as  members  of  the  same  mystical  body." 


body,  whether  we  be  Jews  or 
Gentiles,  whether  we  be  bond  or 
,free',  and  have  been  all  made  to 
drink  into  one  Spirit.  Ver.  25.  That 
there  should  be  no  schism  in  the 
body;  but  that  the  members  should 
have  the  same  care  one  of  ano- 
ther. Ver.  26.  And  whether  one 
member  suffer,  all  the  members 
suffer  with  it;  or  one  member  be 
honoured,  all  the  members  rejoice 
with  it.  Ver.  27.  Now  ye  are  the 
body  of  Christ,  and  members  in 
particular. 

168.  z  Luke  xxii.  20.  Likewise 
also  the  cup  after  supper,  saying, 
This  cup  is  the  new  testament  in 
my  blood  which  is  shed  for  you. 

a  Matth.  xxvi.  26.  And  as  they 
were  eating-,  Jesus  took  bread,  and 
blessed  it,  and  brake  it,  and  gave 
it  to  the  disciples,  and  said,  Take, 
eat;  this  is  my  body.  Ver.  27.  And 
he  took  the  cup,  and  gave  thanks, 
and  gave  it  to  them,  saying,  Drink 
ye  all  of  it :  Ver.  28.  For  this  is  my 
blood  of  the  new  testament,  which 
is  shed  for  many,  fur  the  remission 
of  sins.  1  Cor.  xi.  23.  For  I  have 
received  of  the  Lord  that  which 
also  I  delivered  unto  you,  That 
the  Lord  Jesus,  the  same  night 
in  which  he  was  betrayed,  took 
bread:  Ver.  24.  And  when  he  had 
<riven    thanks,   he   brake   it,   and 


said,  Take,  eat;  this  is  my  body, 
which  is  broken  for  you:  this  do 
in  remembrance  of  me.  Ver.  25. 
After  the  same  manner  also  he  took 
the  cup,  when  he  had  supped,  say- 
ing, This  cup  is  the  new  testament 
in  my  blood:  this  do  ye,  as  oft  as 
ye  drink  it,  in  remembrance  of  me. 
Ver.  26.  For  as  often  as  ye  eat  this 
bread,  and  drink  this  cup,  ye  do 
show  the  Lord's  death  till  he  come. 

b  1  Cor.x.  16.  The  cup  of  bless- 
ing which  we  bless,  is  it  not  the 
communion  of  the  blood  of  Christ? 
the  bread  which  we  break,  is  it  not 
the  communion  of  the  body  of 
Christ? 

c  1  Cor.  xi.  24.  [See  above  in  *.] 

d  1  Cor.  x.  14.  Wherefore,  rny 
dearly  beloved,  flee  from  idolatry. 
Ver.  12.  [  speak  as  to  wise  men; 
judge  ye  what  I  say.  Ver.  16.  The 
cup  of  blessing  which  we  bless,  is 
it  not  the  communion  of  the  blood 
of  Christ?  the  bread  which  we 
break,  is  it  not  the  communion  of 
the  body  of  Christ]  Ver.  21.  Ye 
cannot  drink  the  cup  of  the  Lord 
and  the  cup  of  devils:  ye  cannot  bo 
partakers  of  the  Lord's  table  and 
of  the  table  of  devils. 

e  1  Cor.  x.  17.  For  we,  being 
many,  are  one  bread  and  one 
body:  for  we  are  all  partakers  of 
that  one  bread. 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


36S 


Q,.  169.  How  hath  Christ  appointed  bread  and  wine  to  be 
given  and  received  in  the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  supper? 

A.  Christ  hath  appointed  the  ministers  of  his  word,  in  the 
administration  of  this  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  supper,  to 
set  apart  the  bread  and  wine  from  common  use,  by  the 
word  of  institution,  thanksgiving,  and  prayer;  to  take  and 
break  the  bread,  and  to  give  both  the  bread  and  the  wine 
to  the  communicants:  who  are,  by  the  same  appointment, 
to  take  and  eat  the  bread,  and  to  drink  the  wine,  in  thank- 
ful remembrance  that  the  body  of  Christ  was  broken  and 
given,  and  his  blood  shed,  for  them/ 

Q.  170.  Hozv  do  they  thai  worthily  communicate  in  the  Lord's 
supper  feed  upon  the  body  and  blood,  of  Christ  therein? 

A.  As  the  body  and  blood  of  Christ  are  not  corporally  or 
carnally  present  in,  with,  or  under  the  bread  and  wine  in  the 
Lord's  supper,8  and  yet  are  spiritually  present  to  the  faith  of 
the  receiver,  no  less  truly  and  really  than  the  elements  them- 
selves are  to  their  outward  senses  ;h  so  they  that  worthily 
communicate  in  the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  supper,  do  therein 
feed  upon  the  body  and  blood  of  Christ,  not  after  a  corporal 
and  carnal,  but  in  a  spiritual  manner;  yet  truly  and  really/ 


169.  T 1  Cor.  xi.  23,  24.  {See 
before  under9.]  Mat.  xxvi.  26, 
27,  23.  [See  before  at  \]  Mark 
xiv.  22.  And  as  they  did  eat,  Jesus 
took  bread,  and  blessed,  and  brake 
it,  and  gave  to  them,  and  said, 
Take,  eat:  tbis  is  my  body.  Ver.  23. 
And  he  took  the  cup ;  and,  when 
he  had  given  thanks,  he  gave  it  to 
them;  and  they  all  drank  of  it. 
Ver.  24.  And  he  said  unto  them, 
This  is  my  blood  of  the  new  tes- 
tament, which  is  shed  for  many. 
Luke  xxii,  19.  And  he  took  bread, 
and  gave  thanks,  and  brake  it, 
and  gave  unto  them,  saying,  This 
is  my  body,  which  is  given  for 
you :  this  do  in  remembrance  of 
me.  Ver.  20.  Likewise  also  the  cup 
after  supper,  saying,  This  cup  is 
the  new  testament  in  my  blood, 
which  is  shed  for  vou. 

170.  *Acts  iii.21,    Whom  the 


heaven  must  receive  until  the  times 
of  restitution  of  all  things,  which 
God  hath  spoken  by  the  mouth 
of  all  his  holy  prophets  since  the 
world  began. 

h  Mat.  xxvi.  26.  And  as  they 
were  eating,  Jesus  took  bread,  and 
blessed  it,  and  brake  it,  and  gave 
k  to  the  disciples,  and  said,  Take, 
eat :  this  is  my  body.  Ver.  28.  For 
this  is  my  blood  of  the  new  testa- 
ment, which  is  shed  for  many  for 
the  remission  of  sins. 

s  1  Cor.  xi.  24.  And,  when  he 
had  given  thanks,  he  brake  it, 
and  said,  Take,  eat;  this  is  my 
body,  which  is  broken  for  you: 
this  do  in  remembrance  of  me. 
Ver.  25.  After  the  same  manner 
also  he  took  the  cup,  when  he  had 
supped,  saying,  This  cup  is  the 
new  testament  in  my  blood :  this 
do  ye,  as  oft  as  ye  drink  it,  in  re- 


164 


The  Larger  Catechism, 


while  by  faith  they  receive  and  apply  unto  themselves 
Christ  crucified,  and  all  the  benefits  of  his  death.k 

Q.  171.  How  are  they  that  receive  the  sacrament  of  the 
Lord's  supper  to  prepare  themselves  before  they  come  unto  it  ? 

A.  They  that  receive  the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  supper 
are,  before  they  come,  to  prepare  themselves  thereunto,  by 
examining  themselves1  of  their  being  in  Christ,m  of  their 
sins  and  wants;11  of  the  truth  and  measure  of  their  know- 
ledge,0 faith,p  repentance  ;q  love  to  God  and  the  brethren/ 


membrance  of  me.  Ver.  26.  For  as 
often  as  ye  eat  this  bread,  and 
drink  this  cup,  ye  do  show  the 
Lord's  death  till  he  come.  Ver.  27. 
Wherefore,  whosoever  shall  eat 
this  bread,  and  drink  this  cup  of 
the  Lord,  unworthily,  shall  be 
guilty  of  the  body  and  blood  of  the 
Lord.  Ver.  28.  But  let  a  man  ex- 
amine himself,  and  so  let  him  eat 
of  that  bread,  and  drink  of  that 
cup.  Ver.  29.  For  he  that  eateth 
and  drinketh  unworthily,  eateth 
and  drinketh  damnation  to  himself, 
not  discerning-  the  Lord's  body. 

k  1  Cor.  x.  16.  The  cup  of  bless- 
ing which  we  bless,  is  it  not  the 
communion  of  the  blood  of  Christ? 
the  bread  which  we  break,  is  it 
not  the  communion  of  the  body  of 
Christ? 

171.  !  1  Cor.  xi.  28.  But  let  a 
man  examine  himself,  and  so  let 
him  eat  of  that  bread,  and  drink  of 
that  cup. 

m  2  Cor.  xiii.  5.  Examine  your- 
selves, whether  ye  be  in  the  faith; 
prove  your  own  selves:  know  ye 
not  your  own  selves,  how  that 
Jesus  Christ  is  in  you,  except  ye 
be  reprobates? 

n  1  Cor.  v.  7.  Purge  out  there- 
fore the  old  leaven,  that  ye  may 
be  a  new  lump,  as  ye  are  unlea- 
vened. For  even  Christ  our  pass- 
over  is  sacrificed  for  us.  Compared 
loith  Exod.   xii.  15.    Seven  days 


shall  ye  eat  unleavened  bread, 
even  the  first  day  ye  shall  put 
away  leaven  out  of  your  houses; 
for  whosoever  eateth  leavened 
bread  from  the  first  day  until  the 
seventh  day,  that  soul  shall  be  cut 
off  from  Israel. 

°  1  Cor.  xi.  29.  For  he  that  eateth 
and  drinketh  unworthily,  eateth 
and  drinketh  damnation  to  himself, 
not  discerning  the  Lord's  body. 

p  1  Cor.  xiii.  5.  [See  above  in 
letter  m.)  Mat.  xxvi.  2S.  For  this 
is  my  blood  of  the  new  testament, 
\vhich  is  shed  for  many  for  the  re- 
mission of  sins. 

«  Zech.  xii.  10.  And  I  will  pour 
upon  the  house  of  David,  and  upon 
the  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem,  the 
spirit  of  grace  and  of  supplications ; 
and  they  shall  look  upon  me  whom 
they  have  pierced,  and  they  shall 
mourn  for  him,  as  one  mourneth 
for  his  only  son,  and  shall  be  in 
bitterness  for  him,  as  one  that  is 
in  bitterness  for  his  first-born.  1 
Cor.  xi.  31.  For  if  we  would 
judge  ourselves,  we  should  not  be 
judged. 

T 1  Cor.  x.  16.  The  cup  of  bless- 
ing which  we  bless,  is  it  not  the 
communion  of  the  blood  of  Christ? 
the  bread  which  we  break,  is  it" 
not  the  communion  of  the  body 
of  Christ?  Ver.  17.  For  we  being 
many,  are  one  bread,  and  one 
body:  for  we  are  all  partakers  of 


The,  Larger  Catechism. 


\65 


charity  to  all  men,8  forgiving  those  that  have  done  them 
wrong;1  of  their  desires  after  Christ/  and  of  their  new 
obedience  ; w  and  by  renewing  the  exercise  of  these  graces,r 
by  serious  meditation,7  and  fervent  prayer.2 


that  one  bread.  Acts  ii.  46.  And 
they  continuing1  daily  with  one 
accord  in  the  temple,  and  break- 
ing- bread  from  house  to  house, 
did  eat  their  meat  with  gladness 
and  singleness  of  heart,  Ver.  47. 
Praising  God,  and  having  favour 
with  all  the  people.  And  the 
Lord  added  to  the  church  daily 
such  as  should  be  saved. 

'  1  Cor.  v.  8.  Therefore  let  us 
keep  the  feast,  not  with  old  leaven, 
neither  with  the  leaven  of  malice 
and  wickedness:  but  with  the  un- 
leavened bread  of  sincerity  and 
truth.  1  Cor.  xi.  15.  For  first  of 
all,  when  ye  come  together  in  the 
church,  I  hear  that  there  be  divi- 
sions among  you :  and  1  partly 
believe  it.  Ver.  20.  When  ye  come 
together  therefore  into  one  place, 
this  is  not  to  eat  the  Lord's 
supper. 

1  Mat.  v.  23.  Therefore,  if  thou 
bring  thy  gift  to  the  altar,  and 
there  rememberest  that  thy  bro- 
ther hath  aught  against  thee; 
Ver.  24.  Leave  there'  thy  gift  be- 
fore the  altar,  and  go  thy  way; 
first  be  reconciled  to  thy  brother, 
and  then  come  and  offer  thy  gift. 

T  Isa.  Iv.  1.  Ho,  every  one" that 
thirsteth,  come  ye  to  the  waters, 
and  he  that  hath  no  money:  come 
ye,  buy  and  eat;  yea,  come,  buy 
wine  and  milk  without  money 
and  without  price.  John  vii.  37. 
In  the  last  day,  that  great  day  of 
the  feast,  Jesus  stood  and  cried, 
saying,  If  any  man  thirst,  let  him 
come  unto  me,  and  drink. 

w  1  Cor.  v.  7.  Purge  out  there- 
fore the  old  leaven,  that  ye  may 
be  a  new  lump,  as  ye  are  unlea- 
31* 


vened.  For  even  Christ  our  pass- 
over  is  sacrificed  for  us:  Ver.  5. 
Therefore  let  us  keep  the  feast, 
not  with  old  leaven,  neither  with 
the  leaven  of  malice  and  wicked- 
ness; but  with  the  unleavened 
bread  of  sincerity  and  truth. 

x  1  Cor.  xi.  25.  After  the  same 
manner  also  he  took  the  cup, 
when  he  had  supped,  saying,  This 
cup  is  the  new  testament  in  my 
blood:  this  do  ye,  as  oft  as  ye 
drink  it,  in  remembrance  of  me. 
Ver.  26.  For  as  often  as  ye  eat  this 
bread,  and  drink  this  cup,  ye  do 
show  the  Lord's  death  till  he  come. 
Ver.  28.  But  let  a  man  examine 
himself,  and  so  let  him  eat  of 
that  bread,  and  drink  of  that  cup. 
Heb.  x.  21.  And  having  a  high 
priest  over  the  house  of  God, 
Ver.  22.  Let  us  draw  near  with  a 
true  heart,  in  full  assurance  of 
faith,  having  our  hearts  sprinkled 
from  an  evil  conscience,  and  our 
bodies  washed  with  pure  water. 
Ver.  24.  And  let  us  consider  one 
another,  to  provoke  unto  love 
and  to  good  works.  Psal.  xxvi.  6. 
I  will  wash  mine  hands  in  inno- 
cency:  so  will  I  compass  thine 
altar,  O  Lord, 

7  1  Cor.  xi.  24.  And  when  he 
had  given  thanks,  he  brake  it, 
and  said,  Take,  eat;  this  is  my 
body,  which  is  broken  for  you : 
this  do  in  remembrance  of  me. 
Ver.  25.  After  the  same  manner 
also  he  took  the  cup,  when  he 
had  supped,  saying,  This  cup  is 
the  new  testament  in  my  blood: 
this  do  ye,  as  oft  as  ye  drink  it,  in 
remembrance  of  me. 
*  2  Chron.  xxx,  18.  For  a  mul* 


366 


Hie  Larger  Catechism* 


Q.  172.  May  one  who  doubteth  of  his  being  in  Christ, 
or  of  his  due  preparation,  come  to  the  Lord's  Supper? 

tfi.  One  who  doubteth  of  his  being  in  Christ,  or  of  his  due 
preparation  to  the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  supper,  may  have 
true  interest  in  Christ,  though  he  be  not  yet  assured  thereof; a 
and  in  God's  account  hath  it,  if  he  be  d*uly  affected  with  the 
apprehension  of  the  want  of  it,b  and  unfeignedly  desires  to 


titude  of  the  people,  even  many 
of  Ephraim  and  Manasseh,  Issa- 
char  and  Zebulun,  had  not 
cleansed  themselves-,  yet  did  they 
eat  the  passover  otherwise  than 
it  was  written:  but  Hezekiah 
prayed  for  them,  saying,  The  good 
Lord  pardon  every  one,  Yer.  19. 
That  prepareth  his  heart  to  seek 
God,  the  Lord  God  of  his  fathers, 
though  he  be  not  cleansed  ac- 
cording to  the  purification-of  the 
sanctuary.  Mat.  xxvi.  26.  And 
as  they  were  eating,  Jesus  took 
bread,  and  blessed  it,  and  brake 
it,  and  gave  it  to  the  disciples, 
and  said,  Take,  eat:  this  is  my 
body. 

172.  a  Isa.  I.  10.  Who  is  among 
you  that  feareth  the  Lord,  that 
obeyeth  the  voice  of  his  servant, 
that  walketh  in  darkness,  and  hath 
no  light  1  let  him  trust  in  the  name 
of  the  Lord,  and  stay  upon  bis 
God.  1  John  v.  13.  These  things 
have  I  written  unto  you  that  be- 
lieve on  the  name  of  the  Son  of 
God :  that  ye  may  know  that  ye 
have  eternal  life,  and  that  ye  may 
believe  on  the  name  of  the  Son  of 
God.  Psal.  Ixxxviii.  throughout. 
Psal.  Ixxvii.  to  Verse  12.  Yer.  1. 
I  cried  unto  God  with  my  voice : 
even  unto  God  with  my  voice,  and 
he  gave  ear  unto  me.  Ver.  2.  In 
the  day  of  my  trouble  I  sought 
the  Lord:  my  sore  ran  in  the 
night,  and  ceased  not:  my  60ul 
refused  to  be  comforted.  Ver.  3. 
I  remembered  God,  and  was  trou- 


bled :  I  complained,  and  my  spirit 
was  overwhelmed.  Selah.  Yer.  4. 
Thou  holdest  mine  eyes  waking : 
I  am  so  troubled  that  I  cannot 
speak,  <$-c.  Ver.  7.  Will  the  Lord 
cast  off  for  ever?  and  will  he  be 
favourable  no  more]  Ver.  8.  Is 
his  mercy  clean  gone  for  ever? 
doth  his  promise  fail  for  ever- 
more 1  Ver.  9.  Hath  God  forgot- 
ten to  be  gracious]  hath  he  in 
anger  shut  up  his  tender  mer- 
cies] Jonah  ii.  4.  Then  I  said, 
I  am  cast  out  of  thy  sight;  yet 
I  will  look  again  toward  thy  holy 
temple.  Ver.  7.  When  my  soul 
fainted  within  me,  I  remembered 
the  Lord,  and  my  prayer  came  in 
unto  thee,  into  thine  holy  temple. 
b  Isa.  liv.  7.  For  a  small  moment 
have  I  forsaken  thee,  but  with 
great  mercies  will  I  gather  thee. 
Ver.  8.  In  a  little  wrath  I  hid  my 
face  from  thee  for  a  moment; 
but  with  everlasting  kindness  will 
I  have  mercy  on  thee,  saith  the 
Lord  thy  Redeemer.  Ver.  9.  For 
this  is  as  the  waters  of  Noah  un- 
to me:  for  as  I  have  sworn  that 
the  waters  of  Noah  should  no  more 
go  over  the  earth;  so  have  I  sworn 
that  I  would  not  be  wroth  with 
thee,  nor  rebuke  thee.  Ver.  10. 
For  the  mountains  shall  depart, 
and  the  hills  be  removed;  but  my 
kindness  shall  not  depart  from 
thee,  neither  shall  the  covenant 
of  my  peace  be  removed,  saith  the 
Lord,  that  hath  mercy  on  thee. 
Mat.  v.  3.  Blessed  are  the  poor  in 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


367 


be  found  in  Christ,0  and  to  depart  from  iniquity  :d  in  which 
case  (because  promises  are  made,  and  this  sacrament  is  ap- 
pointed, for  the  relief  even  of  weak  and  doubting  Christians*) 


spirit:  for  theirs  is  the  kingdom  of 
heaven.  Yer.  4.  Blessed  are  they 
that  mourn :  for  they  shall  be  com- 
forted. Psal.  xxx i.  22.  For  I  said 
in  my  haste,  I  am  cut  off  from  be- 
fore thine  eyes ;  nevertheless 
thou  heardest  the  voice  of  my  sup- 
plications, when  I  cried  unto  thee. 
Psal.  Ixxiii.  13.  Verily  I  have 
cleansed  my  heart  in  vain,  and 
washed  my  hands  in  innocency. 
Ver.  22.  So  foolish  was  I,  and  ig- 
norant:  I  was  as  a  beast  before 
thee.  Ver.  23.  Nevertheless  I  am 
continualiy  with  thee:  thou  hast 
holden  me  by  my  right  hand. 

e  Phil.  iii.  8.  Yea  doubtless,  and 
I  count  all  things  but  loss,  for  the 
excellency  of  the  knowledge  of 
Christ  Jesus  my  Lord  :  for  whom  J 
have  suffered  the  loss  of  all  things, 
and  do  count  them  but  dunsr,  that 
I  may  win  Christ,  Ver.  9.  And  be 
found  in  him,  not  having  mine  own 
righteousness,  which  is  of  the  law, 
but  that  which  is  through  the  faith 
of  Christ,  the  righteousness  which 
is  of  God  by  faith.  Psal.  x.  17. 
Lord,  thou  hast  heard  the  desire  of 
the  humble:  thou  wilt  prepare  their 
heart,  thou  wilt  cause  thine  ear  to 
hear.  *  Psal.  xlii.  1.  As  the  hart 
panteth  after  the  water-brooks,  so 
panteth  my  soul  after  thee,  O  God. 
Ver.  2.  My  soul  thirsteth  for  God, 
for  the  living  God:  when  shall  I 
come  and  appear  before  God  !  Ver. 
5.  Why  art  thou  cast  down,  O  my 
soul  ]  and  why  art  thou  disquieted 
in  me]  hope  thou  in  God,  for  I 
shall  yet  praise  him  for  the  help  of 
his  countenance.  Ver.  11.  Why 
art  thou  cast  down,  O  my  soul?  and 


why  art  thou  disquieted  within  me  3 
hope  thou  in  God,  for  I  shall  yet 
praise  him,  who  is  the  health  of 
my  countenance,  and  my  God. 

d  2  Tim.  ii.  19.  Nevertheless, 
the  foundation  of  God  standeth 
sure,  having  this  seal,  The  Lord 
knoweth  them  that  are  his.  And, 
Let  every  one  that  nameth  the 
name  of  Christ  depart  from  ini- 
quity. Isa.  1.  10.  Who  is  among 
you  that  feareth  the  Lord,  that 
obeyeth  the  voice  of  his  servant, 
that  walkcth  in  darkness,  and  hath 
no  light?  let  him  trust  in  the  name 
of  the  Lord,  and  stav  upon  his 
God.  Psal.  lxvi.  18.  If  I  regard 
iniquity  in  my  heart,  the  Lord 
will  not  hear  me.  Ver.  19.  But 
verily,  God  hath  heard  me:  he 
hath  attended  to  the  voice  of 
my  prayer.  Ver.  20.  Blessed  be 
God,  which  hath  not  turned  away 
my  prayer,  nor  his  mercy  from 
me. 

e  Isa.  xl.  11.  He  shall  feed  his 
flock  like  a  shepherd  :  he  shall  ga- 
ther the  lambs  with  his  arm,  and 
carry  them  in  his  bosom,  and  shall 
gently  lead  those  that  are  with 
young.  Ver.  29.  He  giveth  power 
to  the  faint;  and  to  them  that 
have  no  might  he  increaseth 
strength.  Ver.  31.  But  they  that 
wait  upon  the  Lord  shall  renew 
their  strength ;  they  shall  mount 
up  with  wings  as  eagles;  they 
shall  run,  and  not  be  weary;  and 
they  shall  walk,  and  not  faint. 
Mat.  xi.  28.  Come  unto  me,  all 
ye  that  labour  and  are  heavy 
laden,  and  I  will  give  you  rest. 
Mat.  xii.  20.  A  bruised  reed  shall 


368 


TJie  Larger  Catechism. 


he  is  to  bewail  his  unbelief/  and  labour  to  have  his  doubts 
resolved;8  and,  so  doing,  he  may  and  ought  to  come  to  tfre 
Lord's  supper,  that  he  may  be  farther  strengthened.11 

Q.  173.  May  any  who  profess  the  faith,  and  desire  to  come 
to  the  Lord's  supper,  be  kept  from  it  ? 

A.  Such  as  are  found  to  be  ignorant  or  scandalous,  not- 
withstanding their  profession  of  the  faith,  and  desire  to  come 
to  the  Lord's  supper,  may  and  ought  to  be  kept  from  that 
sacrament,  by  the  power  which  Christ  hath  left  in  his 
church,1  until  they  receive  instruction,  and  manifest  their 
reformation.* 


he  not  break,  and  smoking  flax 
shall  he  not  quench,  till  he  send 
forth  judgment  unto  victory.  Mat. 
xxvi.  23.  For  this  is  my  blood  of 
the  new  testament,  which  is  shed 
for  many  for  the  remission  of 
sins. 

f  Mark  ix.  24.  And  straightway 
the  father  of  the  child  cried  out, 
and  said  with  tears,  Lord,  I  be- 
lieve; help  thou  mine  unbelief. 

s  Acts  ii.  37.  Now,  when  they 
heard  this,  they  were  pricked  in 
their  heart,  and  said  unto  Peter, 
and  to  the  rest  of  the  apostles, 
Men  and  brethren,  what  shall  we 
do?  Acts  xvi.  30.  And  he  brought 
them  out,  and  said,  Sirs,  what 
must  I  do  to  be  saved  * 

b  Rom.  iv.  11.  And  he  received 
the  sign  of  circumcision,  a  seal  of 
the  righteousness  of  the  faith  which 
he  had  yet  being  uncircumcised; 
that  he  might  be  the  father  of  all 
them  that  believe,  though  they  be 
not  circumcised;  that  righteous- 
ness might  be  imputed  unto  them 
also.  1  Cor.  xi.  28.  But  let  a  man 
examine  himself,  and  so  let  him  eat 
of  that  bread,  and  drink  of  that  cup. 

173.  I  1  Cor.  xi.  27,  to  the  end. 
Wherefore,  whosoever  shall  eat 
this  bread,  and  drink  this  cup  of 


the    Lord,    unworthily,   shall    be 
guilty  of  the  body  and  blood  of  the 
Lord.     Ver.  28.  But  let  a  man  ex- 
amine himself,  and  so  let  him  eat 
of  that  bread,  and  drink  of  that  cup. 
Ver.  29.   For  he  that  eateth  and 
drinketh    unworthily,    eateth   and 
drinketh  damnation  to  himself,  not 
discerning  the  Lord's  body.     Ver. 
30.  For  this  cause  many  are  weak 
and  sickly  among  you,  and  many 
sleep.     Ver.  31.    For  if  we  would 
judge  ourselves,  we  should  not  be 
judged,  &c.  to  the  end  of  the  Chap- 
ter.    Compared  with  Mat.  vii.  6. 
Give  not  that  which  is  holy  unto 
the  dogs,   neither   cast    ye    your 
pearls    before    swine,    lest    they 
trample  them  under  their  feet,  and 
turn  again  and  rend  you.  And  with 
1  Cor.  Chapter  v.  to  the  end.  And 
with  Jude,  Ver.  23.    And   others 
save  with  fear,  pulling  them  out  of 
the  fire  ;  hating  even  the  garments 
spotted  by  the  flesh.      And  with  1 
Tim.  v.  22.  Lay  hands  suddenly 
on  no  man,  neither  be  partakers  of 
other  men's  sins:  keep  thyself  pure. 
k  2  Cor.  ii.  7.   So  that  contrari- 
wise,  ye  ought  rather  to  forgive 
him,   and   comfort   him,  lest   per- 
haps  such  a  one  should   be  swal- 
lowed up  with  overmuch  sorrow. 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


369 


Q.  174.  What  is  required  of  them  that  receive  the  sacrament 
of  the  Lord's  supper  in  the  time  of  the  administration  of  it? 

A.  It  is  required  of  them  that  receive  the  sacrament  of 
the  Lord's  supper,  that,  during  the  time  of  the  administra- 
tion of  it,  with  all  holy  reverence  and  attention  they  wait 
upon  God  in  that  ordinance,1  diligently  observe  the  sacra- 
mental elements  and  actions,"  needfully  discern  the  Lord's 
body,"  and  affectionately  meditate  on  his  death  and  suffer- 
ings,0 and  thereby  stir  up  themselves  to  a  vigorous  exercise 
of  their  graces ;p  in  judging  themselves/1  and  sorrowing  for 


174.  1  Lev.  x.  3.  Then  Moses 
said  unto  Aaron,  This  is  it  that 
the  Lord  spake,  saying,  I  will  be 
sanctified  in  them  that  come  nigh 
me,  and  before  all  the  people  I 
will  be  glorified.— Heb.  xii.  28. 
Wherefore  we  receiving  a  king- 
dom which  cannot  be  moved, 
let  us  have  grace,  whereby  we 
may  serve  God  acceptably,  with 
reverence  and  godly  fear.  Psal. 
v.  ?.  But  as  for  me,  I  will  come 
into  thy  house  in  the  multitude 
of  thy  mercy ;  and  in  thy  fear 
will  I  worship  toward  thy  holy 
temple.  1  Cor.  xi.  17.  Now  in 
this  that  I  declare  unto  you,  I 
praise  you  not,  that  ye  come  to- 
gether not  for  the  better,  but 
for  the  worse.  Ver.  26.  For  as 
often  as  ye  eat  this  bread,  and 
drink  this  cup,  ye  do  show  the 
Lord's  death  till  he  come.  Ver. 
27.  Wherefore,  whosoever  shall 
eat  this  bread,  and  drink  this  cup 
of  the  Lord,  unworthily,  shall  be 
guilty  of  the  body  and  blood  of 
the  Lord. 

m  Exod.  xxiv.  8.  And  Moses 
took  the  blood,  and  sprinkled  it 
on  the  people,  and  said,  Behold 
the  blood  of  the  covenant  which 
the  Lord  hath  made  with  you 
concerning  all  these  words.  Com- 
pared with  Mat.  xxvi.  2S.  For 
this  is  my  blood  of  the  new  testa- 


ment, which  is  shed  for  many,  for 
the  remission  of  sins. 

■  1  Cor.  xi.  29.  For  he  that  eat- 
eth  and  drinketh  unworthily,  eat- 
eth  and  drinketh  damnation  to 
himself,  not  discerning  the  Lord's 
body. 

°*Luke  xxii.  19.  And  he  took 
bread,  and  gave  thanks,  and  brake 
it,  and  gave  unto  them,  saying, 
This  is  my  body,  which  is  given 
for  you:  this  do  in  remembrance 
of  me. 

p  1  Cor.  xi.  26.  For  as  often 
as  ye  eat  this  bread,  and  drink 
this  cup,  ye  do  show  the  Lord's 
death  till  he  come.  1  Cor.  x.  3. 
And  did  all  eat  the  same  spiri- 
tual meat ;  Ver.  4.  And  did  all 
drink  the  same  spiritual  drink  : 
(for  they  drank  of  that  spiritual 
Rock  that  followed  them ;  and 
that  Rock  was  Christ.)  Ver.  5.  But 
with  many  of  them  God  was  not 
well  pleased ;  for  they  were  over- 
thrown in  the  wildrrness.  Ver.  11. 
Now  all  these  things  happened 
unto  them  for  ensamples;  and 
they  are  written  for  our  admoni- 
tion, upon  whom  the  ends  of  the 
world  are  come,  Ver.  14.  Where- 
fore, my  dearly  beloved,  flee  from 
idolatry. 

q  1  Cor.  xi.  31.  For  if  we  would 
judge  ourselves,  we  should  not  be 
judged. 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


sin;r  in  earnest  hungering  and  thirsting  after  Christ,8  feed- 
ing on  him  by  faith,'  receiving  of  his  fulness,'  trusting  in 
his  merits/  rejoicing  in  his  love,x  giving  thanks  for  his 
grace;?  in  renewing  of  their  covenant  with  God,z  and  love 
to  all  the  saints.* 

Q.  175.  What  is  the  duty  of  Christians,  after  they  have  re- 
ceived the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  supper? 

A.  The  duty  of  Christians,  after  they  have  received  the 
sacrament  of  the  Lord's  supper,  is  seriously  to  consider  how 
they  have  behaved  themselves  therein,  and  with  what  suc- 
cess; b  if  they  find  quickening  and  comfort,  to  bless  God  for 


r  Zech.  xii.  10.  And  I  will  pour 
upon  the  house  of  David,  and 
upon  the  inhabitants  of  Jerusa- 
lem, the  spirit  of  grace  and  of 
supplications;  and  they  shall  look 
upon  me  whom  they  have  pierced, 
and  they  shall  mourn  for  him  as 
one  mourneth  for  his  only  son, 
and  shall  be  in  bitterness  for  him, 
as  one  that  is  in  bitterness  for  his 
first-born. 

•  Rev.  xxii.  17.  And  the  Spirit 
and  the  bride  say,  Come.  And 
let  him  that  heareth  say,  Come. 
And  let  him  that  is  athirst  come. 
And  whosoever  will,  let  him  take 
the  water  of  life  freely. 

*  John  vi.  35.  And  Jesus  said 
unto  them,  I  am  the  bread  of 
life:  he  that  eometh  tome  shall 
never  hunger;  and  he  that  be- 
lieveth  on  me  shall  never  thirst. 

TJohn  i.ll.  Andofhisfulnesshave 
all  we  received,  and  grace  for  grace. 

w  Phil.  iii.  9.  And  be  found  in 
him,  not  having  mine  own  righ- 
teousness, which  is  of  the  law, 
but  that  which  is  through  the 
faith  of  Christ,  the  righteousness 
which  is  of  God  by  faith. 

x  Psal.  Ixiii.  4.  Thus  will  T  bless 
thee  while  I  live:  I  will  lift  up 
my  hands  in  thy  name.  Ver.  5. 
My  soul  shall  be  satisfied  as  with 


marrow  and  fatness;  and  my 
mouth  shall  praise  thee  with  joy- 
ful lips.  2  Chron.  xxx.  21.  And 
the  children  of  Israel  that  were 
present  at  Jerusalem  kept  the  feast 
of  unleavened  bread  seven  days 
with  great  gladness:  and  tH£  Le- 
vites  and  the  priests  praised  the 
Lord  day  by  day,  singing  with 
loud  instruments  unto  the  Lord. 

r  Psal.  xxii.  26.  The  meek 
shall  eat  and  be  satisfied;  they 
shall  praise  the  Lord  that  seek 
him:  your  heart  shall  live  for 
ever. 

■  Jer.  1.  5.  They  shall  ask  the 
way  to  Zion  with  their  faces 
thitherward,  saying,  Come,  and  lqt 
us  join  ourselves  to  the  Lord  in  a 
perpetual  covenant  that  shall  not 
be  forgotten.  Psal.  1.  5.  Gather 
my  saints  together  unto  me:  those 
that  have  made  a  covenant  with 
me  by  sacrifice. 

*  Acts  ii.  42.  And  -they  conti- 
nued steadfastly  in  the  apostles' 
doctrine  and  fellowship,  and  in 
breaking  of  bread  and  in  prayers. 

175.  b  Psal.  xxviii.  7.  The  Lord 
is  my  strength  and  my  shield,  ray 
heart  trusted  in  him,  and  I  am 
helped;  therefore  my  heart  great- 
ly rejoiceth,  and  with  my  son? 
will  I  praise  him.     Psal.  Ixxxv.  8. 


The  Larger  Catechism, 


\n 


it,c  beg  the  continuance  of  it,d  watch  against  relapses,' fulfil 
their  vows/  and  encourage  themselves  to  a  frequent  attend- 
ance on  that  ordinance: 8  but  if  they  find  no  present  benefit, 
more  exactly  to  review  their  preparation  to,  and  carriage  at 
the  sacrament  ;h  in  both  which,  if  they  can  approve  them- 


I  will  hear  what  God  the  Lord 
will  speak:  fur  he  will  speak  peace 
unto  his  people,  and  to  his  saints: 
but  let  them  not  turn  again  to 
folly.  1  Cor.  xi.  17.  Now  in  this 
that  I  declare  unto  you,  I  praise 
you  not,  that  ye  come  together 
not  for  the  better,  but  for  the 
worse.  Ver.  30.  For  this  cause 
many  are  weak  and  sickly  among 
you,  and  many  sleep.  Ver.  31. 
For  if  we  would  judge  ourselves, 
we  should  not  be  judged. 

c  2  Chron.  xxx.  21,  22,  23,  25, 
26.  Ver.  21.  And  the  children  of 
Israel  that  were  present  at  Jeru- 
salem kept  the  feast  of  unleavened 
bread  seven  days  with  great  glad- 
ness: and  the  Levites  and  the 
priests  praised  the  Lord  day  by 
day,  singing  with  loud  instru- 
ments unto  the  Lord,  <Sfc.  Acts 
ii.  42.  And  they  continued  stead- 
fastly in  the  apostles'  doctrine  and 
fellowship,  and  in  breaking  of 
bread,  and  in  prayers.  Ver.  40. 
And  they,  continuing  daily  with 
one  accord  in  the  temple,  and 
breaking  bread  from  house  to 
house,  did  eat  their  meat  with 
gladness  and  singleness  of  heart, 
Ver.  47.  Praising  God,  and  having 
favour  with  all  the  people. — 

*  Psal.  xxxvi.  10.  O  continue 
thy  loving-kindness  unto  them 
that  know  thee,  and  thy  righte- 
ousness to  the  upright  in  heart. 
Cant.  iii.  4.  It  was  but  a  little 
that  I  passed  from  them,  but  I 
found  him  whom  my  soul  loveth : 
I  held  him,  and  would  not  let 
him  go,  until  I  had  brought  him 
into  my  mother's  house,  and  into 


the  chamber  of  her  that  conceived 
me.  1  Chron.  xxix.  18.  O  Lord 
God  of  Abraham,  Isaae,  and  of 
Israel,  our  fathers,  keep  this  for 
ever  in  the  imagination  of  the 
thoughts  of  the  heart  of  thy 
people,  and  prepare  their  heart 
unto  thee. 

e  1  Cor.  x.  3.  And  did  all  eat 
the  same  spiritual  meat;  Ver.  4. 
And  did  all  drink  the  same  spiri- 
tual drink:  (for  they  drank  of 
that  spiritual  Rock  that  followed 
them;  and  that  Rock  was  Christ.) 
Ver.  5.  But  with  many  of  them 
God  was  not  well  pleased ;  for 
they  were  overthrown  in  the  wil- 
derness. Ver.  12.  Wherefore,  let 
him  that  thinketh  he  standeth 
take  heed  lest  he  fail. 

f  Psal.  1.  14.  Offer  unto  God 
thanksgiving,  and  pay  thy  vows 
unto  the  most  High. 

s  1  Cor.  xi.  23.  After  the  same 
manner  also  he  took  the  cup, 
when  he  had  supped,  saying,  This 
cup  is  the  new  testament  in  my 
blood:  this  do  ye,  as  oft  as  ye 
drink  it,  in  remembrance  of  me. 
Ver.  26.  For  as  often  as  ye  eat  this 
bread,  and  drink  this  cup,  ye  do 
show  the  Lord's  de.ath  till  he  come. 
Acts  ii.  42.  And  they  continued 
steadfastly  in  the  apostles'  doctrine 
and  fellowship,  and  in  breaking 
of  bread,  and  in  prayers.  Ver.  46. 
And  they,  continuing  daily  with 
one  accord  in  the  temple,  and 
breaking  bread  from  house  to 
house,  did  eat  their  meat  with 
gladness  and  sngleness  of  heart. 

h  *  Cant.  v.  1.  I  am  come  into 
my  garden,  my  sister,  my  spouse: 


372 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


selves  to  God  and  their  own  consciences,  they  are  to  wait 
for  the  fruit  of  it  in  due  time;1  but,  if  they  see  they  have 
failed  in  either,  they  are  to  be  humbled,"  and  to  attend  upon 
it  afterward  with  more  care  and  diligence.1 


I  have  gathered  my  myrrh  with  my 
spice;  I  have  eaten  my  honey-comb 
with  my  honey;  I  have  drunk  my 
wine  with  my  milk:  eat,  O  friends; 
drink,  yea,  drink  abundantly,  O 
beloved.  Ver.  2.  I  sleep,  but  my 
heart  waketh :  it  is  the  voice  of  my 
beloved  that  knocketh,  saying, 
Open  to  me,  my  sister,  my  love, 
my  dove,  my  undefiled :  for  my 
head  is  filled  with  dew,  and  my 
locks  with  the  drops  of  the  night. 
Ver.  3.  I  have  put  off  my  coat; 
how  shall  I  put  it  on?  I  have 
washed  my  feet;  how  6hall  I  de- 
file them?  Ver.  4.  My  beloved  put 
in  his  hand  by  the  hole  of  the  door, 
and  my  bowels  were  moved  for 
him.  Ver.  5.  I  rose  up  to  open  to 
my  beloved ;  and  my  hands  dropped 
with  myrrh,  and  my  fingers  with 
sweet-smelling  myrrh,  upon  the 
handles  of  the  lock.  Ver.  6.  I 
opened  to  my  beloved;  but  my  be- 
loved had  withdrawn  himself,  and 
was  gone:  my  soul  failed  when  he 
spake:  I  sought  him,  but  I  could 
not  find  him;  I  called  him,  but  he 
gave  me  no  answer. 

'Psal.  exxiii.  1.  Unto  thee  lift 
I  up  mine  eyes,  O  thou  that  dwell- 
est  in  the  heavens.  *  Ver.  2.  Be- 
hold, as  the  eyes  of  servants  look 
unto  the  hand  of  their  masters, 
and  as  the  eyes  of  a  maiden  unto 
the  hand  of  her  mistress;  so  our 
eyes  wait  upon  the  Lord  our  God, 
until  that  he  have  mercy  upon  us. 
Psal.  xlii.  5.  Why  art  thou  cast 
down,  O  my  soul]  and  why  art 
thou  disquieted  in  me?  hope  thou 
in  God:  for  I  shall  yet  praise  him 
for  the  help  of  his  countenance. 


Ver.  8.  Yet  the  Lord  will  com- 
mand his  loving-kindness  in  the 
day-time,  and  in  the  night  his  song 
shall  be  with  me,  and  my  prayer 
unto  the  God  of  my  life.  Psal.  xliii. 
3.  O  send  out  thy  light  and  thy 
truth  ;  let  them  lead  me,  let  them 
bring  me  unto  thy  holy  hill,  and 
to  thy  tabernacles.  Ver.  4.  Then 
will  I  go  unto  the  altar  of  God, 
unto  God  my  exceeding  joy:  yea, 
upon  the  harp  will  I  praise  thee, 
O  God,  my  God.  Ver.  5.  Why 
art  thou  cast  down,  O  my  soul  1 
and  why  art  thou  disquieted  with- 
in me?  hope  in  God:  for  I  shall 
yet  praise  him,  who  is  the  health 
of  my  countenance,  and  my  God. 

k  2  Chron.  xxx.  13.  For  a  multi- 
tude of  the  people,  even  many  of 
Ephraim  and  Manasseh,  Issachar 
and  Zebulun,  had  not  cleansed 
themselves,  yet  did  they  eat  the 
passover  otherwise  than  it  was 
written:  but  Hezekiah  prayed  for 
them,  saying,  The  good  Lord  par- 
don every  one,  Ver.  19.  That 
prepareth  his  heart  to  seek  God, 
the  Lord  God  of  his  fathers,  though 
he  be  not  cleansed  according  to 
the  purification  of  the  sanctuary. 
Isa.  i.  16.  Wash  ye,  make  you 
clean  ;  put  away  the  evil  of  your 
doings  from  before  mine  eyes;; 
cease  to  do  evil.  Ver.  18.  Corner 
now,  and  let  us  reason  together, 
saith  the  Lord :  though  your  sir 
be  as  scarlet,  they  shall  be 
white  as  snow;  though  they  be 
red  like  crimson,  they  shall  be  as 
wool. 

1  2  Cor.  vii.  11.  For,  behold,  this 
self-same  thing  that  ye  sorrowed 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


373 


Q.  176.  Wherein  do  the  sacraments  of  baptism  and  the 
Lord's  supper  agree  ? 

A.  The  sacraments  of  baptism  and  the  Lord's  supper  agree, 
in  that  the  author  of  both  is  God;™  the  spiritual  part  of  both  is 
Christ  and  his  benefits ; n  both  are  seals  of  the  same  covenant,0 
are  to  be  dispensed  by  ministers  of  the  gospel,and  by  none  other;? 


after  a  godly  sort,  what  carefulness 
it  wrought  in  you,  yea,  what  clear- 
ing of  yourselves,  yea,  what  indig- 
nation, yea,  what  fear,  yea,  what 
vehement  desire,  yea,  what  zeal, 
yea,  what  revenge  !  In  all  things 
ye  have  approved  yourselves  to  be 
clear  in  this  matter.     1  Chron.  xv. 

12.  And  (David)  said  unto  them, 
Ye  are  the  chief  of  the  fathers  of 
the  Levites:  sanctify  yourselves, 
both  ye  and  your  brethren,  that 
ye  may  bring  up  the  ark  of  the 
Lord  God  of  Israel  unto  the  place 
that  I  have  prepared  for  it.     Ver. 

13.  For  because  ye  did  it  not  at 
the  first,  the  Lord  our  God  made  a 
breach  upon  us  for  that  we  sought 
him  not  after  the  due  order.     Ver. 

14.  So  the  priests  and  the  Levites 
sanctified  themselves  to  bring  up 
the  ark  of  the  Lord  God  of  Israel. 

176.  m  Mat.  xxviii.  19.  Go  ye 
therefore,  and  teach  all  nations, 
baptizing  them  in  the  name  of  the 
Father,  and  of  the  Son,  and  of 
the  Holy  Ghost  1  Cor.  xi.  23. 
For  I  have  received  of  the  Lord 
that  which  also  I  delivered  unto 
you,  That  the  Lord  Jesus,  the 
same  night  in  which  he  was  be- 
trayed,  took  bread. 

n  Rom.  vi.  3.  Know  ye  not,  that 
so  many  of  us  as  were  baptized 
into  Jesus  Christ  were  baptized 
into  his  death  }  Ver.  4.  Therefore 
we  are  buried  with  him  by  bap- 
tism into  death;  that  like  as 
Christ  was  raised  up  from  the 
dead  by  the  glory  of  the  Father, 

32 


even  so  we  also  should  walk  in 
newness  of  life.  1  Cor.  x.  16. 
The  cup  of  blessing  which  we 
bless,  is  it  not  the  communion  of 
the  blood  of  Christ !  the  bread 
which  we  break,  is  it  not  the  com- 
munion of  the  body  of  Christ! 

0  Rom.  iv.  11.  And  he  received 
the  sign  of  circumcision,  a  seal  of 
the  righteousness  of  the  faith  which 
he  had  yet  being  uncircumcised ; 
that  he  might  be  the  father  of  all 
them  that  believe,  though  they  be 
not  circumcised ;  that  righteousness 
might  be  imputed  unto  them  also. 
Compared  with  Col.  ii.  12.  Buried 
with  him  in  baptism,  wherein  also 
ye  are  risen  with  hirn  through  the 
faith  of  the  operation  of  God,  who 
hath  raised  him  from  the  dead.  Mat. 
xxvi.  27.  And  he  took  the  cup,  and 
gave  thanks,  and  gave  it  to  them, 
saying,  Drink  ye  all  of  it:  Ver.  28. 
For  this  is  my  blood  of  the  new 
testament,  which  is  shed  for  many 
for  the  remission  of  sins. 

p  John  i.  33.  And  I  knew  him 
not:  but  he  that  sent  me  to  bap- 
tize with  water,  the  same  said 
unto  me,  Upon  whom  thou  shalt 
s?e  the  Spirit  descending,  and  re- 
maining on  him,  the  same  is  he 
which  baptizeth  with  the  Holy 
Ghost.  Mat.  xxviii.  19.  Go  ye 
therefore,  and  teach  all  nations, 
baptizing  them  in  the  name  of 
the  Father,  and  of  the  Son,  and 
of  the  Holy  Ghost.  1  Cor.  xi.  23. 
For  I  have  received  of  the  Lord 
that  which  also  I  delivered  unto 


;r4 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


and  to  be  continued  in  the  church  of  Christ  until  his  second 
coming.q 

Q.  177.  Wherein  do  the  sacraments  of  baptism  and  the 
Lord's  supper  differ  ? 

A.  The  sacraments  of  baptism  and  the  Lord's  supper  differ* 
in  that  baptism  is  to  be  administered  but  once,  with  water,  to 
be  a  sign  and  seal  of  our  regeneration  and  ingrafting  into 
Christ/  and  that  even  to  infants;5  whereas  the  Lord's  supper 
is  to  be  administered  often,  in  the  elements  of  bread  and 
wine,  to  represent  and  exhibit  Christ  as  spiritual  nourishment 
to  the  soul,1  and  to  confirm  our  continuance  and  growth  in 


you,  that  the  Lord  Jesus,  the 
seme  night  in  which  he  was  be- 
trayed, took  bread.  1  Cor.  iv.  1. 
Let  a  man  so  account  of  us  as  of 
the  ministers  of  Christ,  and  stew- 
ards of  the  mysteries  of  God.  Heb. 
v.  4.  And  no  man  taketh  this  ho- 
nour unto  himself,  but  he  that  is 
called  of  God,  as  was  Aaron. 

s  Mat.  xxviii.  19.  Go  ye  there- 
fore, and  teach  all  nations,  bap- 
tizing them  in  the  name  of  the 
Father,  and  of  the  Son,  and  of  the 
Holy  Ghost:  Ver.  20.  Teaching 
them  to  observe  all  things  what- 
soever I  have  commanded  you: 
and,  lo,  I  am  with  you  alway, 
even  unto  the  end  of  the  world. 
Amen.  1  Cor.  xi.  26.  For  as  often 
as  ye  eat  this  bread,  and  drink 
this  cup,  ye  do  show  the  Lord's 
death  till  he  come. 

177.  r  Mat.  iii.  11.  I  indeed 
baptize  you  with  water  unto  re- 
pentance :  but  he  that  cometh 
after  me  is  mightier  than  I,  whose 
shoes  I  am  not  worthy  to  bear: 
he  shall  baptize  you  with  the 
Holy  Ghost,  and  with  fire.  Tit. 
iii.  5.  Not  by  works  of  righteous- 
ness which  we  have  done,  but  ac- 
cording to  his  mercy  he  saved  us, 
by  the  washing  of  regeneration, 
and  renewing  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 


Gal.  iii.  27.  For  as  many  of  you  as 
have  been  baptized  into  Christ 
have  put  on  Christ. 

8  Gen.  xvii.  7.  And  I  will  esta- 
blish my  covenant  between  me 
and  thee,  and  thy  seed  after  thee, 
in  their  generations,  for  an  ever- 
lasting covenant,  to  be  a  God 
unto  thee,  and  to  thy  seed  after 
thee.  Ver.  9.  And  God  said  unto 
Abraham,  Thou  shalt  keep  my  co- 
venant therefore,  thou,  and  thy 
seed  after  thee,  in  their  genera- 
tions. Acts  ii.  38.  Then  Peter 
said  unto  them,  Repent,  and  be 
baptized  every  one  of  you  in  the 
name  of  Jesus  Christ,  for  the  re- 
mission of  sins,  and  ye  shall  re- 
ceive the  gift  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 
Ver.  39.  For  the  promise  is  unto 
you,  and  to  your  children,  and  to 
all  that  are  afar  off,  even  as  many 
as  the  Lord  our  God  shall  call. 
1  Cor.  vii.  14.  For  the  unbelieving 
husband  is  sanctified  by  the  wife, 
and  the  unbelieving  wife  is  sanc- 
tified by  the  hushand ;  else  were 
your  children  unclean  ;  but  now 
are  they  holy. 

1  1  Cor.  xi.  23.  For  I  have  re- 
ceived of  the  Lord  that  which  also 
I  delivered  unto  you,  That  the 
Lord  Jesus,  the  same  night  in 
which     he    was    betrayed,    took 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


175 


him/  and  that  only  to  such  as  are  of  years  and  ability  to 
examine  themselves.* 

Q.  178.  What  is  prayer  ? 

«#.  Prayer  is  an  offering  up  of  our  desires  unto  God,x 
in  the  name  of  Christ/  by  the  help  of  his  Spirit ; x  with 
confession  of  our  sins,a  and  thankful  acknowledgment  of 
his  mercies.b 

Q.  179.  rfre  ice  to  pray  unto  God  only  7 

<fl.  God  only  being  able  to  search  the  hearts,0  hear  the 


bread  :  Ver.  24.  And,  when  he  had 
given  thanks,  he  brake  it,  and 
said,  Take,  eat ;  this  is  my  body, 
which  is  broken  for  you  :  this  do 
in  remembrance  of  me.  Ver.  25. 
After  the  same  mariner  also  he 
took  the  cup,  when  he  had  supped, 
saying",  This  cup  is  the  new  testa- 
ment in  my  blood:  this  do  ye,  as 
oft  as  ye  drink  it,  in  remembrance 
of  me.  Ver.  26.  For  as  often  as 
ye  eat  this  bread,  and  drink  this 
cup,  ye  do  show  the  Lord's  death 
till  he  come. 

w  1  Cor.  x.  16.  The  cup  of  bless- 
ing which  we  bless,  is  it  not  the 
communion  of  the  blood  of  Christ ? 
the  bread  which  we  break,  is  it 
not  the  communion  of  the  body  of 
Christ? 

w  1  Cor.  xi.  28.  But  let  a  man 
examine  himself,  and  so  let  him 
eat  of  that  bread,  and  drink  of 
that  cup.  Ver.  29.  For  he  that 
eateth  and  drinketh  unworthily, 
eateth  and  drinketh  damnation  to 
himself,  not  discerning  the  Lord's 
bod  v. 

ITS.  ■  Psal.  lxii.  8.  Trust  in  him 
at  all  times,  ye  people;  pour  out 
your  heart  before  him:  God  is  a 
refuge  for  us.     Selah. 

y  John  xvi.  23.  And  in  that  day 
ye  shall  ask  me  nothing.  Verily, 
verily,  T  say  unto  you,  Whatso- 
ever ye  shafl  ask  the  Father  in  my 
r.ame,  he  will  give  it  you. 


*  Rom.  viii.  26.  Likewise  the 
Spirit  also  helpeth  our  infirmities  : 
for  we  know  not  what  we  should 
pray  for  as  we  ought :  but  the 
Spirit  itseif  maketh  intercession 
for  us  with  groan ings  which  can- 
not be  uttered. 

*  Psal.  xxxii.  5.  I  acknowledged 
my  sin  unto  thee,  and  mine  ini- 
quity have  I  not  hid :  I  said,  I 
will  confess  my  transgressions  un- 
to the  Lord,  and  thou  forgavest 
the  iniquity  of  my  sin.  Selah. 
Ver.  6.  For  this  shall  every  one 
that  is  godly  pray  unto  thee  in 
a  time  when  thou  mayest  be 
found. — Dan.  ix.  4.  And  I  pray- 
ed unto  the  Lord  my  God,  and 
made  my  confession,  and  said, 
O  Lord,  the  great  and  dreadful 
God,— 

b  Phil.  iv.  6.  Be  careful  for  no- 
thing: but  in  every  thing  by 
prayer  and  supplication,  with 
thanksgiving,  let  your  requests  be 
made  known  unlo  God. 

179.  c  1  Kings  viii.  39.  Then 
hear  thou  in  heaven  thy  dwell- 
ing-place, and  forgive,  and  do, 
and  give  to  every  man  according 
to  his  ways,  whose  heart  thou 
knovvest;  for  thou,  even  thou 
only,  knowest  the  hearts  of  all 
the  children  of  men.  Acts  i.  24. 
And  they  prayed,  and  said,  Thou, 
Lord,  which  knowest  the  hearts 
of    all   men,    show    whether    of 


76 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


requests/  pardon  the  sins,e  and  fulfil  the  desires  of  all; { 
and  only  to  be  believed  in,8  and  worshipped  with  religious 
worship;11  prayer,  which  is  a  special  part  thereof,'  is  to 
be  made  by  all  to  him  alone,k  and  to  none  other.1 

Q.  180.  What  is  it  to  pray  in  the  name  of  Christ? 

A.  To  pray  in  the  name  of  Christ  is,  in  obedience  to  his 
command,  and  in  confidence  on  his  promises,  to  ask  mercy 
for  his  sake ; m  not  by  bare  mentioning  of  his  name,"  but  by 
drawing  our  encouragement  to  pray,  and  our  boldness, 
strength,  and  hope  of  acceptance  in  prayer,  from  Christ 
and  his  mediation.0 


these  two  thou  hast  chosen.  Rom. 
viii.  27.  And  he  that  searcbeth  the 
hearts  knovveth  what  is  the  mind 
of  the  Spirit,  because  he  maketh 
intercession  for  the  saints  accord- 
ing to  the  will  of  God. 

d  Peal.  Ixv.  2.  O  thou  that  near- 
est prayer,  unto  thee  shall  all  flesh 
come. 

e  Micah  vii.  18.  Who  is  a  God 
like  unto  thee,  that  pardoneth  ini- 
quity, and  passeth  by  the  trans- 
gression of  the  remnant  of  his 
heritage'?  he  retaineth  not  his  an- 
ger for  ever,  because  he  delighteth 
in  mercy. 

1  Psal.  cxlv.  18.  The  Lord  is 
nigh  unto  all  them  that  call  upon 
him,  to  all  that  call  upon  him  in 
truth.  Ver.  19.  He  will  fulfil  the 
desire  of  them  that  fear  him:  he 
also  will  hear  their  cry,  and  will 
save  them. 

s  Rom.  x.  14.  How  then  shall 
they  call  on  him  in  whom  they 
have  not  believed? — 

h  Mat.  iv.  10.  Then  said  Jesus 
unto  him,  Get  thee  hence,  Satan: 
for  it  is  written,  Thou  shalt  wor- 
ship the  l/)rd  thy  God,  and  him 
only  6halt  thou  serve. 

'  1  Cor.  i.  2  Unto  the  church  of 
God  which  is  at  Corinth,  to  them 
that  are  sanctified  in  Christ  Jesus, 
called   to  be  saints,  vvitli   all  that 


in  every  place  call  upon  the  name 
of  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord,  both  theirs 
and  ours.    . 

k  Psal.  I.  15-  And  call  upon  me 
in  the  day  of  trouble;  I  will  de- 
liver thee,  and  thou  shalt  glorify 
me. 

1  Rom.  x.  14.  How  then  shall 
they  call  on  him  in  whom  they 
have  not  believed'! 

180.  m  John  xiv.  13.  And  what- 
soever ye  shall  ask  in  my  name, 
that  will  I  do,  that  the  Father 
may  be  glorified  in  the  Son.  Ver. 
14.  If  ye  shall  ask  any  thing  in 
my  name,  I  will  do  it.  John  xvi. 
24.  Hitherto  have  ye  asked  nothing 
in  my  name:  ask,  and  ye  shall  re- 
ceive, that  your  joy  may  be  full. 
Dan.  ix.  17.  Now  therefore,  O  our 
Gol,  hear  the  prayer  of  thy  ser- 
vant, and  his  supplications,  and 
cause  thy  face  to  shine  upon  thy 
sanctuary  that  is  desolate,  for  the 
Lord's  sake. 

n  Watt.  vii.  21.  Not  every  one 
that  saith  unto  me,  Lord,  Lord, 
shall  enter  into  the  kingdom  of 
heaven:  but  he  that  doeth  the 
will  of  my  Father  which  is  in 
heaven. 

0  Heb.  iv.  14.  Seeing  then  that 
we  have  a  great  high  priest  that  is 
passed  into  the  heavens,  Jesus  the 
Son    of  God,   let    us     hold    fast 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


srr 


Q.  181.  Why  are  we  to  pray  in  the  name  of  Christ? 

*?.  The  sinfulness  of  man,  and  his  distance  from  God  by 
reason  thereof,  being  so  great,  as  that  we  can  have  no  ac- 
cess into  his  presence  without  a  mediator;?  and  there  being 
none  in  heaven  or  earth  appointed  to,  or  fit  for,  that  glo- 
rious work  but  Christ  alone,q  we  are  to  pray  in  no  other 
name  but  his  only.1 

Q.  182.  How  doth  the  Spirit  help  us  to  pray  ? 

J2.  We  not  knowing  what  to  pray  for  as  we  ought,  the 
Spirit  helpeth  our  infirmities,  by  enabling  us  to  understand 
both  for  whom,  and  what,  and  how  prayer  is  to  be  made ; 
and  by  working  and  quickening  in  our  hearts  (although  not 
in  all  persons,  nor  at  all  times,  in  the  same  measure)  those 


our  profession.  Ver.  15.  For  we 
have  not  a  high  priest  which 
cannot  be  touched  with  the  feel- 
ing of  our  infirmities;  but  was  in 
all  points  tempted  like  as  we  are, 
yet  without  sin.  Ver.  16.  Let  us 
therefore  come  boldly  unto  the 
throne  of  grace,  that  we  may  ob- 
tain mercy,  and  find  grace  to  help 
in  time  of  need.  1  John  v.  13. 
These  things  have  I  written  unto 
you  that  believe  on  the  name  of 
the  Son  of  God,  that  ye  may 
know  that  ye  have  eternal  life, 
and  that  ye  may  believe  on  the 
name  of  the  Son  of  God.  Ver.  14. 
And  this  is  the  confidence  that  we 
have  in  him,  that,  if  we  ask  any 
thing  according  to  his  will,  he 
heareth  us.  Ver.  15.  And  if  we 
know  that  he  hear  us,  whatsoever 
we  ask,  we  know  that  we  have 
the  petitions  that  we  desired  of 
him. 

181.  p  John  xiv.  6.  Jesus  saith 
unto  him,  I  am  the  way,  and  the 
truth,  and  the  life  ;  no  man  cometh 
unto  the  Father  but  by  me.  Isa. 
lix.  2.  But  your  iniquities  have 
separated  between  you  and  your 
God,  and  your  sins  have  hid  his 
face  from  you,  that  he  will   not 


hear.  Eph.  iii.  12.  In  whom  we 
have  boldness  and  access  with 
confidence  by  the  faith  of  him. 

i  John  vi.  27.  Labour  not  for  the 
meat  which  perisheth,  but  for  that 
meat  which  endureth  unto  ever- 
las'ing  life,  which  the  Son  of  man 
shall  give  unto  you  :  for  him  hath 
God  the  Father  sealed.  Heb.  vii. 
25.  Wherefore  he  is  able  also  to 
save  them  to  the  uttermost  that 
come  unto  God  by  him,  seeing  he 
ever  liveth  to  make  intercession 
for  them.  Ver.  26.  For  such  a 
high  priest  became  us,  who  is  h 
harmless,  undefiled,  separate  from 
sinners,  and  made  higher  than  the 
heavens;  Ver.  27.  Who  needeth 
not  daily,  as  those  high  priests,  to 
offer  up  sacrifice,  first  for  his  own 
sins,  and  then  for  the  people's; 
for  this  he  did  once,  when  he  of- 
fered up  himself.  1  Tim.  ii.  5. 
For  there  is  one  God,  and  one  me- 
diator between  God  and  men,  the 
man  Christ  Jesus. 

r  Col.  iii.  17.  And  whatsoever 
yc  do  in  word  or  deed,  do  all  in 
the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  giving 
thanks  to  God  and  the  Father 
by  him.  Heb.  xiii.  15.  By  him 
therefore  let  us  offer  the  sacrifice 


Tlie  Larger  Catechism. 


apprehensions,  affections,  and  graces  which  are  requisite 
for  the  right  performance  of  that  duty.8 

Q.  183.  For  ivhom  are  we  to  pray  7 

*fl.  We  are  to  pray  for  the  whole  church  of  Christ  upon 
earth  ; l  for  magistrates/  and  ministers  ;  'T  for  ourselves/ 
our  brethren/  yea,  our  enemies;2  and  for  all  sorts  of  men 
living,*  or  that  shall  live  hereafter  ;b  but  not  for  the  clead,c 


of  praise  to  God  continually,  that 
is,  the  fruit  of  our  lips,  giving 
thanks  to  his  name. 

182.  ■  Rom.  viii.  26.  Likewise 
the  Spirit  also  helpeth  our  infir- 
mities: for  we  know  not  what 
we  should  pray  for  as  we  ought : 
but  the  Spirit  itself  maketh  in- 
tercession for  us  with  groaning 
which  cannot  be  uttered.  Ver.  27. 
And  he  that  searcheth  the  hearts 
knoweth  what  is  the  mind  of 
the  Spirit,  because  he  maketh  in- 
tercession for  the  saints  according 
to  the  will  of  God.  Psal.  x.  17. 
Lord,  thou  hast  heard  the  desire 
of  the  humble:  thou  wilt  pre- 
pare their  heart,  thou  wilt  cause 
thine  ear  to  hear.  Zech.  xii.  10. 
And  I  will  pour  upon  the- house 
of  David,  and  upon  the  inhabi- 
tants of  Jerusalem,  the  Spirit  of 
grace  and  of  supplications:  and 
they  shall  look  upon  me  whom 
they  have  pierced,  and  they  shall 
mourn. — 

183.  l  Eph.  vi.  18.  Praying  al- 
ways with  all  prayer  and  suppli- 
cation in  the  Spirit,  and  watching 
thereunto  with  all  perseverance, 
and  supplication  for  all  saints. 
Psal.  xxviii.  9.  Save  thy  people, 
and  bless  thine  inheritance:  feed 
thein  also,  and  lift  them  up  for 
ever. 

v  1  Tim.  ii.  1.  I  exhort  there- 
fore, that,  first  of  all,  supplica- 
tions, prayers,  intercessions,  and 
giving  of  thanks,  be  made  for  all 
men :    Ver.  2.   For  kings,  and  for 


all  that  are  in  authority ;  that  we 
may  lead  a  quiet  and  peaceable 
life  in  all  godliness  and  honesty. 

w  Col.  iv.  3.  Withal,  praying 
also  for  us,  that  God  would  open 
unto  us  a  door  of  utterance,  to 
speak  the  mystery  of  Christ,  for 
which  I  am  also  in  bonds. 

x  Gen.  xxxii.  11.  Deliver  me, 
1  pray  thee,  from  the  hand  of  my 
brother,  from  the  hand  of  Esau: 
for  I  fear  him,  lest  he  will  come 
and  smite  me,  and  the  mother  with 
the  children. 

y  James  v.  16.  Confess  your 
faults  one  to  another,  and  pray 
one  for  another,  that  ye  may  be 
healed :  the  effectual  fervent 
prayer  of  a  righteous  man  availeth 
much. 

z  Mat.  v.  44.  But  I  say  unto 
you,  Love  your  enemies,  bless 
them  that  curse  you,  do  good  to 
them  that  hate  you,  and  pray  for 
them  which  despitefully  use  you, 
and  persecute  you. 

a  1  Tim.  ii.  1,  2.  [S"e  above  in  T  ] 

b  John  xvii.  20.  Neither  pray  I 
for  these  alone,  but  for  them  also 
which  shall  believe  on  me  through 
their  word.  2  Sam.  vii.  29.  There- 
fore now  let  it  please  thee  to  bless 
the  house  of  thy  servant,  that  it 
may  continue  for  ever  before 
thee :  for  thou,  O  Lord  God,  hast 
spoken  it,  and  with  thy  blessing 
Jet  the  house  of  thy  servant  be 
blessed  for  evfcr. 

c  2  Sam.  xii.  21.  Then  said  his 
servants  unto  him,  What  thing  is 


Tlie  Larger  Catechism. 


179 


nor  for  those  that  are  known  to  have  sinned  the  sin  unto 
death.d 

Q.  184.  For  what  things  are  zee  to  pray  ? 

A.  We  are  to  pray  for  all  things  tending  to  the  glory  of 
God,e  the  welfare  of  the  church/  our  own5  or  others' 
good;h  but  not  for  any  thing  that  is  unlawful.1 

Q.  185.  Hov:  are  ice  to  pray? 

A  We  are  to  pray  with  an  awful  apprehension  of  the  majesty 
ofGod,*  anddeepsense  of  our  own  unworthiness,1  necessities,13 


this  that  thou  hast  dune]  Thou 
didst  fast  and  weep  for  the  child 
while  it  was  alive;  but  when  the 
child  was  dead,  thou  didst  rise  and 
didst  eat  bread.  Ver.  22.  And  he 
said,  While  the  child  was  yet  alive 
I  fasted  and  wept;  for  I  said,  Who 
can  tell  whether  God  will  be  gra- 
cious to  me,  that  the  child  may 
live  ]  Ver.  23.  But  now  he  is  dead, 
wherefore  should  I  fast]  can  I 
bring  him  back  again  ]  I  shall  go  to 
him,  but  he  shall  not  return  to  me. 

d  1  John  v.  16.  If  any  man  see 
his  brother  sin  a  sin  which  is  not 
unto  death,  he  shall  ask  and  he 
shall  give  him  life  for  them  that 
sin  not  unto  death.  There  is  a  sin 
unto  death;  I  do  not  say  that  he 
shall  pray  for  it. 

184  e"  .Mat.  vi.  9.  After  this 
manner  therefore  pray  ye:  Our 
Father  which  art  in  heaven,  Hal- 
lowed be  thy  name. 

f  Psal.  li.  1*.  Do  good  in  thy 
good  pleasure  unto  Zion :  build 
thou  the  walls  of  Jerusalem.  Psal. 
exxii.  6.  Pray  for  the  peace  of  Je- 
rusalem :  they  shall  prosper  that 
love  thee. 

L,  vii.  11.  If  ye  then,  being 
evil,  know  how  to  give  good  gifts 
unto  your  children,  how  much  more 
shall  your  Father  which  is  in  hea- 
ven give  good  things  to  them  that 
ask  him  ] 


h  Psal.  exxv.  4.  Do  good,  O 
Lord,  unto  those  that  be  good, 
and  to  them  that  are  upright  in 
their  hearts. 

1  1  John  v.  14.  And  this  is 
the  confidence  that  we  have  in 
hirn.  that  if  we  ask  any  thing  ac- 
cording to  his  will,  he  heareth 
us. 

185.  k  Eccl.  v.  1.  Keep  thy  foot 
when  thou  goest  to  the  house  of 
God,  and  be  more  ready  to  hear, 
than  to  give  the  sacrifice  of  fools: 
for  they  consider  not  that  they  do 
evil. 

1  Gen.  xviii.  27.  And  Abraham 
answered  and  said,  Beho'd  now,  I 
have  taken  upon  me  to  speak  unto 
the  Lord,  which  am  but  dust  and 
ashes.  Gen.  xxxii.  10.  I  am  not 
worthy  of  the  least  of  all  the 
mercies,  and  of  all  the  truth, 
which  thou  hast  showed  unto  thy 
servant. — 

m  Luke  xv.  17.  And  when  he 
came  to  himself,  he  said,  How 
many  hired  servants  of  my  father's 
have  I  read  enough  and  to  spare, 
ar.d  I  perish  with  hunger!  Ver.  18. 
I  will  arise  and  go  to  my  father, 
and  will  say  unto  him,  Father,  I 
have  sinned  against  Heaven,  and 
before  th.ee,  Ver.  19.  And  am  no 
more  worthy  to  be  called  thy  son ; 
make  me  as  one  of  thy  hired  ser- 
vants. 


380 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


and  sins ; n  with  penitent,0  thankful,?  and  enlarged  hearts  ;  i 
with  understanding,1  faith,8  sincerity,1  fervency/  love,w  and 
perseverance/  waiting  upon  him,y  with  humble  submission 
to  his  will.z 

Q.    18G.    JVhal  rule  hath  God  giveti  for  our  direction  in  the 
duty  of  prayer  ? 

A.  The  whole  word  of  God  is  of  use  to  direct  us  in  the 
duty  of  prayer  ;a  but  the   special   rule  of  direction  is  that 


n  Luke  xviii.  13.  And  the  pub- 
lican, standing  afar  off,  would 
not  lift  up  so  much  as  his  eyes 
unto  heaven,  but  smote  upon  his 
breast,  saying,  God  be  merciful 
to  me  a  sinner.  Ver.  14.  I  tell 
you,  this  man  went  down  to  his 
house  justified  rather  than  the 
other:  for  every  one  that  exalteth 
himself  shall  be  abased;  and  lie 
that  humbleth  himself  shall  be  ex- 
alted. 

0  Psal.  li.  17.  The  sacrifices  of 
God  arc  a  broken  spirit:  a  broken 
and  a  contrite  heart,  O  God,  thou 
wilt  not  despise. 

p  Phil.  iv.  6.  Be  careful  for  no- 
thing: but  in  every  thing  by  pray- 
er and  supplication,  with  thanks- 
giving, let  your  requests  be  made 
known  unto  God. 

<»  1  Sam.  i.  15.  And  Hannah  an- 
swered and  said,  No,  my  lord ;  I 
am  a  woman  of  a  sorrowful  spi- 
rit: I  have  drunk  neither  wine  nor 
strong  drink,  but  have  poured  out 
my  soul  before  the  Lord.  1  Sam. 
ii.  1.  And  Hannah  prayed  and  said, 
My  heart  rejoiceth  in  the  Lord, 
mine  horn  is  exalted  in  the  Lord: 
my  mouth  is  enlarged  over  mine 
enemies;  because  I  rejoice  in  thy 
salvation. 

r  1  Cor.  xiv.  15.  What  is  it  then  1 
I  will  pray  with  the  spirit,  and  I 
will  pray  with  the  understanding 
also: — 

•  Mark  xi.  24.  Therefore  I  say 
unto  you,  What  things  soever  ye 


desire  when  ye  pray,  believe  that 
ye  receive  them,  and  ye  shall  have 
them.  James  i.  0.  But  let  him 
ask  in  faith,  nothing  wavering  :  for 
he  that  wavereth  is  like  a  wave  of 
the  sea,  driven  with  the  wind,  and 
tossed. 

*  Psal.  cxlv.  18.  The  Lord 
is  nigh  unto  all  them  that  call 
upon  him,  to  all  that  call  up- 
on him  in  truth.  Psal.  xvii.  1. 
Hear  the  right,  O  Lord,  attend  un- 
to my  cry  ;  give  ear  unto  my  pray- 
er that  goeth  not  out  of  feigned 
lips. 

v  James  v.  16.— The  effectual 
fervent  prayer  of  a  righteous  man 
availeth  much. 

w  1  Tim.  ii.  8.  I  will  therefore 
that  men  pray  every  where,  lifting 
up  holy  hands,  without  wrath  and 
doubting. 

x  Eph.  vi.  18.  Praying  always 
with  all  prayer  and  supplication 
in  the  Spirit,  and  watching  there- 
unto with  all  perseverance,  and 
supplication  for  all  saints. 

y  Micah  vii.  7.  Therefore  I  will 
look  unto  the  Lord:  I  will  wait 
for  the  God  of  my  salvation ;  my 
God  will  hear  me. 

2  Mat.  xxv i.  39.  And  he  went  a 
little  farther,  and  fell  on  his  face, 
and  prayed,  saying,  O  my  Father, 
if  it  be  possible,  let  this  cup  pass 
from  me:  nevertheless,  not  as  I 
will,  but  as  thou  wilt. 

186.  *  1  John  v.  14.  And  this 
is  the  confidence  that  we  have  in 


Tht  Larger  Catechism. 


381 


form  of  prayer  which  our  Saviour  Christ  taught  his  disci- 
ples, commonly  called  The  Lord's  Prayer? 

Q.   167.    How  is  the  Lord's  prayer  to  be  used? 

A.  The  Lord's  prayer  is  not  only  for  direction,  as  a  pat- 
tern, according  to  which  we  are  to  make  other  prayers;  but 
may  also  be  used  as  a  prayer,  so  that  it  be  done  with  un- 
derstanding, faith,  reverence,  and  other  graces  necessary  to 
the  right  performance  of  the  duty  of  prayer.c 

Q.   188.  Of  how  many  parts  does  the  Lord's  prayer  consist? 

•fl.  The  Lord's  prayer  consists  of  three  parts ;  a  preface, 
petitions,  and  a  conclusion. 

Q.  189.  What  doth  the  preface  of  the  Lord's  prayer  teach  us? 

A.  The  preface  of  the  Lord's  prayer  (contained  in  these 
words,  Our  Father  which  art  in  heaven6)  teacheth  us,  when 
we  pray,  to  draw  near  to  God  with  confidence  of  his  fatherly 
goodness,  and  our  interest  therein  ;e  with  reverence,  and  all 
other  child-like  dispositions/  heavenly  affections,8  and  due 
apprehensions  of  his  sovereign  power,  majesty,  and  gracious 
condescension:11  as  also,  to  pray  with  and  for  others.1 


him.  that,  if  we  ask  any  thing  ac- 
cording to  his  will,  he  heareth  us. 

b  Mat.  vi.  9—13.  After  this  man- 
ner therefore  pray  ye  :  Our  Faiher, 
<SfC.  Luke  xi.  2,  3,  4.  And  lie  said 
unto  thorn,  When  ye  pray,  say, 
Our  Father,  &c. 

1-7-  c  Mat,  vi.  9.  Compared  with 
Luke  xi.  2.  [See  above  in  letter*.] 

189.  d  Mat.  vi.  9. 

e  Luke  xi.  13.  If  ye  then,  being 
evil,  know  how  to  give  good  gifts 
unto  your  children;  how  mucli 
more  shall  your  heavenly  Fath  r 
give  the  Holy  Spirit  to  them  that 
ask  trim!  Rom.  viii.  15.  For  ye 
have  not  received  the  spirit  of 
bondage  again  to  fear  ;  but  ye  have 
received  the  Spirit  of  adoption, 
whereby  we  cry,  Abba,  Father. 

f  Isa.  Ixiv.  9.  Be  not  wroth  very 
sore,  O  Lord,  neither  remember 
iniquity  for  ever:  behold,  see,  we 
beseech  thee,  we  are  all  thy  people. 


e  Psal.  cxxiii.  1.  Unto  thee  lift  I 
up  mine  eyes,  O  thou  that  dwell- 
est  in  the  heavens.  Lam.  iii.  41. 
Let  us  lift  up  our  heart  with  our 
hands  unto  God  in  the  heavens. 

h  Isa.  lxiii.  15.  Look  down  from 
heaven,  and  behold  from  the  ha- 
bitation of  thy  holiness  and  of 
thy  glory:  where  is  thy  zeal  and 
thy  strength,  the  sounding  of  thy 
bowels,  and  of  thy  mercies  to- 
wards me?  are  they  restrained! 
Ver.  16.  Doubtless  thou  art  our 
Father,  though  Abraham  be  ig- 
norant of  us,  and  Israel  acknow- 
ledge us  not:  thou,  O  Lord,  art 
our  Father,  our  Redeemer,  thy 
name  is  from  everlasting.  Neh. 
i.  4.  And  it  came  to  pass,  when 
I  heard  these  words,  that  I  sat 
down  and  wept,  and  mourned  cer- 
tain days,  and  fasted,  and  prayed 
before  the  God  of  heaven,  Ver.  5. 
And  said,  I  beseech  thee,  O  Lord 


382  The  Larger  Catechism, 

Q.   190.    What  do  we  pray  for  i?i  the  first  petition  ? 

A.  In  the  first  petition,  (which  is,  Hallowed  be  thy  name,*) 
acknowledging  the  utter  inability  and  indisposition  that  is  in 
ourselves  and  all  men  to  honour  God  aright,1  we  pray,  that 
God  would  by  his  grace  enable  and  incline  us  and  others  to 
know,  to  acknowledge,  and  highly  to  esteem  him,m  his 
titles,"  attributes,0  ordinances,  word,?  works,  and  whatso- 


God  of  heaven,  the  great  and 
terrible  God,  that  keepeth  cove- 
nant and  mercy  for  them  that 
love  him,  and  observe  his  com- 
mandments: Ver.  6.  Let  thine  ear 
now  be  attentive,  and  thine  eyes 
open,  that  thou  mayest  hear  the 
prayer  of  thy  servant,  which  I 
pray  before  thee  now,  day  and 
night,  for  the  children  of  Israel 
thy  servants,  and  confess  the  sins 
of  the  children  of  Israel,  which 
we  have  sinned  against  thee : 
both  I  and  my  father's  house  have 
sinned. 

•Actsxii.  5.  Peter  therefore  was 
kept  in  prison ;  but  prayer  was 
made  without  ceasing  of  the  church 
unto  God  for  him. 

190.  k  Mat.  vi.  9. 

1  2  Cor.  iii.  5.  Not  that  we 
are  sufficient  of  ourselves  to  think 
any  thing  as  of  ourselves:  but 
our  sufficiency  is  of  God.  Psal. 
li.  15.  O  Lord,  open  thou  my  lips, 
and  my  mouth  shall  show  forth 
thy  praise. 

mPsal.  lxvii.  2.  That  thy  way  may 
be  known  upon  earth,  thy  saving 
health  among  all  nations.  Ver.  3. 
Let  the  people  praise  thee,  O  God ; 
let  all  the  people  praise  thee. 

n  Psal.  Ixxxiii.  18.  That  men 
may  know  that  thou,  whose  name 
alone  is  JEHOVAH,  art  the  most 
High  over  all  the  earth. 

Q  Psal.  lxxxvi.  10.  For  thou  art 
great,  and  doest  wondrous  things: 
thou  art  God  alone.  Ver.  11.  Teach 


me  thy  way,  O  Lord;  I  will  walk 
in  thy  truth:  unite  my  heart  to 
fear  thy  name.  Ver.  12.  I  will 
praise  thee,  O  Lord  my  God,  with 
all  my  heart;  and  I  will  glorify  thy 
name  for  evermore.  Ver.  13.  For 
great  is  thy  mercy  toward  me: 
and  thou  hast  delivered  my  soul 
from  the  lowest  hell.  Ver.  15.  But 
thou,  O  Lord,  art  a  God  full  of  com- 
passion, and  gracious,  long-suffer- 
ing, and  plenteous  in  mercy  and 
truth. 

p  2  Thess.  iii.  1.  Finally,  bre- 
thren, pray  for  us,  that  the  word  of 
the  Lord  may  have  free  course,  and 
be  glorified,  even  as  it  is  with  you. 
Psal.  cxlvii.  19.  He  showeth  his 
word  unto  Jacob,  his  statutes  and 
his  judgments  unto  Israel.  Ver. 
20.  He  hath  not  dealt  so  with  any 
nation:  and  as  for  his  judgments, 
they  have  not  known  them.  Praise 
ye  the  Lord.  Psal.  cxxxviii.  1.  I 
will  praise  thee  with  my  whole 
heart;  before  the  gods  will  I  sing 
praise  unto  thee.  Ver.  2.  I  will 
worship  towards  thy  holy  temple, 
and  praise  thy  name,  for  thy 
loving-kindness,  and  for  thy 
truth:  for  thou  hast  magnified 
thy  word  above  all  thy  name. 
Ver.  3.  In  the  day  when  I  cried, 
thou  answeredst  me:  and  strength- 
enedst  me  with  strength  in  my 
soul.  2  Cor.  ii.  14.  Now  thanks 
be  unto  God,  which  always 
causeth  us  to  triumph  in  Christ, 
and  maketh   manifest  the  savour 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


583 


fever  he  is  pleased  to  make  himself  known  by ; q  and  to  glo- 
rify him  in  thought,  word/  and  deed:5  that  he  Wtmld 
prevent  and  remove  atheism,'  ignorance/  idolatry,1'  pro- 
faneness>*  and  whatsoever  is  dishonourable  to  him;y  and 
by  his  over-ruling  providence,  direct  and  dispose  of  all 
things  to  his  own  glory.2 


of  his  knowledge  by  us  in  every 
place.  Ver.  15.  For  we  are  unto 
God  a  sweet  savour  of  Christ,  in 
them  that  are  saved,  and  in  them 
that  perish. 

«  Psal.  cxlv.  throughout.  I  will 
extol  thee,  my  God,  O  King-,  <$-c. 
Psal.  viii.  throughout.  O  Lord, 
our  Lord,  how  excellent  is  thy 
name  in  all  the  earth!  <$-c 

r  Psal.  ciii.  1.  Bless  the  Lord,  O 
my  soul;  and  all  that  is  within 
me,  bless  his  holy  name.  Psal. 
xix.  14.  Let  the  words  of  my 
mouth,  and  the  meditation  of  my 
heart,  be  acceptable  in  thy  sight, 
O  Lord,  my  strength,  and  my 
redeemer. 

•  Phil.  i.  9.  And  this  I  pray, 
that  your  love  may  abound  yet 
more  and  more  in  knowledge, 
and  in  all  judgment;  Ver.  11.  Be- 
ing filled  with  the  fruits  of  righ- 
teousness, which  are  by  Jesus 
Christ,  unto  the  glory  and  praise 
of  God. 

*  Psal.  Ixvii.  1.  God  be  merci- 
ful unto  us,  and  bless  us;  and 
cause  his  face  to  shine  upon  us. 
Selah.  Ver.  2.  That  thy  way  may 
be  known  upon  earth,  thy  saving 
health  among  all  nations."  Ver.  3. 
Let  the  people  praise  thee,  O 
God;  let  all  the  people  praise 
thee.  Ver.  4.  O  let  the  mtions  be 
glad,  and  sing  for  joy:  for  thou 
shalt  judge  the  people  righte- 
ously, and  govern  the  nations  up- 
on earth.     Seiah. 

T  Eph.  i.  17.    That  the  God  of 


our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  the  Father 
of  glory,  may  give  unto  you  the 
Spirit  of  wisdom  and  revelation 
in  the  knowledge  of  him;  Ver.  18. 
The  eyes  of  your  understanding 
being  enlightened;  that  ye  may 
know  what  is  the  hope  of  his  call- 
ing, and  what  the  riches  of  the 
glory  of  his  inheritance  in  the 
saints. 

w  Psal.  xcvii.  7.  Confounded  be 
all  they  that  serve  graven  images, 
that  boast  themselves  of  idols : 
worship  him,  all  ye  gods. 

x  Psal.  Ixxiv.  1?.  Remember 
this,  that  the  enemy  hath  re- 
proached, O  Lord,  and  that  the 
foolish  people  have  blasphemed 
thy  name.  Ver.  22.  Arise,  O  God, 
plead  thine  own  cause:  remember 
how  the  foolish  man  reproacheth 
thee  daily.  Ver.  23.  Forget  not 
the  voice  of  thine  enemies:  the 
tumult  of  those  that  rise  up  against 
thee  increaseth  continually. 

y  2  Kings  xix.  15.  And  Hezekiah 
prayed  before  the  Lord,  and  .said, 
O  Lord  God  of  Israel,  which  dwell- 
est  between  the  cherubims,  thou 
art  the  God,  even  thou  alone,  of 
all  the  kingdoms  of  the  earth; 
thou  hast  made  heaven  and  earth. 
Ver.  16.  Lord,  bow  down  thine 
car,  and  hear;  open,  Lord  thine 
eyes,  and  see:  and  hear  the  words 
of  Sennacherib,  which  hath  sent 
him  to  reproach  the  living  God. 

z  2  Chron.  xx.  6.  And  (Jeho- 
shaphat)  said,  O  Lord  God  of  our 
fathers,  art  not  thou  God  in  hea- 


384 


The  Larger  Catechism, 


Q.   191.   What  do  zue  pray  for  in  the  second  petition  ? 

A.-  In  the  second  petition  (which  is,  Thy  kingdom  come*) 
acknowledging  ourselves  and  all  mankind  to  be  by  nature 
under  the  dominion  of  sin  and  Satan,b  we  pray,  that  the  king- 
dom of  sin  and  Satan  may  be  destroyed,0  the  gospel  propaga- 
ted throughout  the  world,d  the  Jews  called,6  the  fulness  of  the 
Gentiles  brought  in;f  the  church  furnished  with  all  gospel- 


ven?  and  rulest  not  thou  over  all 
the  kingdoms  of  the  heathen  1  and 
in  thine  hand  is  there  not  power 
and  might,  so  that  none  is  able  to 
withstand  thee?  Ver.  10.  And  now, 
behold  the  children  of  Ammon,  and 
Moab,  and  mount  Seir,  whom  thou 
wouldestnot  let  Israel  invade,  when 
they  came  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt, 
but  they  turned  from  them,  and 
destroyed  them  not;  Ver.  11.  Be- 
hold, I  say,  how  they  reward  us,  to 
come  to  cast  us  out  of  thy  posses- 
sion, which  thou  hast  given  us  to 
inherit.  Ver.  12.  O  our  God,  wilt 
thou  not  judge  them]  for  we  have 
no  might  against  this  great  com- 
pany that  cometh  against  us;  neither 
know  we  what  to  do :  but  our  eyes 
are  upon  thee.  Psal.  Ixxxiii. 
throughout.  Keep  not  thou  silence, 
O  God  :  hold  not  thy  peace,  &c. 
Psal.  cxl.  4.  Koep  me,  O  Lord,  from 
the  hands  of  the  wicked,  preserve 
me  from  the  violent  man,  who  have 
purposed  to  overthrow  my  goings. 
Ver.  8.  Grant  not,  O  Lord,  the  de- 
sires of  the  wicked  :  further  not  his 
wicked  devices,  lest  they  exalt 
themselves.     Sclah. 

191.  *  Matth.  vi.  10. 

h  Eph.  ii.  2.  Wherein  in  time  past 
ye  walked  according  to  the  course 
of  this  world,  according  to  the 
prince  of  the  power  of  the  air,  the 
spirit  that  now  worketh  in  the  child- 
ren of  disobedience.  Ver.  3.  Among 
whom  also  we  all  had  our  conversa- 
tion in  times  past,  in  the  lusts  of  our 


flesh,  fulfilling  the  desires  of  the 
flesh,  and  of  the  mind  ;  and  were  by 
nature  the  children  of  wrath,  even 
as  others. 

c  Psal.  lxviii.  1.  Let  God  arise,  let 
his  enemies  be  scattered  :  let  them 
also  that  hate  him  flee  before  him. 
Ver.  18.  Thou  hast  ascended  on 
high,  thou  hast  led  captivity  cap- 
tive: thou  hast  received  gifts  for 
men;  yea,  for  the  rebellious  also, 
that  the  Lord  God  might  dwell 
among  them.  Rev.  xii.  10.  And  1 
heard  a  loud  voice  saying  in  hea- 
ven, Now  is  come  salvation,  and 
strength,  and  the  kingdom  of 
our  God,  and  the  power  of  his 
Christ:  for  the  accuser  of  our 
brethren  is  cast  down  which  ac- 
cused them  before  our  God  day 
and  night.  Ver.  11.  And  they 
overcame  him  by  the  blood  of 
the  Lamb,  and  by  the  worJ  of 
their  testimony;  and  they  loved 
not  their  lives  unto  the  death. 

d  2  Thess.  iii.  1.  Finally,  bre- 
thren, pray  for  us,  that  the  word 
of  the  Lord  may  have  free  course, 
and  be  glorified,  even  as  it  is  with 
you. 

e  Rom.  x.  1.  Brethren,  my 
heart's  de.sire  and  prayer  to  God 
for  Israel  is,  that  they  might  be 
saved. 

rJohn  xvii.  9. 1  pray  for  them:  I 
pray  not  for  the  world,  but  for 
them  which  thou  host  given  me, 
for  they  are  thine.  Ver.  20.  Nei- 
ther  pray   I   for  these  alone,  but 


The  Larger-Catechism. 


i&5 


officers  and  ordinances,8  purged  from  corruption,11  counte- 
nanced and  maintained  by  the  civil  magistrate  :'  that  the  or- 
dinances of  Christ  may  be  purely  dispensed,  and  made  effec- 
tual to  the  converting  of  those  that  are  yet  in  their  sins,  and 
the  confirming,  comforting,  and  building  up  of  those  that 
are  alreadv  converted  :k  that  Christ  would  rule  in  our  hearts 


for  them  also  which  shall  believe 
on  me  through  their  word.  Rom. 
xi.  25.  For  I  would  not,  bre- 
thren, that  ye  should  be  ignorant 
of  this  mystery,  (lest  ye  should 
be  wise  in  your  own  conceits,) 
that  blindness  in  part  is  happened 
to  Israel,  until  the  fulness  of  the 
Gentiles  be  come  in.  Ver.  26. 
And  so  all  Israel  shall  b<?  saved : 
as  it  is  written,  There  shall  come 
out  of  Sion  the  Deliverer,  and 
shall  turn  away  ungodliness  from 
Jacob.  Psal.  Ixvii.  throughout. 
God  be  merciful  unto  us,  and 
bless  us:  and  cause  his  face  to 
shine  upon  us,  fyc. 

s  Mat.  ix.  38.  Pray  ye  there- 
fore the  Lord  of  the  harvest,  that 
he  will  send  forth  labourers  into 
his  harvest.  2  Thess.  iii.  1.  Finally, 
brethren,  pray  for  us,  that  the  word 
of  the  Lord  may  have  free  course, 
and  be  glorified",  even  as  it  is  with 
you. 

h  Mai.  i.  11.  For  from  the  rising 
of  the  sun,  even  unto  the  going 
down  of  the  same,  my  name  shall 
be  great  among  the  Gentiles; 
and  in  every  place  incense  shall 
be  offered  unto  my  name,  and 
a  pure  offering :  for  my  name  shall 
be  great  among  the  heathen,  saith 
the  Lord  of  hosts.  Zeph.  iii.  9. 
For  then  will  I  turn  to  the  peo- 
ple a  pure  language,  that  they 
may  all  call  upon  the  name  of  the 
Lord,  to  serve  him  with  one  con- 
sent. 

1  1  Tim.  ii.  1.  I  exhort  there- 
fore that  first  of  all,  supplications, 
prayers,  intercessions,  and  giving 


of  thanks,  be  made  for  all  men: 
Ver.  2.  For  kings,  and  for  all  that 
are  in  authority;  that  we  may 
lead  a  quiet  and  peaceable  life  in 
all  godliness  and  honesty. 

k  Acts  iv.  29.  And  now,  Lord, 
behold  their  threatenings :  and 
grant  unto  thy  servants,  thai 
with  all  boldness  they  may  speak 
thy  word,  Ver.  30.  By  stretching 
forth  thine  hand  to  heal ;  and 
that  signs  and  wonders  may  be 
done  by  the  name  of  thy  holy 
child  Jesus.  Eph.  vi.  18.  Pray- 
ing always  with  all  prayer  and 
supplication  in  the  Spirit,  and 
watching  thereunto  with  all  per- 
severance, and  supplication  for 
all  saints;  Ver.  19.  And  for  me, 
that  utterance  may  be  given 
unto  me,  that  I  may  open  my 
mouth  boldly,  to  make  known 
the  mystery  of  the  gospel,  Ver.  20. 
For  which  I  am  an  ambassador  in 
bonds;  that  therein  I  may  speak 
boldly  as  I  ought  to  speak.  Rom. 
xv.  29.  And  I  am  sure  that,  when 
I  come  unto  you,  I  shall  come  in 
the  fulness  of  the  blessing  of  the 
gospel  of  Christ.  Ver.  30.  Now 
I  beseech  you,  brethren,  for  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ's  sake,  and  for 
the  love  of  the  Spirit,  that  ye  strive 
together  with  me  in  vour  pravers 
to  God  for  me;  Ver.  32.  That  I 
may  come  unto  you  with  joy  by 
the  will  of  God,  and  may  "with 
you  be  refreshed.  2  Thess.  i.  11. 
Wherefore  also  we  pray  always 
for  you,  that  our  God  would 
count  you  worthy  of  this  calling, 
and  fulfil  all  the  good  pleasure  of 


386 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


here,1  and  hasten  the  time  of  his  second  coming,  and  our 
reigning  with  him  for  ever:m  and  that  he  would  be  pleased 
so  to  exercise  the  kingdom  of  his  power  in  all  the  world,  as 
may  best  conduce  to  these  ends." 

Q.   192.    Wha-t  do  we  pray  for  in  the  third  petition  ? 

A.  In  the  third  petition,  (which  is,  Thy  will  be  done  in  earth 
as  it  is  in  heaven,0)  acknowledging,  that  by  nature  we  and 
all  men  are  not  only  utterly  unable  and  unwilling  to  know 
and  do  the    will  of  God,p   but  prone  to  rebel  against   his 


his  goodness,  and  the '  work  of 
faith  with  power.  2  Thess.  ii.  16. 
Now  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  him- 
self, and  God,  even  our  Father, 
which  hath  loved  us,  and  hath 
given  us  everlasting  consolation, 
and  good  hope  through  grace, 
Ver.  17.  Comfort  your  hearts,  and 
stablish  you  in  every  good  word 
and  work. 

1  Eph.  iii.  14.  For  this  cause  1 
bow  my  knees  unto  the  Father  of 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  Ver.  15. 
Of  whom  the  whole  family  in 
heaven  and  earth  is  named,  Ver.  16. 
That  he  would  grant  you,  accord- 
ing to  the  riches  of  his  glory,  to  be 
strengthened  with  might  by  his 
Spirit  in  the  inner  man :  Ver.  17. 
That  Christ  may  dwell  in  your 
hearts  by  faith;*  that  ye,  being 
rooted  and  grounded  in  love, 
Ver.  18.  May  be  able  to  compre- 
hend with  all  saints,  what  is  the 
breadth,  and  length,  and  depth, 
and  height;  Ver.  19.  And  to  know 
the  love  of  Christ,  which  passeth 
knowledge,  that  ye  might  be  filled 
■with  all  the  fulness  of  God.  Ver. 
20.  Now  unto  him  that  is  able  to 
do  exceeding  abundantly  above  all 
that  we  ask  or  think,  according  to 
the  power  that  worketh  in  us. 

m  Rev.  xxii.  20.  He  which  testi- 
fied these  things  saith,  Surely  I 
come  quickly;  Amen.  Even  so, 
come,  Lord  Jesus. 

D  Isa.  Ixiv.    L    Oh   that  thou 


wouldest  rend  the  heavens,  that 
thou  wouldest  come  down,  that 
the  mountains  might  flow  down 
at  thy  presence!  Ver.  2.  As  when 
the  melting  fire  burnetii,  the  fire 
causeth  the  waters  to  boil,  to 
make  thy  name  known  to  thine 
adversaries,  that  the  nations  may 
tremble  at  thy  presence.  Rev. 
iv.  8.  And  the  four  beasts  had  each 
of  them  six  wings  about  him,  and 
they  w7ere  full  of  eyes  within; 
and  they  rest  not  day  and  night, 
saying,  Holy,  holy,  holy,  Lord 
God  Almighty,  which  was,  and 
is,  and  is  to  come.  Ver.  9.  And 
when  those  beasts  give  glory,  and 
honour,  and  thanks,  to  him  that 
sat  on  the  throne,  who  liveth  for 
ever  and  ever,  Ver.  10.  The  four 
and  twenty  elders  fall  down  be- 
fore him  that  sat  on  the  throne, 
and  worship  him  that  liveth  for 
ever  and  ever,  and  cast  their 
crowns  before  the  throne,  saving, 
Ver.  11.  Thou  art  worthy,  O  Lord, 
to  receive  glory,  and  honour,  and 
power:  for  thou  hast  created  all 
things,  and  for  thy  pleasure  they 
are  and  were  created. 

192.  °  Matth.  vi.  10. 

p  Rom.  vii.  18.  For  I  know 
that  in  me  (that  is,  in  my  flesh) 
dwelleth  no  good  thing:  for  to 
will  is  present  with  me,  but  how 
to  perform  that  which  is  good  I 
find  not.  Job  xxi.  14.  Therefore 
they  say  unto  God,  Depart  from 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


387 


Word,*  to  repine  and  murmur  against  his  providence/ 
and  wholly  inclined  to  do  the  will  of  the  flesh,  and  of 
the  devil  :s  we  pray  that  God  would  by  his  Spirit  take 
away  from  ourselves  and  others  all  blindness,*  weakness/ 
indisposedness,w  and  perverseness  of  heart; x  and  by  his 
grace  make  us  able  and  willing  to  know,  do,  and  submit 
to  his  will  in  all  things/  with  the  like  humility,2  cheerful- 


us;  for  we  desire  not- the  know- 
ledge of  thy  ways.  1  Cor.  ii.  14. ' 
But  the  natural  man  receiveth  not 
the  things  of  the  Spirit  of  God  :  for 
they  are  foolishness  unto  him  ;  nei- 
ther can  he  know  them,  because 
they  are  spiritually  discerned. 

q  Rom.  viii.  7.  Because  the  car- 
nal mind  is  enmity  against  God : 
for  it  is  nGt  subject  to  the  law  of 
God,  neither  indeed  can  be. 

r  Exod.  xvii.  7.  And  he  called 
the  name  of  the  place  Massah,  and 
Meribah,  because  of  the  chiding 
of  the  children  of  Israel,  and  be- 
cause they  tempted  the  Lord,  say- 
ing, Is  the  Lord  among  us  or  not? 
Numb.  xiv.  2.  And  all  the  children 
of  Israel  murmured  against  Moses 
and  against  Aaron  :  and  the  whole 
congregation  said  unto  them, 
Would  God  that  we  had  died  in 
the  land  of  Egypt,  or,  would  God 
we  had  died  in  this  wilderness! 

8  Eph.  ii.  2.  Wherein  in  time 
past  ye  walked  according  to  the 
course  of  this  world,  according  to 
the  prince  of  the  power  of  the  air, 
the  spirit  that  now  worketh  in 
the  children  of  disobedience. 

'Eph.  i.  17.  That  the  God  of 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  the  Father 
of  glory,  may  give  unto  you  the 
Spirit  of  wisdom  and  revelation 
in  the  knowledge  of  him:  Ver.  18. 
The  eyes  of  your  understanding 
being  enlightened;  that  ye  may 
know  what  is  the  hope  of  his  call- 
ing, and  what  the  riches  of  the  glo- 
ry of  his  inheritance  in  the  saints. 

y  Eph.  iii.  16.   That  he  would 


grant  you,  according  to  the  riches 
of  his  glory,  to  be  strengthened 
with  might  by  his  Spirit  in  the  in- 
ner man. 

w  Mat.  xxvi.  40.  And  he  Com- 
eth unto  the  disciples,  and  findeth 
them  asleep,  and  saith  unto  Peter, 
What!  could  ye  not  watch  with 
me  one  hour'.'  Ver.  41.  Watch  and 
pray,  that  ye  enter  not  into  temp- 
tation: the  spirit  indeed  is  willing, 
but  the  flesh  is  weak. 

x  Jer.  xxxi.  18.  I  have  surely 
heard  Ephraim  bemoaning  himself 
thus,  Thou  hast  chastised  me,  and 
I  was  chastised,  as  a  bullock  unac- 
customed to  the  yoke :  turn  thou 
me,  and  I  shall  be  turned ;  for  thou 
art  the  Lord  my  God.  Ver.  19. 
Surely  after  that  I  was  turned,  I 
repented  ;  and  after  that  I  was  in- 
structed, I  smote  upon  my  thigh  : 
I  was  ashamed,  yea,  even  con- 
founded, because  I  did  bear  the  re- 
proach of  my  youth. 

y  Psal.  cxix.  1.  Blessed  are  the 
undefiled  in  the  way,  who  walk 
in  the  law  of  the  Lord.  Ver.  8.  I 
will  keep  thy  statutes :  O  forsake 
me  not  utterly.  Ver.  35.  Make  me 
to  go  in  the  path  of  thy  command- 
ments, for  therein  do  I  delight. 
Ver.  36.  Incline  my  heart  unto  thy 
testimonies,  and  not  to  covetous- 
ness.  Acts  xxi.  14.  And  when 
he  would  not  be  persuaded,  we 
ceased,  saying,  The  will  of  the 
Lord  be  donef 

z  Mic.  vi.  8-  He  hath  showed 
thee,  O  man,  what  is  good;  and 
what  doth  the  Lord  require  of  thee, 


388 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


ness,a  faithfulness,15  diligence,0  zeal,d  sincerity,6  and  con- 
stancy/ as  the  angels  do  in  heaven.8 

Q    193.   What  do  we  pray  for  in  the  fourth  petition? 

A.  In  the  fourth  petition,  (which  is,  Give  us  this  day  our 
daily  bread,h)  acknowledging,  that  in  Adam,  and  by  our  own 
sin,  we  have  forfeited  our  right  to  all  the  outward  blessings 
of  this  life,  and  deserve  to  be  wholly  deprived  of  them  by 
God,  and  to  have  them  cursed  to  us  in  the  use  of  them;'1  and 


but  to  do  justly,  and  to  love  mercy, 
and  to  walk  humbly  with  thy 
God? 

a  Psal.  c.  2.  Serve  the  Lord 
with  gladness:  come  before  his 
presence  with  singing.  Job  i.  21. 
And  (Job)  said,  Naked  came  I 
out  of  my  mother's  womb,  and 
naked  shall  I  return  thither:  the 
Lord  gave,  and  the  Lord  hath  taken 
away;  blessed  be  the  name  of  the 
Lord.  2  Sam.  xv.  25.  And  the 
king  said  unto  Zadok,  Carry  back 
the  ark  of  God  into  the  city :  if  I 
shall  find  favour  in  the  eyes  of  the 
Lord,  he  will  bring  me  again,  and 
show  me  both  it  and  his  habitation. 
*  Ver.  26.  But  if  he  thus  say,  I 
have  no  delight  in  thee;  behold, 
here  arn  I,  let  him  do  to  me  as 
seemeth  good  unto  him. 

b  Isa.  xxxviii.  3.  And  said,  Re- 
member now,  O  Lord,  I  beseech 
thee,  how  I  have  walked  before 
thee  in  truth,  and  with  a  perfect 
heart,  and  have  done  that  which  is 
good  in  thy  sight.  And  Hezekiah 
wept  sore. 

c  Psal.  cxix.  4.  Thou  hast  com- 
manded us  to  keep  thy  precepts 
diligently.  Ver.  5.  O  that  my 
ways  were  directed  to  keen  thy 
statutes ! 

d  Rom.  xii.  11.  Not  slothful  in 
business;  fervent  in  spirit;  serving 
the  Lord. 

0  Psal.  cxix.  80.  Let  my  heart 
be  Found  in  thy  statutes:  that  I  be 
not  ashamed. 

f  Psal.  cxix.  112.  I  have  inclined 


mine  heart  to  perform  thy  statutes 
alvvay,  even  unto  the  end. 

g  Isa.  vi.  2.  Above  it  stood  the 
seraphims:  each  one  had  six  wings; 
with  twain  he  covered  his  face, 
and  with  twain  he  covered  his 
feet,  and  with  twain  he  did  fly. 
Ver.  3.  And  one  cried  unto  ano- 
ther, and  said,  Holy,  holy,  holy,  is 
the  Lord  of  hosts;  the  whole  earth 
is  full  of  his  glory.  Psal.  ciii.  20. 
Bless  the  Lord,  ye  his  angels,  that 
excel  in  strength,  that  do  his  com- 
mandments, hearkening  unto  the 
voice  of  his  word.  Ver.  21.  Bless 
ye  the  Lord,  all  ye  his  hosts,  ye 
ministers  of  his  that  do  his  plea- 
sure. Mat.  xviii.  10.  Take  heed 
that  ye  despise  not  one  of  these  lit- 
tle ones:  for  I  say  unto  you,  That 
in  heaven  their  angels  do  always 
behold  the  face  of  my  Father 
which  is  in  heaven. 

193.  h  Mat.  vi.  11. 

1  Gen.  ii.  17.  But  of  the  tree  of  the 
knowledge  of  good  and  evil,  thou 
shalt  not  eat  of  it:  for  in  the  day 
that  thou  eatest  thereof  thou  shaft 
surely  die.  Gen.  iii.  17.  And 
unto  Adam  he  said,  Because  thou 
hast  hearkened  unto  the  voice  of 
thy  wife,  and  hast  eaten  of  the 
tree  of  which  I  commanded  thee, 
saying,  Thou  shalt  not  eat  of  it; 
cursed  is  the  ground  for  thy  sake; 
in  sorrow  shalt  thou  eat  of  it  all 
the  days  of  thy  life.  Rom.  viii.  20. 
For  the  creature  was  made  subject 
to  vanity,  not  willingly,  but  by 
reason  of  him   who  hath  subjected 


The  Larger  Catechism, 


389 


that  neither  they  of  themselves  are  able  to  sustain  us,k  nor 
we  to  merit,1  or  by  oar  own  industry  to  procure  them ; m 
but  prone  to  desire/  get,0  and  use  them  unlawfully : p  we 
pray  for  ourselves  and  others,  that  both  they  and  we,  wait- 
ing upon  the  providence  of  God  from  day  to  day  in  the  use 
of  lawful  means,  may,  of  his  free  gift,  and  as  to  his 
fatherly  wisdom  shall  seem  best,  enjoy  a  competent  portion 
of  them  ; q  and  have  the  same  continued  and  blessed  unto  us 


the  same  in  hope :  Ver.  21.  Be- 
cause the  creature  itself  also  shall 
be  delivered  from  the  bondage  of 
corruption,  into  the  glorious  li- 
berty of  the  children  of  God. 
Ver.  22.  For  we  know  that  the 
whole  creation  groaneth,  and  tra- 
vaileth  in  pain  together  until  now. 
Jer.  v.  25.  Your  iniquities  have 
turned  away  these  things,  and 
your  sins  have  withholden  good 
things  from  you.  Deut.  xxviii. 
from  Verse  15  to  the  end  of  the 
Chapter.  Ver.  15.  But  it  shall  come 
to  pass,  if  thou  wilt  not  hearken 
unto  the  voice  of  the  Lord  thy 
God,  to  observe  to  do  ail  his 
commandments  and  his  statutes, 
which  I  command  thee  this  day, 
that  all  these  curses  shall  corne 
upon  thee,  and  overtake  thee. 
Ver.  16.  Cursed  shalt  thou  be  in 
the  city,,  and  cursed  shalt  thou  be 
in  the  field.  Ver.  17.  Cursed  shall 
be  thy  basket  and  thy  store,  &c. 

*Deut.  viii.  3.  And  he  humbled 
thee,  and  suffered  thee  to  hunger, 
and  fed  thee  with  manna,  which 
thou  knewest  not,  neither  did  thy 
fathers  know,  that  he  might  make 
thee  knosv  that  man  doth  not  live 
by  bread  only,  but  by- every  word 
that  proceedeth  out  of  the  mouth 
of  the  Lord  doth  man  live. 

1  Gen.  xxxii.  10.  I  am  not  wor- 
thy of  the  least  of  all  the  mer- 
cies, and  of  all  the  truth,  which 
thou  hast  showed  unto  thy  ser- 
vant.— 


m  Deut.  viii.  17-  And  thou  say 
in  thine  heart,  My  power  and  the 
might  of  my  hand  hath  gotten 
me  this  wealth.  Ver.  18.  But 
thou  shalt  remember  the  Lord 
thy  God  ;  for  it  is  he  that  giveth 
thee  power  to  get  wealth,  that 
he  may  establish  his  covenant, 
which  he  sware  unto  thy  fathers, 
as  it  is  this  day. 

n  Jer.  vi.  13.  For  from  the  least 
of  them  even  unto  the  greatest  of 
them,  every  one  is  given  to  covet- 
ousness:  and  from  the  prophet 
even  unto  the  priest,  every  one 
dealeth  falsely.  Mark  vii.  21. 
For  from  within,  out  of  the  heart 
of  men,  proceed  evil  thoughts, 
adulteries,  fornications,  murders. 
Ver.  22.  Thefts,  covetousness, 
wickedness,  deceit. — 

0  Hos.  xii.  7.  He  is  a  merchant, 
the  balances  of  deceit  are  in  his 
hand  :  he  loveth  to  oppress. 

p  James  iv.  3.  Ye  ask,  and  re- 
ceive not,  because  ye  ask  amiss, 
that  ye  may  consume  it  upon  your 
lusts. 

*  Gen.  xliii.  12.  And  take  double 
money  in  your  hand :  and  the 
money  that  was  brought  again  in 
the  mouth  of  your  sacks,  carry  it 
again  in  your  hand;  peradventure 
it  was  an  oversight.  Ver.  13.  Take 
also  your  brother,  and  arise,  go 
again  unto  the  man.  Ver.  14.  And 
God  Almighty  give  you  mercy  be- 
fore the  man. — Gen.  xxviii.  20. 
And  Jacob  vowed  a  vow,  saying, 


390 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


in  our  holy  and  comfortable  use  of  them/  and  contentment 
in  them;8  and  be  kept  from  all  things  that  are  contrary  to 
our  temporal  support  and  comfort.1 

Q.  194.  What  do  we  pray  for  in  the  fifth  petition? 

*fl.  In  the  fifth  petition,  (which  is,  Forgive  us  our  debts,  as 
we  forgive  our  debtors?)  acknowledging,  that  we  and  all 
others  are  guilty  both  of  original  and  actual  sin,  and  thereby 
become  debtors  to  the  justice  of  God ;  and  that  neither  we, 
nor  any  other  creature,  can  make  the  least  satisfaction  for 
that  debt;w  we  pray  for  ourselves  and  others,  that  God  of 


If  God  will  be  with  me,  and  will 
keep  me  in  this  way  that  I  go, 
and  will  give  me  bread  to  eat, 
and  raiment  to  put  on.  Eph. 
iv.  28.  Let  him  that  stole  steal 
no  more ;  but  rather  let  him  la- 
bour working  with  his  hands 
the  thing  which  is  good,  that  he 
may  have  to  give  to  him  that 
needeth.  2  Thess.  iii.  11.  For 
we  hear  that  there  arc  some 
which  walk  among  you  disorder- 
ly, working  not  at  all,  but  are 
busy-bodies.  Ver.  12.  Now  them 
that  are  such  we  command  and 
exhort  by  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
that  with  quietness  they  work, 
and  eat  their  own  bread.  Phil. 
iv.  6.  Be  careful  for  nothing: 
but  in  every  thing,  by  prayer  and 
supplication,  with  thanksgiving, 
let  your  requests  be  made  known 
unto  God. 

r  1  Tim.  iv.  3.  Forbidding  to 
marry,  and  commanding  to  abstain 
from  meats,  which  God  hath  cre- 
ated to  be  received  with  thanks- 
giving of  them  which  believe  and 
Know  the  truth.  Ver.  4.  For  every 
creature  of  God  is  good,  and  no- 
thing to  be  refused,  if  it  be  re- 
ceived with  thanksgiving:  Ver.  5. 
For  it  is  sanctified  by  the  word  of 
God  and  prayer. 

8  1  Tim.  vi.  6.  But  godliness 
with  contentment  is  great  gain. 
Ver.  7.  For  we  brought  nothing  in- 


to this  world,  and  it  is  certain  we 
can  carry  nothing  out.  Ver.  8.  And 
having  food  and  raiment,,  let  us 
be  therewith  content. 

*  Prov.  xxx.  8.  Remove  far 
from  me  vanity  and  lies;  give 
me  neither  poverty  nor  riches, 
feed  me  with  food  convenient  for 
me:  Ver.  9.  Lest  I  be  full,  and 
deny  thee,  and  say,  Who  is  the 
Lord'!  or  lest  1  be  poor,  and  steal, 
and  take  the  name  of  my  God  in 
vain. 

194.  Y  xMatth.  vi.  12. 

w  Rom.  iii.  from  Verse  9,  to  22. 
Ver.  9.  What  then?  are  we  better 
than  they?  No,  in  no  wise:  for 
we  have  before  proved  both  Jews 
and  Gentiles,  that  they  ate  all 
under  sin;  Ver.  10.  As  it  is  writ- 
ten, There  is  none  righteous, 
no,  not  one:  Ver.  11.  There  is 
none  that  understandeth,  there 
is  none  that  seeketh  after  God: 
Ver.  12.  They  are  all  gone  out  of 
the  way,  they  are  together  be- 
come unprofitable;  there  is  none 
that  doeth  good,  no,  not  one,  &c. 
Ver.  19. — That  every  mouth  may 
be  stopped,  and  all  the  world 
may  become  guilty  before  God, 
&c.  Mat.  xviii.  24.  And  when 
he  had  begun  to  reckon,  one  was 
brought  unto  him  which  owed 
him  ten  thousand  talents.  Ver.  25. 
But  forasmuch  as  he  had  not  to 
pay,  his  lord   commanded  him  to 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


391 


his  free  grace  would,  through  the  obedience  and  satisfaction 
of  Christ,  apprehended  and  applied  by  faith,  acquit  us  both 
from  the  guilt  and  punishment  of  sin,x  accept  us  in  his  Be- 
loved/ continue  his  favour  and  grace  to  us,z  pardon  our 
daily  failings,11  and  fill  us  with  peace  and  joy,  in  giving  us 
daily  more  and  more  assurance  of  forgiveness  ; b  which  we 
are  the  rather  imboldened  to  ask,  and  encouraged  to  ex- 
pect, when  we  have  this  testimony  in  ourselves,  that  we 
from  the  heart  forgive  others  their  offences.0 


be  sold,  and  his  wife,  and  his 
children,  and  all  that  he  had, 
and  payment  to  be  made.  Psal. 
cxxx.  3.  If  thou,  Lord,  shouldest 
mark  iniquities,  O  Lord,  who  shall 
stand]  Ver.  4.  But  there  is  for- 
giveness with  thee,  that  thou 
may  est  be  feared. 

x  Rom.  iii.  24.  Being  justified 
freely  by  his  grace,  through  the 
redemption  that  is  in  Christ  Jesus: 
Ver.  25.  Whom  God  hath  set  forth 
to  be  a  propitiation  through  faith 
in  his  blood,  to  declare  his  righ- 
teousness for  the  remission  of  sins 
that  are  past,  through  the  for- 
bearance of  God ;  Ver.  26.  To  de- 
clare, I  say,  at  this  time  his  righ- 
teousness: that  he  might  be  just, 
and  the  justifier  of  him  which  be- 
lieveth  in  Jesus.  Heb.  ix.  22.  And 
almost  all  things  are  by  the  law 
purged  with  blood:  and  without 
"shedding  of  blood  is  no  remission. 

y  Eph.  i.  6.  To  the  praise  of  the 
glory  of  his  grace,  wherein  he 
hath  made  us  accepted  in  the  Be- 
loved :  Ver.  7.  In  whom  we  have 
redemption  through  his  blood,  the 
forgiveness  of  sins,  according  to 
the  riches  of  his  grace. 

z  2  Pet.  i.  2.  Grace  and  peace 
be  multiplied  unto  you  through 
the  knowledge  of  God,  and  of 
Jesus  our  Lord. 

a  Hosea  xiv.  2.  Take  with  you 
words,  and  turn  to  the  Lord  :  say 


unto  him,  Take  away  all  iniquity, 
and  receive  us  graciously  :  so  will 
we  render  the  calves  of  our  lips. 
Jer.  xiv.  7.  O  Lord,  though  our  in- 
iquities testify  against  us,  do  thou 
it  for  thy  name's  sake:  for  our 
backslidings  are  many,  we  have 
sinned  against  thee. 

b'Rom.  xv.  13.  Now  the  God 
of  hope  fill  you  with  all  joy  and 
peace  in  believing,  that  ye  may 
abound  in  hope  through  the  power 
of  the  Holy  Ghost.  Psal.  li.  7. 
Purge  me  with  hyssop,  and  I 
shall  be  clean:  wash  me,  and  I 
shall    be  whiter  than  snow.     Ver. 

8.  Make  me  to  hear  joy  and 
gladness:  that  the  bones  which 
thou  hast  broken  may  rejoice.  Ver. 

9.  Hide  thy  face  from  my  sins,  and 
blot  out  all  mine  iniquities.    Ver. 

10.  Create  in  me  a  clean  heart,  O 
God;  and  renew  a  right  spirit 
within  me.  Ver.  12.  Restore  unto 
me  the  joy  of  thy  salvation  ;  and 
uphold  me  with  thy  free  Spirit.  • 

c  Luke  xi.  4.  And  forgive  us 
our  sins;  for  we  also  forgive  every 
one  that  is  indebted  to  us. — Mat. 
vi.  14.  For  if  ye  forgive  men  their 
trespasses,  your  heavenly  Father 
will  aiso  forgive  you.  Ver.  15.  But 
if  ye  forgive  not  men  their  tres- 
passes, neither  will  your  Father 
forgive  your  trespasses.  Mat. 
xviii.  35.  So  likewise  shall  my 
heavenly  Father  do  also  unto  you, 


39^> 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


Q.  195.  What  do  ice  pray  for  in  the  sixth  petition  ? 

A.  In  the  sixth  petition,  (which  is,  And  lead  us  not  into 
temptation,  but  deliver  us  from  cvil,d)  acknowledging,  that 
the  most  wise,  righteous,  and  gracious  God,  for  divers  holy 
and  just  ends,  may  so  order  things,  that  we  may  be  assault- 
ed, foiled,  and  for  a  time  led  captive  by  temptations;6  that 
Satan/  the  world,6  and  the  flesh,  are  ready  powerfully  to- 
draw  us  aside,  and  insnare  us;h  and  that  we,  even  after  the 
pardon  of  our  sins,  by  reason  of  our  corruption,*  weakness, 
and  want  of  watchfulness,11  are  not  only  subject  to  be  tempted, 
and  forward  to  expose  ourselves  unto  temptations,1  but  also  of 


if  ye  from  your  hearts  forgive 
not  every  one  his  brother  their 
trespasses. 

195.  d  Matth.  vi.  13. 

6  2  Chron.  xxxii.  31.  Howbeit,  in 
the  business  of  the  ambassadors  of 
the  princes  of  Babylon,  who  sent 
unto  him  to  inquire  of  the  wonder 
that  was  done  in  the  land,  God 
left  him  to  try  him,  that  he  might 
know  all  that  was  in  his  heart. 

f  1  Chron.  xxi.  1.  And  Satan 
stood  up  against  Israel,  and  pro- 
voked David  to  number  Israel. 

s  Luke  xxi.  34.  And  take  heed 
to  yourselves,  lest  at  any  time 
your  hearts  be  overcharged  with 
surfeiting,  and  drunkenness,  and 
cares  of  this  life,  and  so  that  day 
come  upon  you  unawares.  Mark 
iv.  19.  And  the  cares  of  this  world, 
and  the  deceitfulness  of  riches, 
and  the  lusts  of  other  things  en- 
tering in,  choke  the  word,  and  it 
becometh  unfruitful. 

h  James  i.  14.  But  every  man  is 
tempted,  when  he  is  drawn  away 
of  his  own  lust,  and  enticed. 

1  Gal.  v.  17.  Fur  the  flesh  lust- 
cth  against  the  Spirit,  and  the 
Spirit  against  the  flesh :  and  these 
are  contrary  the  one  to  the  other; 
so  that  ye  cannot  do  the  things 
that  ye  would. 

k   Mat.   xxvi.  41.     Watch  and 


pray,  that  ye  enter  not  into  temp- 
tation :  the  spirit  indeed  is  willing, 
but  the  flesh  is  weak. 

1  Mat.  xxvi.  69.  Now  Peter  sat 
without  in  the  palace ;  and  a  dam- 
sel came  unto  him,  saying,  Thou 
also  wast  with  Jesus  of  Galilee. 
Ver.  ?()•  But  he  denied  before  them 
all,  saying,  I  know  not  what  thou 
sayest.  Ver.  71.  And  when  he 
was  gone  out  into  the  porch,  ano- 
ther maid  saw  him,  and  said  unto 
them  that  were  there,  This  fellow 
was  also  with  Jesus  of  Nazareth. 
Ver.  72.  And  again  he  denied  with 
an  oath,  I  do  not  know  the  man. 
Gal.  ii.  11.  But  when  Peter  was 
come  to  Antioch,  I  withstood  him 
to  the  face,  because  he  was  to  be 
blamed.  Ver.  12.  For  before  that 
certain  came  from  James,  he  did 
eat  with  the  Gentiles;  but  when 
they  were  come,  he  withdrew, 
and  separated  himself,  fearing 
them  which  were  of  the  circum- 
cision. Ver.  13.  And  the  other  Jews 
dissembled  likewise  with  him; 
insomuch  that  Barnabas  also  was 
carried  away  with  their  dissimu- 
lation. Ver.  14.  But  when  I  saw- 
that  they  walked  not  uprightly, 
according  to  the  truth  of  the  gos- 
pel, I  said  unto  Peter.— 2  Chron. 
xviii.  3.  And  Ahab  king  of  Israel 
said    unto   Jehoshaphat    king    of 


The  Larger  Catechism. 


393 


ourselves  unable  and  unwilling  to  resist  them,  to  recover  out 
of  them,  and  to  improve  them  ;m  and  worthy  to  be  left  under 
the  power  of  them:11  we  pray,  that  God  would  so  over-rule  the 
world  and  all  in  it,0  subdue  the  flesh,p  and  restrain  Satan,q 


Judah,  Wilt  thou  go  with  me  to 
Ramoth-gilead  ]  And  he  answer- 
ed him,  I  am  as  thou  art,  and  my 
people  as  thy  people,  and  we  will 
be  with  thee  in  the  war.  Com- 
pared with  2  Chron.  xix.  2.  And 
Jehu,  the  son  of  Hanani  the  seer, 
went  out  to  meet  him,  and  said, 
to  king-  Jehoshaphat,  Shouldest 
thou  help  the  ungodly,  and  love 
them  that  hate  the  Lord]  there- 
fore is  wrath  upon  thee  from  be- 
fore the  Lord. 

m  Rom.  vii.  23.  But  1  see  ano- 
ther law  in  my  members  war- 
ring- against  the  law  of  my  mind, 
and  bringing  me  into  captivity 
to  the  law  of  sin,  which  is  in 
my  members.  Ver.  24.  O  wretch- 
ed man  that  I  am,  who  shall  de- 
liver me  from  the  body  of  this 
death!  1  Chron.  xxi.  1.  And 
Satan  stood  up  against  Israel, 
and  provoked  David  to  number 
Israel.  Ver.  2.  And  David  said 
to  Joab,  and  to  the  rulers  of 
the  people,  Go,  number  Israel, 
from  Beer-sheba  even  to  Dan; 
and  bring  the  number  of  them 
to  me,  that  I  may  know  it. 
Ver.  3.  And  Joab  answered,  The 
Lord  make  his  people  a  hun- 
dred times  so  many  more  as 
they  be:  but,  my  lord  the  king, 
are  they  not  all  my  lord's  ser- 
vants? why  then  doth  my  lord 
require  this  thing]  why  will 
he  be  a  cause  of  trespass  to  Is- 
rael] Ver.  4.  Nevertheless,  the 
king's  word  prevailed  against 
Joab:  wherefore  Joab  departed. 
—2  Chron.  xvi.  7.  And  at  that 
time   Hanani   the  seer   came   to 


Asa  king  of  Judah,  and  said  unto 
him,  Because  thou  hast  relied  on 
the  king  of  Syria,  and  not  relied 
on  the  Lord  thy  God,  therefore 
is  the  host  of  the  king  of  Syria 
escaped  out  of  thine  hand.  Ver.  8. 
Were  not  the  Ethiopians  and 
the  Lubims  a  huge  host,  with 
very  many  chariots  and  horsemen  ] 
yet,  because  thou  didst  rely  on  the 
Lord,  he  delivered  them  into  thine 
hand.  Ver.  9.  For  the  eyes  of  the 
Lord  run  to  and  fro  throughout  the 
whole  earth,  to  show  himself  strong 
in  the  behalf  of  them  whose  heart 
is  perfect  towards  him.  Herein 
thou  hast  done  foolishly:  there- 
fore from  henceforth  thou  shalt 
have  wars.  Ver.  10.  Then  Asa 
was  wroth  with  the  seer,  and  put 
him  in  a  prison-house;  for  he 
was  in  a  rage  with  him  because 
of  this  thing :  and  Asa  oppressed 
some  of  the  people  the  same  time. 

n  Psal.  lxxxi.  11.  But  my  people 
would  not  hearken  to  my  voice ; 
and  Israel  would  none  of  me. 
Ver.  12.  So  I  gave  them  up  unto 
their  own  hearts'  lust:  and  they 
walked  in  their  own  counsels. 

0  John  xv ii.  15.  I  pray  not  that 
thou  shouldest  take  them  out  of 
the  world,  but  that  thou  shouldest 
keep  them  from  the  evil. 

p  Psal.  Ii.  10.  Create  in  me  a 
clean  heart,  O  God;  and  renew 
a  right  spirit  within  me.  Psal, 
cxix.  133-  Order  my  steps  in  thy 
word :  and  Jet  not  any  iniquity 
have  dominion  over  me. 

*  2  Cor.  xii.  7.  And  lest  I  should 
be  exalted  above  measure  through 
the  abundance  of  the  revelations, 


394 


Tlie  Larger  Catechism* 


order  all  things/  bestow  and  bless  all  means  of  grace,3  and 
quicken  us  to  watchfulness  in  the  use  of  them,  that  we 
and  all  his  people  may  by  his  providence  be  kept  from 
being  tempted  to  sin ; l  or,  if  tempted,  that  by  his  Spirit  we 
may  be  powerfully  supported  and  enabled  to  stand  in  the  hour 
of  temptation  ;v  or,  when  fallen,  raised  again  and  recovered 
out  of  it,w  and  have  a  sanctified  use  and  improvement  there- 
of; x  that  our  sanctification  and  salvation  may  be  perfected/ 


there  was  given  to  me  a  thorn  in 
the  flesh,  the  messenger  of  Satan  to 
buffet  me,  lest  I  should  be  exalted 
above  measure.  Ver.  8.  For  this 
thing  I  besought  the  Lord  thrice, 
that  it  might  depart  from  me. 

r  1  Cor.  x.  12.  Wherefore  let 
him  that  thinketh  he  standeth  take 
heed  lest  he  fall.  Ver.  13.  There 
hath  no  temptation  taken  you  but 
such  as  is  common  to  man :  but 
God  is  faithful,  who  will  not  suffer 
you  to  be  tempted  above  that  ye 
are  able;  but  will  with  the  temp- 
tation also  make  a  way  to  escape, 
that  ye  may  be  able  to  bear  it, 

8  Heb.  xiii.  20.  Now  the  God 
of  peace,  that  brought  again  from 
the  dead  our  Lord  Jesus,  that 
great  Shepherd  of  the  sheep, 
through  the  blood  of  the  ever- 
lasting covenant,  Ver.  21.  Make 
you  perfect  in  every  good  work, 
to  do  his  will,  working  in  you 
that  which  is  well-pleasing  in  his 
sight,  through  Jesus  Christ. — 

*  Mat.  xxvi.  41.  Watch  and 
pray,  that  ye  enter  not  into  temp- 
tation.— Psal.  xix.  13.  Keep  back 
thy  servant  also  from  presump- 
tuous sins,  let  them  not  have 
dominion  over  mo:  then  shall  I 
be  upright,  and  I  shall  be  inno- 
cent from  the  great  transgression. 

v  Eph.  iii.  14.  For  this  cause  I 
bow  my  knees  unto  the  Father  of 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  Ver.  15.  Of 
whom  the   whole  family  in  hea- 


ven and  earth  is  named,  Ver.  1& 
That  he  would  grant  you,  ac- 
cording to  the  riches  of  his  glory, 
to  be  strengthened  with  might  by 
his  Spirit  in  the  inner  man; 
Ver.  17.  That  Christ  may  dwell  in 
your  hearts  by  faith:— 1  Thess. 
iii.  13.  To  the  end  he  may  sta- 
blish  your  hearts  unblameable  in 
holiness  before  God,  even  our  Fa- 
ther, at  the  coming  of  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ  with  all  his  saints. 
Jude,  Ver.  24.  Now  unto  him 
that  is  able  to  keep  you  from 
falling,  and  to  present  you  fault- 
less before  the  presence  of  his 
glory  with  exceeding  joy. 

w  Psal.  li.  12.  Restore  unto  me 
the  joy  of  thy  salvation;  and  up- 
hold me  with  thy  free  Spirit. 

1 1  Pet.  v.  8.  Be  sober,  be  vigi- 
lant; because  your  adversary  the 
devil,  as  a  roaring  lion,  walketh 
about  seeking  whom  he  may  de- 
vour. Ver.  9.  Whom  resist  steadfast 
in  the  faith,  knowing  that  the 
same  afflictions  are  accomplished 
in  your  brethren  that  are  in  the 
world.  Ver.  10.  But  the  God  of 
all  grace,  who  hath  called  us 
unto  his  eternal  glory  by  Christ  Je- 
sus, after  that  ye  have  suffered  a 
while,  make  you  perfect,  stablish, 
strengthen,  settle  you. 

>'2Cor.  xiii.  7.  Now  I  pray  to 
God  that  ye  do  no  evil ;  not  that 
we  should  appear  approved,  but 
that  ye   should  do   that  which  is 


Tlie  Larger  Catechism. 


S95 


Satan  trodden  under  our  feet,2  and  we  fully  freed  from  sin, 
temptation,  and  all  evil,  for  ever.* 

Q.  196.  What  doth  the  conclusion  of  the  Lord's  prayer  teach 
us? 

A.  The  conclusion  of  the  Lord's  prayer,  (which  is,  For 
thine  is  the  kingdom,  and  the  power,  and  the  glory,  for 
ever,  J2men,h)  teacheth  us  to  enforce  our  petitions  with  argu- 
ments,0 which  are  to  be  taken,  not  from  any  worthiness  in 
ourselves,  or  in  anv  other  creature,  but  from  God; d  and 


honest,  though  we  be  as  repro- 
bates- Ver.  9.  For  we  are  glad 
when  we  are  weak,  and  ye  are 
strong:  and  this  also  we  wish,  even 
your  perfection. 

zRom.  xvi.  20.  And  the  God 
of  peace  shall  bruise  Satan  under 
your  feet  shortly. — Zech.  iii.  2. 
And  the  Lord  said  unto  Satan, 
The  Lord  rebuke  thee,  O  Satan, 
even  the  Lord  that  hath  chosen 
Jerusalem,  rebuke  thee :  is  not 
this  a  brand  plucked  out  of  the 
fire]  Luke  xxii.  31.  And  the 
Lord  said,  Simon,  Simon,  behold, 
Satan  hath  desired  to  have  you, 
that  he  may  sift  you  as  wheat: 
Ver.  32.  But  I  have  prayed  for 
thee,  that  thy  faith  fail  not;  and 
when  thou  art  converted,  strength- 
en thy  brethren. 

a  John  xvii.  15.  I  pray  not  that 
thou  shouldest  take  them  out  of 
the  world,  but  that  thou  shouldest 
keep  them  from  the  evil.  1  Thess. 
v.  23.  And  the  very  God  of  peace 
sanctify  you  wholly:  and  I  pray 
God  your  whole  spirit,  and  soul, 
and  body  be  preserved  blameless 
unto  the  coming  of  our  Lord  Je- 
sus Christ. 

196. b  Matth.  vi.  13. 

c  Rom.  xv.  30.  Now  I  beseech  you, 
brethren,  for  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ's 
sake,  and  for  the  love  of  the  Spi- 
rit, that  ye  strive  together  with  me 
in  your  prayers  to  God  for  me. 


d  Dan.  ix.  4.  And  I  prayed  unto 
the  Lord  my  God,  and  made  my 
confession,  and  said,  O  Lord,  the 
great  and  dreadful  God,  keeping 
the  covenant  and  mercy  to  them 
that  love  him,  and  to  them  that 
keep  his  commandments.  Ver.  7. 
O  Lord,  righteousness  belongeth 
unto  thee,  but  unto  us  confusion  of 
faces,  as  at  this  day:  Ver.  8.  O 
Lord,  to  us  belongeth  confusion  of 
face,  to  our  kings,  to  our  princes, 
and  to  our  fathers,  because  we 
have  sinned  against  thee.  Ver.  9. 
To  the  Lord  our  God  belong  mer- 
cies and  forgivenesses,  though  we 
have  rebelled  against  him.  Ver. 
16.  O  Lord,  according  to  all  thy 
righteousness,  I  beseech  thee,  let 
thine  anger  and  thy  fury  be  turned 
away  from  thy  city  Jerusalem. 
Ver.  17.  Now  therefore,  O  our 
God,  hear  the  prayer  of  thy 
servant,  and  his  supplications, 
and  cause  thy  face  to  shine 
upon  thy  sanctuary  that  is  deso- 
late, for  the  Lord's  sake.  Ver.  18. 
O  my  God,  incline  thine  ear,  and 
hear;  open  thine  eyes,  and  be- 
hold our  desolations,  and  the  city 
which  is  called  by  thy  name:  for 
we  do  not  present  our  supplica- 
tions before  thee  for  our  right- 
eousness, but  for  thy  great  mer- 
cies. Ver.  19.  O  Lord,  hear;  O 
Lord,  forgive;  O  Lord,  hearken 
and  do;   defer  not,  for  thine  own 


396 


The  Larger  Catechism, 


-with  our  prayers  to  join  praises,6  ascribing  to  God  alone 
eternal  sovereignty,  omnipotency,  and  glorious  excellency  ;f 
in  regard  whereof',  as  he  is  able  and  willing  to  help  us,g  so 
we  by  faith  are  imboldened  to  plead  with  him  that  he 
would,h  and  quietly  to  rely  upon  him,  that  he  will  fulfil  our 
requests.1  And,  to  testify  this  our  desire  and  assurance,  wc 
say,  Amen* 


sake,  O  my  God:  for  thy  city  and 
thy  people  are  called  by  thy  name. 

e  Phil.  iv.  6.  Be  careful  for  no- 
thing: but  in  every  thing  by  pray- 
er and  supplication,  with  thanks- 
giving, let  your  requests  be  made 
known  unto  God,  t^c. 

f  1  Chron.  xxix.  10.  Where- 
fore David  blessed  the  Lord  be- 
fore all  the  congregation:  and 
David  said,  Blessed  be  thou,  Lord 
God  of  Israel  our  father,  for  ever 
and  ever.  Ver.  11.  Thine,  O  Lord, 
is  the  greatness  and  the  power, 
and  the  glory,  and  the  victory, 
and  the  majesty:  for  all  that  is 
in  the  heaven  and  in  the  earth 
is  thine;  thine  is  the  kingdom,  O 
Lord,  and  thou  art  exalted  as  head 
above  all.  Ver.  12.  Both  riches 
and  honour  come  of  thee,  and  thou 
reignest  over  all;  and  in  thine 
hand  is  power  and  might,  and  in 
thine  hand  it  is  to  make  great,  and 
to  give  strength  unto  all.  Ver.  13. 
Now  therefore,  our  God,  we  thank 
thee,  and  praise  thy  glorious  name. 

s  Eph.  iii.  20.  Now  unto  him 
that  is  able  to  do  exceeding  abun- 
dantly above  all  that  we  ask  or 
think,  according  to  the  power 
that  worketh  in  us,  Ver.  21.  Unto 
him  be  glory  in  the  church  by 
Christ  Jesus,  throughout  all  ages, 
world  without  end.  Amen.  Luke 
xi.  13.  If  ye  then,  being  evil,  know 
how  to  give  good  gifts  unto  your 


children ;  how  much  more  shall  your 
heavenly  Father  give  the  Holy 
Spirit  to  them  that  ask  him? 

h  2  Chron.  xx.  6.  And  (Jeho- 
shaphat)  said,  O  Lord  God  of  our 
fathers,  art  not  thou  God  in  hea- 
ven"? and  rulest  not  thou  overall 
the  kingdoms  of  the  heathen"? 
and  in  thine  hand  is  there  not 
power  and  might,  so  that  none  is 
able  to  withstand  thee"?  Ver.  11. 
Behold,  I  say,  how  they  reward  us,, 
to  come  to  cast  us  out  of  thy  pos- 
session, which  thou  hast  given  us 
to  inherit. 

1  2  Chron.  xiv.  11.  And  Asa 
cried  unto  the  Lord  his  God,  and 
said,  Lord,  it  is  nothing  with  thee 
to  help,  whether  with  many,  or 
with  them  that  have  no  power: 
help  us,  O  Lord  our  God;  for  we 
rest  on  thee,  and  in  thy  name  we 
go  against  this  multitude:  O  Lord, 
thou  art  our  God,  let  not  man  pre- 
vail against  thee. 

k  1  Cor.  xiv.  16.  Else,  when  thou 
shalt  bless  with  the  Spirit,  how 
shall  he  that  occupieth  the  room  of 
the  unlearned,  say  Amen  at  thy 
giving  of  thanks,  seeing  he  under- 
standeth  not  what  thou  sayest? 
Rev.  xxii.  20.  He  which  testifieth 
these  things  saith,  Surely  I  come 
quickly;  Amen.  Even  so,  come, 
Lord  Jesus.  Ver.  21.  The  grace 
of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  be  with 
you  all.     Amen. 


FINIS. 


SHORTER   CATECHISM, 

AGREED  UPON  BT 

THE    ASSEMBLY    OF    DIVINES 
AT  WESTMINSTER, 

WITH  THE 

ASSISTANCE    OF    COMMISSIONERS 

FROM  THE 

CHURCH    OF  SCOTLAND, 


A  part  of  the  Covenanted  Uniformity  in  Religion  betwixt  the  Churches  of 
Christ  in  the  Kingdoms  of  Scotland,  England,  and  Ireland: 


Approved  Anno  1648,  by  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Church  of  Scot- 
land, to  be  a  Directory  for  catechising  such  as  are  of  weaker  Capacity. 

WITH  THE 

PROOFS  FROM  THE  SCRIPTURE. 


Assembly  at  Edinburgh,  July  28,  1G48.  Sess.  19. 

Act  approving  the  Shorter  Catechism. 

The  General  Assembly  having  seriously  considered  the 
►Shorter  Catechism  agreed  upon  by  the  Assembly  of  Di- 
vines sitting  at  Westminster,  with  assistance  of  Commission- 
ers from  this  Kirk;  do  find,  upon  due  examination  thereof, 
that  the  said  Catechism  is  agreeable  to  the  word  of  God,  and 
in  nothing  contrary  to  the  received  doctrine,  worship,  dis- 
cipline, and  government  of  this  Kirk :  And  therefore  ap- 
prove the  said  Shorter  Catechism,  as  a  part  of  the  intended 
uniformity,  to  be  a  Directory  for  catechising  such  as  are  of 
weaker  capacity. 

A.  KER. 


SHORTER   CATECHISM. 

Quest.  1.    What  is  the  chief  end  of  man  ? 

Anszc.  Man's  chief  end  is  to  glorify  God,a  and  to  enjoy 
him  for  ever.b 

Q.  2.  What  rule  hath  God  given  to  direct  us  how  ice  may 
glorify  and  enjoy  him  ? 

A.  The  word  of  God,  which  is  contained  in  the  scriptures 
of  the  Old  and  New  Testaments,0  is  the  only  rule  to  direct 
us  how  we  may  glorify  and  enjoy  him.d 


li  »  1  Cor.  x.  31.  Whether  there- 
fore ye  eat,  or  drink,  or  whatso- 
ever ye  do,  do  all  to  the  glory  of 
God.  Rom.  xi.  36.  For  of  him, 
and  through  him,  and  to  him,  are 
all  things:  to  whom  be  glory  for 
ever.     Amen. 

b  Psal.  lxxiii.  25.  Whom  have  I 
in  heaven  but  thee  ]  and  there  is 
none  upon  earth  that  I  desire  be- 
sides thee.  Ver.  26.  My  flesh  and 
my  heart  faileth:  but  God  is  the 
strength  of  my  heart,  and  my  por- 
tion for  ever.  Ver,  27.  For,  lo, 
they  that  are  far  from  thee  shall 
perish:    thou  hast   destroyed  all 


them  that  go  a  whoring  from  thee. 
Ver.  23.  But  it  is  good  for  me  to 
draw  near  to  God  :  I  have  put  my 
trust  in  the  Lord  God,  that  I  may 
declare  all  thy  works. 

2.  c  2  Tim.  iii.  16.  All  scripture 
is  given  by  inspiration  of  God,  and 
is  profitable  for  doctrine,  for  re- 
proof, for  correction,  for  instruc- 
tion in  righteousness.  Eph.  ii.  20. 
And  are  built  upon  the  foundation 
of  the  apostles  and  prophets,  Jesus 
Christ  himself  being  the  chief  cor- 
ner-stone. 

d  1  John  i.  3.  That  which  we 
have  seen  and  heard  declare  we 


400 


The  Shorter  Catechism. 


Q.  3.  What  do  the  scriptures  principally  teach  ? 

A.  The  scriptures  principally  teach  what  man  is  to  be- 
lieve concerning  God,  and  what  duty  God  requires  of  man.6 

Q.  4.  TVhat  is  God? 

A.  God  is  a  Spirit/  infinite,6  eternal,11  and  unchangeable,1 
in  his  being,k  wisdom,1  power,m  holiness,0  justice,  goodness, 
and  truth.0 

Q.  5.  Are  there  more  Gods  than  one? 

A.  There  is  but  One  only,  the  living  and  true  God.? 


unto  you,  that  ye  also  may  have 
fellowship  with  us:  and  truly 
our  fellowship  is  with  the  Father, 
and  with  his  Son  Jesus  Christ. 
Ver.  4.  And  these  things  write  we 
unto  you,  that  your  joy  may  be 
full. 

3.  e  2  Tim.  i.  13.  Hold  fast  the 
form  of  sound  words,  which  thou 
hast  heard  of  me,  in  faith  and  love 
which  is  in  Christ  Jesus.  2  Tim. 
iii.  16.  [See  in  letter0.] 

4.  f  John  iv.  24.  God  is  a  Spi- 
rit;  and  they  that  worship  him 
must  worship  him  in  spirit  and  in 
truth. 

*  Job.  xi.  7.  Canst  thou  by  search- 
ing find  out  God"?  canst  thou  find 
out  the  Almighty  unto  perfection  ? 
Ver.  8.  It  is  as  high  as  heaven, 
what  canst  thou  do  1  deeper  than 
hell,  what  canst  thou  know?  Ver. 
9.  The  measure  thereof  is  longer 
than  the  earth,  and  broader  than 
the  sea. 

h  Psal.  xc.  2.  Before  the  moun- 
tains were  brought  forth,  or  ever 
thou  hadst  formed  the  earth  and 
the  world :  even  from  everlasting 
to  everlasting  thou  art  God. 

*  James  i.  17.  Every  good  gift, 
and  every  perfect  gift,  is  from 
above,  and  cometh  down  from  the 
Father  of  lights,  with  whom  is  no 
variableness,  neither  shadow  of 
turning. 

k  Exod.  iii.  14.  And  God  said 
unto  Moses,  I  AM  THAT  I  AM: 


and  he  said,  Thus  shalt  thou  say 
unto  the  children  of  Israel,  I  AM 
hath  sent  me  unto  you. 

1  Psal.  cxlvii.  5.  Great  is  our 
Lord,  and  of  great  power:  his  un- 
derstanding is  infinite. 

m  Rev.  iv.  8.  And  the  four  beasts 
had  each  of  them  six  wings  about 
him,  and  they  were  full  of  eyes 
within;  and  they  rest  not  day  and 
night,  saying,  Holy,  holy,  holy, 
Lord  God  Almighty,  which  was, 
and  is,  and  is  to  come. 

n  Rev.  xv.  4.  Who  shall  not  fear 
thee,  O  Lord,  and  glorify  thy 
name?  for  thou  only  art  holy:  for 
all  nations  shall  come  and  worship 
before  thee;  for  thy  judgments 
are  made  manifest. 

0  Exod.  xxxiv.  6.  And  the  Lord 
passed  by  before  him,  and  pro- 
claimed, The  Lord,  the  Lord 
God,  merciful  and  gracious,  long- 
suffering,  and  abundant  in  good- 
ness and  truth,  Ver.  7.  Keeping 
mercy  for  thousands,  forgiving 
iniquity,  and  transgression,  and 
sin,  and  that  will  by  no  means 
clear  the  guilty;  visiting  the  ini- 
quity of  the  fathers  upon  the  chil- 
dren, and  upon  the  children's  chil- 
dren, unto  the  third  and  to  the 
fourth  generation. 

5.  p  Deut.  vi.  4.  Hear,  O  Israel, 
the  Lord  our  God  is  one  Lord. 
Jer.  x.  10.  But  the  Lord  is  the 
true  God,  he  is  the  living  God, 
and  an  everlasting  King:   at   his 


The  Shorter  Catechism* 


401 


Q.  6.  How  many  persons  are  there  in  the  Godhead P 

Jl.  There  are  three  persons  in  the  Godhead;  the  Father, 
the  Son,  and  the  Holy  Ghost;  and  these  three  are  one  God. 
the  same  in  substance,  equal  in  power  and  glory. q 

Q.  7.  What  are  the  decrees  of  GodP 

«/?.  The  decrees  of  God  are,  his  eternal  purpose,  accord- 
ing to  the  counsel  of  his  will,  whereby,  for  his  own  glory, 
he  hath  foreordained  whatsoever  comes  to  pass/ 

Q.  8.  How  doth  God  execute  his  decrees? 

Ji.  God  executeth  his  decrees  in  the  works  of  creation 
and  providence. 

Q.  9.  IVhat  is  the  icork  of  creation? 

J2.  The  work  of  creation  is,  God's  making  all  things  of 
nothing,  by  the  word  of  his  power,  in  the  space  of  six  days, 
and  all  very  good.5 

Q.  10.  How  did  God  create  man? 

t/2.  God  created  man  male  and  female,  after  his  own 
image,  in  knowledge,  righteousness,  and  holiness,  with  do- 
minion over  the  creatures.4 


wrath  the  earth  shall  tremble, 
and  the  nations  shall  not  be  able 
to  abide  his  indignation. 

6.  «J  1  John  v.  7.  For  there  are 
three  that  bear  record  in  heaven, 
the  Father,  the  Word,  and  the 
Holy  Ghost:  and  these  three  are 
one.  Mat.  xxviii.  19.  Go  ye 
therefore,  and  teach  all  nations, 
baptizing  them  in  the  name  of 
the  Father,  and  of  the  Son,  and 
of  the  Holy  Ghost. 

7.  r  Eph.  i.  4.  According'  as 
he  hath  chosen  us  in  him  before 
the  foundation  of  the  world, 
that  we  should  be  holy,  and  with- 
out blame  before  him  in  love. 
Ver.  11.  In  whom  also  we  have 
obtained  an  inheritance,  being 
predestinated  according-  to  the 
purpose  of  him  who  worketh  all 
things  after  the  counsel  of  his 
own  will.  Rom.  ix.  22.  What 
if  God,  willing  to  show  his  wrath, 
and   to  make   his  sower    known, 

34* 


endured  with  much  long-suffer- 
ing the  vessels  of  wrath  fitted  to 
destruction  ;  Ver.  23.  xA.nd  that  he 
might  make  known  the  riches  of 
his  glory  on  the  vessels  of  mercy, 
which  he  had  afore  prepared  unto 
glory  ? 

9.  s  Gen.  i.  throughout.  Heb. 
xi.  3.  Through  faith  we  under- 
stand that  the  worlds  were  framed 
by  the  word  of  God,  so  that  things 
which  are  seen  were  not  made  of 
things  which  do  appear. 

10.  »  Gen.  i.  26.  And  God  said, 
Let  us  make  man  in  our  image, 
after  our  likeness:  and  let  them 
have  dominion  over  the  fish  of 
the  sea,  and  over  the  fowl  of  the 
air,  and  over  the  cattle,  and 
over  all  the  earth,  and  over  every 
creeping  thing  that  creepeth  upon 
the  earth.  Ver.  27.  So  God  created 
man  in  his  own  image:  in  the 
image  of  God  created  he  him ; 
male  and  female  created  he  them. 


402 


The  Shorter  Catechism. 


Q.  11.  What  are  God's  works  of  providence? 

J3.  God's  works  of  providence  are,  his  most  holy,v  wif 
and  powerful  preserving  *  and  governing  all  his  creatui^ 
and  all  their  actions. y 

Q.  12.  What  special  act  of  providence  did  God  exercise  toward 
man  in  the  estate  wherein  he.  ivas  created? 

Ji.  When  God  had  created  man,  he  entered  into  a  cove- 
nant of  life  with  him,  upon  condition  of  perfect  obedience; 
forbidding  him  to  eat  of  the  tree  of  the  knowledge  of  good 
and  evil  upon  the  pain  of  death.z 

Q.  13.  Did  our  first  parents  continue  in  the  estate  wherein 
they  were  created? 

t#.  Our  first  parents,  being  left  to  the  freedom  of  their 
own  will,  fell  from  the  estate  wherein  they  were  created, 
by  sinning  against  God.a 


Ver.  28.  And  God  blessed  them, 
and  God  said  unto  them,  Be 
fruitful  and  multiply,  and  re- 
plenish the  earth,  and  subdue  it: 
and  have  dominion  over  the  fish 
of  the  sea,  and  over  the  fowl  of 
the  air,  and  over  every  living 
thing  that  moveth  upon  the  earth. 
Col.  iii.  10.  And  have  put  on 
the  new  man,  which  is  renewed 
in  knowledge,  after  the  image 
of  him  that  created  him.  Eph. 
iv.  24.  And  that  ye  put  on  the 
new  man,  swhich  after  God  is 
created  in  righteousness  and  true 
holiness. 

11.  v  Psal.  cxlv.  17.  The  Lord 
is  righteous  in  all  his  ways,  and 
holy  in  all  his  works. 

w  Psal.  civ.  24.  O  Lord,  how 
manifold  are  thy  works!  in  wis- 
dom hast  thou  made  them  all:  the 
earth  is  full  of  thy  riches.  Isa. 
xxviii-  29.  This  also  cometh  forth 
from  the  Lord  of  hosts,  which  is 
wonderful  in  counsel,  and  excel- 
lent in  working. 

*  Heb.  i.  .'3.  Who  being  the 
brightness  of  his  glory,  and  the 
express  image  of  his  person,  and 


upholding  all  things  by  the  word 
of  his  power,  when  he  had  by  him- 
self purged  our  sins,  sat  down  on 
the  right  hand  of  the  Majesty  on 
high. 

y  Psal.  ciii.  19.  The  Lord  hath 
prepared  his  throne  in  the  heavens; 
and  his  kingdom  ruleth  over  all. 
Mat.  x.  29.  Are  not  two  sparrows 
sold  for  a  farthing?  and  one  of  them 
shall  not  fall  on  the  ground  without 
your  Father.  Ver.  30.  But  the  very 
hairs  of  your  head  are  all  num- 
bered. Ver.  31.  Fear  ye  not  there- 
fore; ye  are  of  more  value  than 
many  sparrows. 

12.  z  Gal.  iii.  12.  And  the  law  is 
not  of  faith:  but,  The  man  that  do- 
eth  them  shall  live  in  them.  Gen. 
ii.  17.  But  of  the  tree  of  the  know- 
ledge of  good  and  evil,  thou  shalt 
not  eat  of  it:  for  in  the  day  that  thou 
eatest  thereof  thou  shalt  surely  die. 

13-  a  Gen.  iii.  6.  And  when  the 
woman  saw  that  the  tree  was  good 
for  food,  and  that  it  was  pleasant  to 
the  eyes,  and  a  tree  to  be  desired 
to  make  one  wise,  she  took  of  the 
fruit  thereof,  and  did  eat;  and  gave 
also  unto  her  husband  with  her, 


The  Shorter  Catechism. 


403 


Q.  14.  What  is  sin? 

A.  Sin  is  any  want  of  conformity  unto,  or  transgression 
of,  the  law  of  God.b 

Q.  15.  What  was  the  sin  whereby  our  first  parents  fell  from 
the  estate  wherein  they  were  created? 

A.  The  sin  whereby  our  first  parents  fell  from  the  estate 
wherein  they  were  created,  was  their  eating  the  forbidden 

fruit.c 

Q.  16.  Did  all  mankind  full  in  Adam's  first  transgression? 

A.  The  covenant  being  made  with  Adam,  not  only  for 
himself,  but  for  his  posterity  ;  all  mankind,  descending  from 
him  by  ordinary  generation,  sinned  in  him,  and  fell  with 
him,  in  his  first  'transgression. d 

Q.  17.  Into  what  estate  did  the  fall  bring  mankind? 

A.  The  fall  brought  mankind  into  an  estate  of  sin  and 
misery.6 

Q.  18.  Wherein  consists  the  sinfulness  of  that  estate  where- 
into  man  fell? 

A.  The  sinfulness  of  that  estate  whereinto  man  fell,  con- 
sists in  the  guilt  of  Adam's  first  sin,  the  want  of  original  right- 


and  he  did  eat.  Ver.  7.  And  the 
eyes  of  them  both  were  opened, 
and  they  knew  that  they  were 
naked:  and  they  sewed  fig-leaves 
together,  and  made  themselves 
aprons.  Ver.  S.  And  they  heard 
the  voice  of  the  Lord  God  walking 
in  the  garden  in  the  cool  of  the 
day:  and  Adam  and  his  wife  hid 
themselves  from  the  presence  of 
the  Lord  God  amongst  the  trees  of 
the  garden.  Ver.  13.  And  the  Lord 
God  said  unto  the  woman,  What 
is  this  that  thou  hast  done  1  And 
the  woman  said,  The  serpent  be- 
guiled me,  and  I  did  eat.  Eccl. 
vii.  29.  Lo,  this  only  have  I  found, 
that  God  hath  made  man  upright; 
but  they  have  sought  out  many  in- 
ventions. 

14.  b  1  John  iii.  4.  Whosoever 
committeth  sin  transgresseth  also 
the  law:  for  sin  is  the  transgres- 
sion of  the  law. 


15. c  Gen.  iii.  6.  [See  in  letter  a.] 
Ver.  12.  The  woman,  whom  thou 
gavest  to  be  with  rne,  she  gave  me 
of  the  tree,  and  I  did  eat. 

16.  d  Gen.  ii.  16.  And  the  Lord 
God  commanded  the  man,  saying, 
Of  every  tree  of  the  garden  thou 
rnayest  "freely  eat :  Ver.  17.  But 
of  the  tree  of  the  knowledge  of 
good  and  evil,  thou  shalt  not  eat  of 
it:  for  in  the  day  that  thou  eatest 
thereof  thou  shalt  surely  die. 
Rom.  v.  12.  Wherefore,  as  by  one 
man  sin  entered  into  the  world, 
and  death  by  sin ;  and  so  death 
passed  upon  all  men,  for  that  all 
have  sinned.  1  Cor.  xv.  21.  For 
since  by  man  came  death,  by  man 
came  also  the  resurrection  of  the 
dead.  Ver.  22.  For  as  in  Adam 
all  die,  even  so  in  Christ  shall  all 
be  made  alive. 

Rom.    v.    12.   Wherefore, 
as  by  one  man  sin  entered  into  the 


404 


7lie  Shorter  Catechism. 


eousness,  and  the  corruption  of  his  whole  nature,  which  is 
commonly  called  Original  Sin;  together  with  all  actual 
transgressions  which  proceed  from  it/ 

Q.  19.  What  is  the  misery  of  that  estate  whereinto  man 
fell?  J 

A.  All  mankind  by  their  fall  lost  communion  with  God,g 
are  under  his  wrath  and  curse,h  and  so  made  liable  to  all 
the  miseries  in  this  life,  to  death  itself,  and  to  the  pains  of 
hell  for  ever.1 


world,  and  death  by  sin ;  and  so 
death  passed  upon  all  men,  for  that 
all  have  sinned. 

18.  f  Rom.  v.  12.  Wherefore,  as 
by  one  man  sin  entered  into  the 
world,  and  death  by  sin;  and  so 
death  passed  upon  all  men,  for 
that  all  have  sinned.  Ver.  19.  For 
as  by  one  man's  disobedience  many 
were  made  sinners;  so  by  the  obe- 
dience of  one  shall  many  be  made 
righteous.  Rom.  v.  from  Verse  10. 
to  the  20th.  Eph.  ii.  1.  And  you 
hath  he  quickened,  who  were  dead 
in  trespasses  and  sins.  Ver.  2. 
Wherein  in  time  past  ye  walked 
according1  to  the  course  of  this 
world,  according  to  the  prince  of 
the  power  of  the  air,  the  spirit  that 
now  wdrketh  in  the  children  of 
disobedience:  Ver.  3.  Among 
whom  also  we  all  had  our  conver- 
sation in  times  past,  in  the  lusts  of 
our  flesh,  fulfilling  the  desires  of 
the  flesh  and  of  the  mind;  and 
were  by  nature  the  children  of 
wrath,  even  as  others.  James  i.  14. 
But  every  man  is  tempted,  when 
he  is  drawn  away  of  his  own  lust, 
and  enticed.  Ver.  15.  Then  when 
lust  hath  conceived,  it  bringeth 
forth  sin:  and  sin,  when  it  is  fi- 
nished, bringeth  forth  death.  Mat. 
xv.  19.  For  out  of  the  heart  pro- 
ceed evil  thoughts,  murders,  adul- 
teries, fornications,  thefts,  false 
witness,  blasphemies. 

19.  *  Gen.  iii.  8.  And  they  heard 


the  voice  of  the  Lord  God  walking 
in  the  garden  in  the  cool  of  the 
day :  and  Adam  and  his  wife  hid 
themselves  from  the  presence  of  the 
Lord  God  amongst  the  trees  of  the 
garden.  Ver.  10.  And  he  said,  I 
heard  thy  voice  in  the  garden  :  and 
I  was  afraid,  because  I  was  naked; 
and  I  hid  myself.  Ver.  24.  So  he 
drove  out  the  man ;  and  he  placed, 
at  the  east  of  the  garden  of  Eden, 
cherubims,  and  a  flaming  sword, 
which  turned  every  way,  to  keep 
the  way  of  the  tree  of  life. 

h  Eph.  ii.  2.  Wherein  in  time  past 
ye  walked  according  to  the  course 
of  this  world,  according  to  the  prince 
of  the  power  of  the  air,  the  spirit 
that  now  worketh  in  the  children  of 
disobedience:  Ver.  3.  Among  whom 
also  we  all  had  our  conversation  in 
times  past  in  the  lusts  of  our  flesh, 
fulfilling  the  desires  of  the  flesh 
and  of  the  mind;  and  were  by 
nature  the  children  of  wrath,  even 
as  others.  Gal.  iii.  10.  For  as  many 
as  are  of  the  works  of  the  law  are 
under  the  curse:  for  it  is  written, 
Cursed  is  every  one  that  conti- 
nueth  not  in  all  things  which  are 
written  in  the  book  of  the  law  to 
do  them. 

1  Lam.  iii.  39.  Wherefore  doth 
a  living  man  complain,  a  man 
for  the  punishment  of  his  sins? 
*Rom.  vi.  23,  For  the  wages  of 
sin  is  death :  but  the  gift  of  God 
is  eternal  life,  through  Jesus  Christ 


The  Shorter  Catechism. 


405 


Q.  £0.  Bid  God  leave  all  mankind  to  perish  in  the  estate  of  sin 
and  misery P 

*ft.  God  having,  out  of  his  mere  good  pleasure,  from  all 
eternity,  elected  some  to    everlasting  life,k  did  enter  into 
a  covenant  of  grace,  to  deliver  them  out  of  the  estate  of  sin' 
and  misery,  and  to  bring  them  into  an  estate  of  salvation 
by  a  Redeemer.1 

Q.  21.  Who  is  the  Redeemer  of  God's  elect? 

•ft.  The  only  Redeemer  of  God's  elect  is  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,m  who,  being  the  eternal  Son  of  God,  became  man," 
and  so  was,  and  continueth  to  be,  Qod  and  man  in  two 
distinct  natures,  and  one  person,  for  ever.0 


our  Lord.  Mat.  xxv.  41.  Then 
shall  he  say  also  unto  them  on 
the  left  hand,  Depart  from  me, 
ye  cursed,  into  everlasting  fire, 
prepared  for  the  devil  and  his 
angels.  Ver,  46.  And  these  shall 
go  away  into  everlasting  punish- 
ment: but  the  righteous  into  life 
eternal. 

20.  k  Eph.  i.  4.  According  as  he 
hath  chosen  us  in  him  before  the 
foundation  of  the  world,  that  we 
should  be  holy,  and  without  blame 
before  him  in  love. 

1  Rom.  iii.  20.  Therefore  by 
the  deeds  of  the  law  there  shall 
no  flesh  be  justified  in  his  sight: 
for  by  the  law  is  the  knowledge 
of  sin.  Ver.  21.  But  now  the 
righteousness  of  God  without 
the  law  is  manifested,  being  wit- 
nessed by  the  law  and  the  .pro- 
phets; Ver.  22.  Even  the  right- 
eousness of  God,  which  is  by  faith 
of  Jesus  Christ  unto  all,  and  up- 
on all  them  that  believe;  for 
there  is  no  difference.  Gal.  iii. 
21.  Is  the  law  then  against  the 
promises  of  God?  God  forbid; 
for  if  there  had  been  a  law  given 
which  could  have  given  life, 
verily  righteousness  should  have 
been  by  the  law.  Ver.  22.  But 
the  scripture   hath  concluded  all 


under  sin,  that  the  promise  by 
faith  in  Jesus  Christ  might  be 
given  to  them  that  believe. 

21.  m  1  Tim.  ii.  5.  For  there  is 
one  God,  and  one  mediator  be- 
tween God  and  men,  the  man 
Christ  Jesus;  Ver.  6.  Who  gave 
himself  a  ransom  for  all,  to  be 
testified  in  due  time. 

n  John  k  14.  And  the  Word 
was  made  flesh,  and  dwelt  among 
us,  (and  we  beheld  his  glory,  the 
glory  as  of  the  only  begotten  of 
the  Father,)  full  of  grace  and 
truth.  Gal.  iv.  4.  But  when  the 
fulness  of  the  time  was  come,  God 
sent  forth  his  Son,  made  of  a  wo- 
man, made  under  the  law. 

0  Rom.  ix.  5.  Whose  are  the  fa- 
thers, and  of  whom  as  concerning 
the  flesh  Christ  came,  who  is  over 
all,  God  blessed  for  ever.  Amen. 
Luke  i.  35.  And  the  angel  answer- 
ed and  said  unto  her,  The  Holy 
Ghost  shall  come  upon  thee,  and 
the  power  of  the  Highest  shall 
overshadow  thee:  therefore  also 
that  holy  thing  which  shall  be  born 
of  thee  shall  be  called  the  Son 
of  God.  Col.  ii.  9.  For  in  him 
dwelleth  all  the  fulness  of  the 
Godhead  bodily.  Heb.  vii.  24. 
But  this  man,  because  he  conti- 
nueth ever,  hath  an  unchangeable 


406 


The  Shorter  Catechism. 


Q.  22.  How  did  Christ,  beitig  the  Son  of  God,  become 
m an  ? 

*fl.  Christ,  the  Son  of  God,  became  man,  by  taking  to 
himself  a  true  body,?  and  a  reasonable  soul,q  being  con- 
ceived by  the  power  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  in  the  womb  of  the 
Virgin  Mary,  and  born  of  her/  yet  without  sin.s 

Q-.  23.  What  offices  doth  Christ  execute  as  our  B.edeemer? 

A.  Christ,  as  our  Redeemer,  executeth  the  offices  of  a 
prophet,  of  »a  priest,  and  of  a  king,  both  in  his  estate  of 
humiliation  and  exaltation.4 


priesthood.  Ver.  25.  Wherefore  he 
is  able  also  to  save  them  to  the  ut- 
termost that  come  unto  God  by  him, 
seeing  he  ever  liveth  to  make  in- 
tercession for  them. 

22.  p  Heb.  ii.  14.  Forasmuch  then 
as  the  children  are  partakers  of  flesh 
and  blood,  he  also  himself  likewise 
took  part  of  the  same;  that  through 
death  he  might  destroy  him  that 
had  the  power  of  death,  that  is,  the 
devil.  Ver.  16.  For  verily  he  took 
not  on  him  the  nature  of  angels ; 
but  he  took  on  him  the  seed  of 
Abraham.  Heb.  x.  5.  Wherefore, 
when  he  cometh  into  the  world,  he 
saith,  Sacrifice  and  offering  thou 
wouldest  not,  but  a  body  hast  thou 
prepared  me. 

*  Mat.  xxvi.  38.  Then  saith  he 
unto  them,  My  soul  is  exceeding 
sorrowful  even  unto  death:  tarry 
ye  here,  and  watch  with  me. 

r  Luke  i.  27.  To  a  virgin  espoused 
to  a  man  whose  name  was  Joseph, 
of  the  house  of  David  ;  and  the  vir- 
gin's name  was  Mary.  Ver.  31. 
And,  behold,  thou  shalt  conceive  in 
thy  womb,  and  bring  forth  a  son, 
and  shalt  call  his  name  Jesus.  Ver. 
35.  And  the  angel  answered  and 
said  unto  her,  The  Holy  Ghost  shall 
come  upon  thee,  and  the  power  of 
the  Highest  shall  overshadow  thee: 
therefore  also  that  holy  thing  which 
shall  be  born  of  thee  shall  be  called 


the  Son  of  God.  Ver.  42.  And  she" 
spake  out  with  a  loud  voice,  and 
said,  Blessed  art  thou  among  women, 
and  blessed  is  the  fruit  of  thy  womb. 
Gal.  iv.  4.  [See  in  the  preceding 
question,  letter*.] 

8  Heb.  iv.  15.  For  we  have  not  a 
high  priest  which  cannot  be  touch- 
ed with  the  feeling  of  our  infirmi- 
ties; but  was  in  all  points  tempted 
like  as  we  are,  yet  without  sin. 
Heb.  vii.  26.  For  such  a  high 
priest  became  us,  who  is  holy, 
harmless,  undefiled,  separate  from 
sinners,  and  made  higher  than 
the  heavens. 

23.  *  Acts  iii.  21.  Whom  the  hea- 
ven must  receive  until  the  times  of 
restitution  of  all  things,  which  God 
hath  spoken  by  the  mouth  of  all  his 
holy  prophets  since  the  world  began. 
Ver.  22.  For  Moses  truly  said  unto 
the  fathers,  A  Prophet  shall  the 
Lord  your  God  raise  up  unto  you 
of  your  brethren  like  unto  me; 
him  shall  ye  hear  in  all  things 
whatsoever  he  shall  say  unto  you. 
Heb.  xii.  25.  See  that  ye  refuse  not 
him  that  speaketh:forif  they  escaped 
not  who  refused  him  that  spake 
on  earth,  much  more  shall  not  we 
escape,  if  we  turn  away  from  him 
that  speaketh  from  heaven.  Com- 
pared with  2  Cor.  xiii.  3.  Since  ye 
seek  a  proof  of  Christ  speaking  in 
me,    which    to    you- ward  is    not 


The  Shorter  Catechism. 


407 


Q.  24.  How  doth  Christ  execute  the  office  of  a  prophet? 

Jl.  Christ  executeth  the  office  of  a  prophet,  in  revealing 
to  us,  by  his  word  and  Spirit,  the  will  of  God  for  our  sal- 
vation.7 


weak,  but  is  mighty  in  you.  Heb. 
v.  5.  So  also  Christ  glorified 
not  himself  to  be  made  a  high 
priest;  but  he  that  said  unto  him, 
Thou  art  my  Son,  to-day  have  I 
begotten  thee.  Ver.  6.  As  he 
saith  also  in  another  plaee,  Thou 
art  a  priest  for  ever,  after  the 
order  of  Melchisedec:  Ver.  7. 
Who,  in  the  days  of  his  flesh, 
when  he  had  offered  up  prayers 
and  supplications,  with  strong 
crying  and  tears,  unto  him  that 
was  able  to  save  him  from  cTeath, 
and  was  heard  in  that  he  feared. 
Heb.  vii.  25.  Wherefore  he  is  able 
also  to  save  them  to  the  utter- 
most that  come  unto  God  by  him, 
seeing  he  ever  liveth  to  make  in- 
tercession for  them.  Psal.  ii.  6. 
Yet  have  I  set  my  King  upon  my 
holy  hill  of  Zion.  Isa.  ix.  6.  For 
unto  us  a  child  is  born,  unto  us  a 
Son  is  given,  and  the  government 
Bhall  be  upon  his  shoulder :  and 
his  name  shall  be  called  Won- 
derful, Counsellor,  the  mighty- 
God,  The  everlasting  Father,  The 
Prince  of  Peace.  Ver.  7.  Of  the 
increase  of  his  government  and 
peace  there  shall  be  no  end,  upon 
the  throne  of  David,  and  upon 
his  kingdom  to  order  it,  and  to 
establish  it  with  judgment  and 
with  justice,  from  henceforth, 
even  for  ever:  the  zeal  of  the 
Lord  of  hosts  will  perform  this. 
Mat.  xxi.  5.  Tell  ye  the  daughter 
of  Sion,  Behold,  thy  King  cometh 
?into  thee,  meek,  and  sitting  upon 
an  ass,  and  a  colt,  the  foal  of  an 
ass.  Psal.  ii.  8.  Ask  of  me,  and  I 
f&all  give  thee  the  heathen   for 


thine  inheritance,  and  the  utter- 
most parts  of  the  earth  for  thy 
possession.  Ver.  9.  Thou  shalt 
break  them  with  a  rod  of  iron, 
thou  shalt  dash  them  in  pieces 
like  a  potter's  vessel.  Ver.  10. 
Be  wise  now  therefore,  O  ye 
kings:  be  instructed,  ye  judges 
of  the  earth.  Ver.  11.  Serve  the 
Lord  with  fear,  and  rejoice  with 
trembling. 

24,  v  John  i.  18.  No  man  hath 
seen  God  at  any  time ;  the  only 
begotten  Son,  which  is  in  the 
bosom  of  the  Father,  he  hath  de- 
clared him.  1  Pet.  i.  10.  Of  which 
salvation  the  prophets  have  in- 
quired, and  searched  diligently, 
who  prophesied  of  the  grace  that 
should  come  unto  you:  Ver.  11. 
Searching  what,  or  what  manner 
of  time  the  Spirit  of  Christ  which 
was  in  them  did  signify,  when  it 
testified  beforehand  the  sufferings 
of  Christ,  and  the  glory  that  should 
follow.  Ver.  12.  Unto  whom  it 
was  revealed,  that  not  unto  them- 
selves, but  unto  us  they  did  mi- 
nister the  things  which  are  now 
reported  unto  you  by  them  that 
have  preached  the  gospel  unto 
you,  with  the  Holy  Ghost  sent 
down  from  heaven;  which  things 
the  angels  desire  to  look  into. 
John  xv.  15.  Henceforth  I  call 
you  not  servants;  for  the  servant 
knoweth  not  what  his  lord  doeth: 
but  I  have  called  you  friends;  for 
all  thirrgs  that  I  have  heard  of  my 
Father  I  have  made  known  unto 
you.  John  xx.  31.  But  these  are 
written,  that  ye  might  believe 
that  Jesus  is  the  Christ,  the  Son 


408 


The  Shorter  Catechism. 


Q.  25.  How  doth  Christ  execute  the  office  of  a  priest  ? 
•ft.  Christ  executeth  the  office  of  a  priest,  in  his  once  of- 
fering up  of  himself  a  sacrifice  to  satisfy  divine  justice," 
and  reconcile  us  to  God;x  and  in  making  continual  inter^ 
cession  for  us.y 

Q.  26.  How  doth  Christ  execute  the  office  of  a  kingp 
•ft.  Christ  executeth  the  office  of  a  king,  in  subduing  us 
to  himself,2  in  rulinga  and  defending  us,b  and  in  restraining 
and  conquering  all  his  and  our  enemies.0 

Q.  27.  Wherein  did  Christ's  humiliation  consist P 
•ft.  Christ's  humiliation  consisted  in  his  being  born,  and 
that  in  a  low  condition/  made  under  the  law,8  undergoing 

of    God,   and    that    believing    ye 
might  have  life  through  his  name. 

25.  w  Heb.  ix.  14.  How  much 
more  shall  the  blood  of  Christ, 
who  through  the  eternal  Spi- 
rit offered  himself  without  spot 
to  God,  purge  your  conscience 
from  dead  works,  to  serve  the 
living  God?  Ver.  28.  So  Christ 
was  once  offered  to  bear  the  sins 
of  many:  and  unto  them  that 
look  for  him  shall  he  appear  the 
second  time,  without  sin,  unto  sal- 
vation. 

x  Heb,  ii.  17.  Wherefore  in  all 
things  it  behooved  him  to  be  made 
like  unto  his  brethren,  that  he 
might  be  a  merciful  and  faithful 
high  priest  in  things  pertaining  to 
God,  to  make  reconciliation  for 
the  sins  of  the  people. 

y  Heb.  vii.  24.  But  this  man,  be- 
cause he  continueth  ever,  hath  an 
unchangeable  priesthood.  Ver.  25. 
Wherefore  he  is  able  also  to  save 
them  to  the  uttermost  that  come 
unto  God,  by  him,  seeing  he  ever 
liveth  to  make  intercession  for 
them. 

26.  z  Acts  xv.  14.  Simeon  hath 
declared  how  God  at  the  first  did 
visit  the  Gentiles,  to  take  out  of 
them  a  people  for  his  name. 
Ver.   15.    And  to  this  agree  the 


words  of  the  prophets;  as  it  is 
written,  Ver.  16.  After  this  I  will 
return,  and  will  build  again  the 
tabernacle  of  David,  which  is 
fallen  down;  aud  I  will  build 
again  the  ruins  thereof,  and  I  will 
set  it  up. 

a  Isa.  xxxiii.  22.  For  the  Lord 
is  our  judge,  the  Lord  is  our  law- 
giver, the  Lord  is  our  king;  he 
will  save  us, 

b  Isa.  xxxii.  1.  Behold,  a  King 
shall  reign  in  righteousness,  and 
princes  shall  rule  in  judgment. 
Ver.  2.  And  a  man  shall  be  as  a 
hiding-place  from  the  wind,  and 
a  covert  from  the  tempest;  as 
rivers  of  water  in  a  dry  place; 
as  the  shadow  of  a  great  rock  in 
a  weary  land. 

0  1  Cor.  xv.  25.  For  he  must 
reign,  till  he  hath  put  all  enemies 
under  his  feet.  Psal.  ex.  through- 
out. 

27.  d  Luke  ii.  7.  And  she  brought 
forth  her  first-born  son,  and  wrap- 
ped him  in  swaddling-clothes, 
and  laid  him  in  a  manger,  because 
there  was  no  room  for  them  in  the 
inn. 

e  Gal.  iv.  4.  But  when  the  ful- 
ness of  the  time  was  come,  God 
sent  forth  his  Son,  made  of  a  wo- 
man, made  under  the  law. 


The  Shorter  Catechism. 


409 


the  miseries  of  this  life/  the  wrath  of  God/  and  the  cursed 
death  of  the  cross ;h  in  being  buried/  and  continuing  under 
the  power  of  death  for  a  time.k 

Q.  28.   Wherein  consisteth  Christ's  exaltation? 

A.  Christ's  exaltation  consisteth  in  his  rising  again  from 
the  dead  on  the  third  day,1  in  ascending  up  into  heaven,13 
in  sitting  at  the  right  hand'of  God  the  Father/  and  in  coming 
to  judge  the  world  at  the  last  day.0 


fHeb.  xii.  2.  Looking  unto  Jesus, 
the  author  and  finisher  of  our  faith; 
who,  for  the  joy  that  was  set  before 
him,  endured  the  cross,  despising 
the  shame,  and  is  set  down  at  the 
right  hand  of  the  throne  of  God.  V. 
3.  For  consider  him  that  endured 
such  contradiction  of  sinners  against 
himself,  lest  ye  be  wearied  and  faint 
in  your  minds.  Isa.  liii.  2.  For  he 
shall  grow  up  before  him  as  a  tender 
plant,  and  as  a  root  out  of  a  dry 
ground:  he  hath  no  form  nor  come- 
liness; and  when  we  shall  see  him, 
there  is  no  beauty  that  we  should 
desire  him.  Ver.  3.  He  is  despised 
and  rejected  of  men,  a  man  of  sor- 
rows, and  acquainted  with  grief; 
and  we  hid  as  it  were  our  faces 
from  him :  he  was  despised,  and  we 
esteemed  him  not. 

s  Luke  xxii.  44.  And,  being  in 
an  agony,  he  prayed  more  earnest- 
ly: and  his  sweat  was  as  it  were 
great  drops  of  blood  falling  down 
to  the  ground.  Mat.  xxvii.  46. 
And  about  the  ninth  hour  Jesus 
cried  with  a  loud  voice,  saying, 
Eli,  Eli,  lama  sabachthani !  that  is 
to  say,  My  God,  my  God,  why  hast 
thou  forsaken  me! 

h  Phil.  ii.  6.  And  being  found  in 
fashion  as  a  man,  he  humbled  him- 
self, and  became  obedient  unto 
death,  even  the  death  of  the  cross. 

5 1  Cor.  xv.  3.  For  I  delivered 
unto  you  first  of  all  that  which  I 
also  received,  how  that  Christ 
35 


died  for  our  sins,  according  to  the 
scriptures:  Ver.  4.  And  that  he 
was  buried,  and  that  he  rose  again 
the  third  day,  according  to  the 
scriptures. 

k  Acts  ii.  24.  Whom  God  hath 
raised  up,  having  loosed  the  pains 
of  death :  because  it  was  not  possi- 
ble that  he  should  be  holden  of  it. 
Ver.  25.  For  David  speaketh  con- 
cerning him,  I  foresaw  the  Lord  al- 
ways before  my  face;  for  he  is  on 
my  right  hand,  that  I  should  not  be 
moved:  Ver.  26.  Therefore  did  my 
heart  rejoice,  and  my  tongue  was 
glad,  moreover  also,  my  flesh  shall 
rest  in  hope :  Ver.  27.  Because  thou 
wilt  not  leave  my  soul  in  hell,  nei- 
ther wilt  thou  suffer  thine  Holy  One 
to  see  corruption.  Ver.  31.  He, 
seeing  this  before,  spake  of  the  re- 
surrection of  Christ,  that  his  soul 
was  not  left  in  hell,  neither  his  -flesh 
did  see  corruption. 

28.  '  1  Cor.  xv.  4.  And  that  he 
was  buried,  and  that  he  rose  again 
the  third  day,  according  to  the 
scriptures. 

m  Mark  xvi.  19.  So  then,  after 
the  Lord  had  spoken  unto  them, 
he  was  received  up  into  heaven, 
and  sat  on  the  right  hand  of  God. 

n  Eph.  i.  20.  Which  he  wrought 
in  Christ,  when  he  raised  him  from 
the  dead,  and  set  him  at  his  own 
right  hand  in  the  heavenly  places. 

0  Acts  i.  11.  Which  also  said,  Ye 
men  of    Galilee,   why    stand  ye 


410 


The  Shorter  Catechism, 


Q.  29.  How  are  we  made  partakers  of  the  redemption  pur- 
chased by  Christ  ? 

A.  We  are  made  partakers  of  the  redemption  purchased 
by  Christ,  by  the  effectual  application  of  it  to  us p  by  his 
Holy  Spirits 

Q.  30.  How  doth  the  Spirit  apply  to  us  the  redemption  pur- 
chased by  Christ  ? 

A.  The  Spirit  applieth  to  us  the  redemption  purchased  by 
Christ,  by  working  faith  in  us,r  and  thereby  uniting  us  to 
Christ  in  our  effectual  calling.8 

Q.  31.  What  is  effectual  calling? 

A.  Effectual  calling  is  the  work  of  God's  Spirit,1  whereby, 


gazing  up  into  heaven  1  this  same 
Jesus,  which  is  taken  up  from  you 
into  heaven,  shall  so  come  in  like 
manner  as  ye  have  seen  him  go 
into  heaven.  Acts  xvii.  31.  Be- 
cause he  hath  appointed  a  day  in 
the  which  he  will  judge  the  world 
in  righteousness  by  that  man  whom 
he  hath  ordained  ;  whereof  he  hath 
given  assurance  unto  all  men,  in 
that  he  hath  raised  him  from  the 
dead. 

29.  p  John  i.  11.  He  came  unto 
his  own,  and  his  own  received  him 
not.  Ver.  12.  But  as  many  as  re- 
ceived him,  to  them  gave  he  pow- 
er to  become  the  sons  of  God,  even 
to  them  that  believe  on  his  nnme. 

«i  Tit.  iii.  5.  Not  by  works  of 
righteousness  which  we  have 
done,  but  according  to  his  mercy 
he  saved  us,  by  the  washing  of  re- 
generation, and  renewing  of  the 
Holy  Ghost;  Ver.  6.  Which  he 
shed  on  us  abundantly,  through 
Jesus  Christ  our  Saviour. 

30.  r  Eph.  i.  13.  In  whom  ye 
also  trusted,  after  that  ye  heard 
the  word  of  truth,  the  gospel  of 
your  salvation :  in  whom  also,  af- 
ter that  ye  believed,  ye  were  seal- 
ed with  that  Holy  Spirit  of  pro- 
mise, Ver.  14.  Which  is  the  ear- 


nest of  our  inheritance,  until  the 
redemption  of  the  purchased  pos- 
session, unto  the  praise  of  his  glo- 
ry. John  vi.  37.  All  that  the  Fa- 
ther giveth  me  shall  come  to  me; 
and  him  that  cometh  to  me  I  will 
in  no  wise  cast  out.  Ver.  39.  And 
this  is  the  Father's  will  which 
hath  sent  me,  that  of  all  which  he 
he  hath  given  me  I  should  lose  no- 
thing, but  should  raise  it  up  again 
at  the  last  day.  Eph.  ii.  8.  For  by- 
grace  are  ye  saved,  through  faith; 
and  that  not  of  yourselves:  it  is 
the  gift  of  God. 

8  Eph.  iii.  17.  That  Christ  may 
dwell  in  your  hearts  by  faith:  that 
ye,  being  rooted  and  grounded  in 
love,  &c.  1  Cor.  i.  9.  God  is  faith- 
ful, by  whom  ye  were  called  unto 
the  fellowship  of  his  Son  Jesus 
Christ  our  Lord. 

31.  '2  Tim.  i.  9.  Who  hath 
saved  us,  and  called  us  with  a 
holy  calling,  not  according  to  our 
works,  but  according  to  his  own 
purpose  and  grace,  which  was 
given  us  in  Christ  Jesus  before 
the  world  began.  2  Thess.  ii.  13. 
But  we  are  bound  to  give  thanks 
alway  to  God  for  you,  brethren, 
beloved  of  the  Lord,  because  God 
hath  from   the  beginning  chosen 


Tlie  Shorter  Catechism. 


411 


convincing  us  of  our  sin  and  misery/  enlightening  our 
minds  in  the  knowledge  of  Christ/  and  renewing  our  wills,1 
he  doth  persuade  and  enable  us  to  embrace  Jesus  Christ, 
freely  offered  to  us  in  the  gospel.7 

Q.  32.  What  benefits  do  they  that  are  effectually  called  par- 
lake  of  in  this  life  ? 

A.  They  that  are  effectually  called  do  in  this  life  par- 
take of  justification,2  adoption,3  and  sanctification,  and  the 
several  benefits  which  in  this  life  do  either  accompany  or 
flow  from  them.b 

Q,.  33.    What  is  justification? 

A.  Justification  is  an  act  of  God's  free  grace,  wherein  he 
pardoneth  all  our  sins,0  and  accepteth  us  as  righteous  in 


you  to  salvation,  through  sancti- 
fication of  the  Spirit,  and  belief 
of  the  truth :  Ver.  14.  Whereunto 
he  called  you  by  our  gospel,  to  the 
obtaining  of  the  glory  of  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ. 

TActs  ii.  37.  Now  when  they 
heard  this,  they  were  pricked  in 
their  heart,  and  said  unto  Peter, 
and  to  the  rest  of  the  apostles, 
Men  and  brethren,  what  shall  we 
do? 

wActs  xxvi.  IS.  To  open  their 
eyes,  and  to  turn  them  from  dark- 
ness to  light,  and  from  the  power 
of  Satan  unto  God,  that  they  may 
receive  forgiveness  of  sins,  and 
inheritance  among  them  which 
are  sanctified  by  faith  that  is  in 
me. 

*Ezek.  xxxvi.  26.  A  new  heart 
also  will  I  give  you,  and  a  new 
spirit  will  I  put  within  you; 
and  I  will  take  away  the  stony 
heart  out  of  your  flesh,  and  I 
will  give  you  a  heart  of  flesh. 
Ver.  27.  And  I  will  put  my  Spi- 
rit within  you,  and  cause  you 
to  walk  in  my  statutes,  and  ye 
shall  keep  my  judgments,  and  do 
them. 

y  John  vi.  44.  No  man  can  come 
ie,  except  the  Father,  which 


hath  sent  me,  draw  him:  and  I 
will  raise  him  up  at  the  last 
day.  Ver.  45.  It  is  written  in  the 
prophets,  And  they  shall  be  all 
taught  of  God.  Every  man  there- 
fore that  hath  heard,  and  hath 
learned  of  the  Father,  cometh 
unto  rne.  Phil.  ii.  13.  For  it  is 
God  which  worketh  in  you,  both 
to  will  and  to  do  of  his  good 
pleasure. 

32-  z  Rom.  viii.  30.  Moreover, 
whom  he  did  predestinate,  them 
he  also  called;  and  whom  he 
called,  them  he  also  justified; 
and  whom:  he  justified,  them  he 
also  glorified. 

a  Eph.  i.  5.  Having  predestina- 
ted us  unto  the  adoption  of  chil- 
dren by  Jesus  Christ  to  himself, 
according  to  the  good  pleasure  of 
his  will. 

b  1  Cor.  i.  26.  For  ye  see  your 
calling,  brethren,  how  that  not 
many  wise  men  after  the  flesh, 
not  many  mighty,  not  many  noble, 
are  called.  Ver.  30.  But  of  him 
are  ye  in  Christ  Jesus,  who  of  God 
is  made  unto  us  wisdom,  and  right- 
eousness, and  sanctification,  and 
redemption. 

33.  c  Rom.  iii.  24.  Being  justi- 
fied freely  by  his  grace,  through 


412 


The  Shorter  Catechism. 


his  sight,d  only  for  the  righteousness  of  Christ  imputed  to 
us,e  and  received  by  faith  alone/ 

Q.  34.  What  is  adoption  ? 

Jl.  Adoption  is  an  act  of  God's  free  grace,g  whereby  we 
are  received  into  the  number,  and  have  a  right  to  all  the 
privileges  of  the  sons  of  God.h 

Q.  35.  What  is  sanctification  ? 

A.  Sanctification  is  the  work  of  God's  free  grace,1  where- 
by we  are  renewed  in  the  whole  man  after  the  image  of 


the  redmption  that  is  in  Jesus 
Christ :  Ver.  25.  Whom  God  hath 
set  forth  to  be  a  propitiation 
through  faith  in  his  blood,  to  de- 
clare his  righteousness  for  the 
remission  of  sins  that  are  past, 
through  the  forbearance  of  God. 
Rom.  iv.  6.  Even  as  David  also 
describeth  the  blessedness  of  the 
man  unto  whom  God  imputeth 
righteousness  without  works,  Ver. 
7.  Saying,  Bfessed  are  they  whose 
iniquities  are  forgiven,  and  whose 
sins  are  covered.  Ver.  8.  Blessed 
is  the  man  to  whom  the  Lord  will 
not  impute  sin. 

d  2  Cor.  v.  19.  To  wit,  that  God 
was  in  Christ,  reconciling  the 
world  unto  himself,  not  imputing 
their  trespasses  unto  them ;  and 
hath  committed  unto  us  the  word 
of  reconciliation.  Ver.  21.  For  he 
hath  made  him  to  be  sin  for  us, 
who  knew  no  sin ;  that  we  might 
be  made  the  righteousness  of  God 
in  him. 

e  Rom.  v.  17.  For  if  by  one  man's 
offence  death  reigned  by  one; 
much  more  they  which  receive 
abundance  of  grace,  and  of  the 
gift  of  righteousness,  shall  reign  in 
life  by  one,  Jesus  Christ.  Ver.  18. 
Therefore,  as  by  the  offence  of  one 
judgment  came  upon  all  men  to 
condemnation;  even  so  by  the 
righteousness  of  one,  the  free  gift 
came  upon  all  men  unto  justifica- 


tion of  life.  Ver.  19.  For  as  by  one 
man's  disobedience  many  were 
made  sinners;  so  by  the  obedi- 
ence of  one  shall  many  be  made 
righteous. 

f  Gal.  ii.  16.  Knowing  that  a  man 
is  not  justified  by  the  works  of  the 
law,  but  by  the  faith  of  Jesus 
Christ,  even  we  have  believed  in 
Jesus  Christ,  that  we  might  be  jus- 
tified by  the  faith  of  Christ,  and  not 
by  the  works  of  the  law  :  for  by 
the  works  of  the  law  shall  no  flesh 
be  justified.  Phil.  iii.  9.  And  be 
found  in  him,  not  having  mine  own 
righteousness,  which  is  of  the  law, 
but  that  which  is  through  the  faith 
of  Christ,  the  righteousness  which 
is  of  God  by  faith. 

34.  s  1  John  iii.  1.  Behold  what 
manner  of  love  the  Father  hath 
bestowed  upon  us,  that  we  should 
be  called  the  sons  of  God  !  there- 
fore the  world  knoweth  us  not,  be- 
cause it  knew  him  not. 

h  John  i.  12.  But  as  many  as  re- 
ceived him,  to  them  gave  he  power 
to  become  the  sons  of  God,  even 
to  them  that  believe  on  his  name. 
Rom.  viii.  17.  And  if  children, 
then  heirs;  heirs  of  God,  and  joint- 
heirs  with  Christ:  if  so  be  that  we 
suffer  with  him,  that  we  may  be 
also  glorified  together. 

35.  '  2  Thess.  ii.  13.— God  hath 
from  the  beginning  chosen  you  to 
salvation,    through    sanctification 


I 


m 


Tlie  Shorter  Catechism. 


413 


God,k  and  are  enabled  more  and  more  to  die  unto  sin,  and 
live  unto  righteousness.1 

Q.  36.  What  are  the  benefits  which  in  this  life  do  accompany 
or  flow  from  justification,  adoption,  and  sanctificationP 

A.  The  benefits  which  in  this  life  do  accompany  or  flow 
from  justification,  adoption,  and  sanctification,  are,  assurance 
of  God's  love,  peace  of  conscience,111  joy  in  the  Holy  Ghost," 
increase  of  grace,0  and  perseverance  therein  to  the  end.p 

Q.  37.  What  benefits  do  believers  receive  from  Christ  at 
death? 

A.  The  souls  of  believers  are  at  their  death  made  perfect 
in  holiness,q  and  do  immediately  pass  into  glory  ; r  and  their 


of  the   Spirit,  and   belief  of  the 
truth. 

k  Eph.  iv.  23.  And  be  renewed 
in  the  spirit  of  your  mind  ;  Ver.  24. 
And  that  ye  put  on  the  new  man, 
which  after  God  is  created  in  right- 
eousness, and  true  holiness. 

1  Rom.  vi.  4.  Therefore  we  are 
buried  with  him  by  baptism  into 
death;  that  like  as  Christ  was 
raised  up  from  the  dead  by  the 
glory  of  the  Father,  even  so  we 
also  should  walk  in  newness  of 
life.  Ver.  6.  Knowing  this,  that 
our  old  man  is  crucified  with  him, 
that  the  body  of  sin  might  be  de- 
stroyed, that  henceforth  we  should 
not  serve  sin. 

36.  m  Rom.  v.  1.  Therefore 
being  justified  by  faith,  we  have 
peace  with  God  through  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ:  Ver.  2.  By  whom 
also  we  have  access  by  faith  into 
this  grace  wherein  we  stand,  and 
rejoice  in  hope  of  the  glory  of 
God.  Ver.  5.  And  hope  maketh 
not  ashamed  ;  because  the  love  of 
God  is  shed  abroad  in  our  hearts 
by  the  Holy  Ghost,  which  is  given 
unto  us. 

n  Rom.  xiv.  17.    For  the  king- 
dom of  God  is  not  moat  and  drink, 
but  righteousne.-s,  and  peace,  and 
joy  in  the  Holy  Ghost 
35* 


0  Prov.  iv.  18.  But  the  path  of 
the  just  is  as  the  shining  light, 
that  shineth  more  and  more  unto 
the  perfect  day. 

p  1  John  v.  13.  These  things 
have  I  written  unto  you  that  be- 
lieve on  the  name  of  the  Son  of 
God  ;  that  ye  may  know  that  ye 
have  eternal  life,  and  that  ye 
may  believe  on  the  name  of  the 
Son  of  God.  1  Pet.  i.  5.  Who  are 
kept  by  the  power  of  God  through 
faith  unto  salvation,  ready  to  be 
revealed  in  the  last  time. 

37.  i  Heb.  xii.  23.  To  the  ge- 
neral assembly  and  church  of  the 
first-born,  which  are  written  in 
heaven,  and  to  God  the  judge  of 
all,  and  to  the  spirits  of  just  men 
made  perfect. 

r  2  Cor.  v.  1.  For  we  know, 
that,  if  our  earthly  house  of  this 
tabernacle  were  dissolved,  we 
have  a  building  of  God,  a  house 
not  made  with  hands,  eternal  in 
the  heavens.  Ver.  6.  Therefore 
we  are  always  confident,  know- 
ing that  whilst  we  are  at  home  in 
the  body,  we  are  absent  from  the 
Lord  :  Ver.  8.  We  are  confident, 
I  say,  and  willing  rather  to  be 
absent  from  the  body,  and  to  be 
present  with  the  Lord.  Phil.  i.  23. 
For  I  am  in  a  strait  betwixt  twe, 


414 


The  Shorter  Catechism. 


do  rest  in  their  graves { 


bodies,  being  still  united  to  Christ, 
till  the  resurrection.7 

Q.  38.  What  benefits  do  believers  receive  from  Christ  at  the 
resurrection? 

J3.  At  the  resurrection  believers  being  raised  up  in 
glory ,w  shall  be  openly  acknowledged  and  acquitted  in  the 
day  of  judgment,1  and  made  perfectly  blessed  in  the  full 
enjoyment  of  God  y  to  all  eternity.2 

Q.  39.  What  is  the  duty  which  God  requireth  of  man? 

t/1.  The  duty  which  God  requireth  of  man,  is  obedience 
to  his  revealed  will.* 


having-  a  desire  to  depart,  and  to 
be  with  Christ;  which  is  far 
better.  Luke  xxiii.  43.  And  Jesus 
said  unto  him,  Verily  I  say  unto 
thee,  To-day  shalt  thou  be  with 
me  in  paradise. 

s  1  Thess.  iv.  14.  For  if  we  be- 
lieve that  Jesus  died  and  rose 
again,  even  so  them  also  which 
sleep  in  Jesus  will  God  bring  with 
him. 

*  Isa.  Ivii.  2.  He  shall  enter  in- 
to peace;  they  shall  rest  in  their 
beds,  each  one  walking  in  his  up- 
rightness. 

v  Job  xix.  26.  And  though  after 
my  skin  worms  destroy  this  body, 
yet  in  my  flesh  shall  I  see  God ; 
Ver.  27.  Whom  I  shall  see  for  my- 
self, and  mine  eyes  shall  behold, 
and  not  another;  though  my  reins 
be  consumed  within  me. 

38.  w  1  Cor.  xv.  43.  It  is  sown 
in  dishonour,  it  is.  raised  in  glory: 
it  is  sown  in  weakness,  it  is  raised 
in  power. 

x  Mat.  xxv.  23.  His  lord  said 
unto  him,  Well  done,  good  and 
faithful  servant;  thou  hast  been 
faithful  over  a  few  things,  I  will 
make  thee  ruler  over  many  tilings: 
enter  thou  into  the  joy  of  thy 
lord.  Mat.  x.  32.  Whosoever 
therefore  shall  confess  me  be- 
fore  men,  him  will  I  confess  al- 


so before  my  Father  which  is  in 
heaven. 

y  1  John  iii.  2.  Beloved,  now 
are  we  the  sons  of  God ;  and  it 
doth  not  yet  appear  what  we 
shall  be:  but  we  know  that, 
when  he  shall  appear,  we  shall  be 
like  him;  for  we  shall  see  him 
as  he  is.  1  Cor.  xiii.  12.  For 
now  we  see  through  a  glass, 
darkly ;  but  then  face  to  face : 
now  I  know  in  part;  but  then 
shall  I  know  even  as  also  I  am 
known. 

z  1  Thess.  iv.  17.  Then  we 
which  are  alive,  and  remain,  shall 
be  caught  up  together  with  them 
in  the  clouds,  to  meet  the  Lord 
in  the  air:  and  so  shall  we  ever 
be  with  the  Lord.  Ver.  18.  Where- 
fore comfort  one  another  with 
these  words. 

39.  a  Micah  vi.  8.  He  hath 
showed  thee,  O  man,  what  is  good; 
and  what  doth  the  Lord  require 
of  thee,  but  to  do  justly,  and  to 
love  mercy,  and  to  walk  humbly 
with  thy  God?  1  Sam.  xv.  22. 
And  Samuel  said,  Hath  the  Lord 
as  great  delight  in  burnt-offer- 
ings and  sacrifices,  as  in  obeying" 
the  voice  of  the  Lord  1  Behold, 
to  obey  is  better  than  sacrifice, 
and  to  hearken,  than  the  fat  of 


Tlie  Shorter  Catechism. 


415 


Q.  40.  What  did  God  at  first  reveal  to  man  for  the  rule  of  his 
obedience? 

A.  The  rule  which  God  at  first  revealed  to  man  for  his 
obedience,  was  the  moral  law.* 

Q.  41.  Where  is  the  moral  law  summarily  comprehended P 

A.  The  moral  law  is  summarily  comprehended  in  the  ten 
commandments.0 

Q.  42.  What  is  the  sum  of  the  ten  commandments? 

A.  The  sum  of  the  ten  commandments  is,  To  love  the 
Lord  our  God  with  all  our  heart,  with  all  our  soul,  with  all 
our  strength,  and  with  all  our  mind;  and  our  neighbour  as 
ourselves.d 

Q.  43.  What  is  the  preface  to  the  ten  commandments? 

A.  The  preface  to  the  ten  commandments  is  in  these 
words,  I  am  the  Lord  thy  God,  which  have  brought  thee  out  of 
the  land  of  Egypt,  out  of  the  house  of  bondage* 

Q  44.  What  doth  the  preface  to  the  ten  commandments  teach 
usp 

A.  The  preface  to  the  ten  commandments  teacheth  us, 
That  because  God  is  the  Lord,  and  our  God,  and  Redeemer, 
therefore  we  are  bound  to  keep  all  his  commandments/ 


40.  h  Rom.  ii.  14.  For  when  the 
Gentiles,  which  have  not  the  law, 
do  by  nature  the  things  contained 
in  the  law,  these,  having  not  the 
law,  are  a  law  unto  themselves: 
Ver.  15.  Which  show  the  work  of 
the  law  written  in  their  hearts, 
their  conscience  also  bearing  wit- 
ness, and  their  thoughts  the  mean 
while  accusing  or  else  excusing 
one  another.  Rom.  x.  5.  For  Mo- 
ses-describeth  the  righteousness 
which  is  of  the  law,  That  the  man 
which  doelh  those  things  shall  live 
by  them. 

41.  c  Deut.  x.  4.  And  he  wrote 
on  the  tables,  according  to  the  first 
writing,  the  ten  commandments, 
which  the  Lord  spake  unto  you 
in  the  mount,  out  of  the  midst  of 
the  fire,  in  the  day  of  the  assem- 


bly :  and  the  Lord  gave  them  unto 
me. 

42.  *  Mat.  xxii.  37.  Jesus  said 
unto  him,  Thou  shalt  love  the 
Lord  thy  God  with  all  thy  heart, 
and  with  all  thy  soul,  and  with  all 
thy  mind.  Ver.  33.  This  is  the 
first  and  great  commandment. 
Ver.  39.  And  the  second  is  like 
unto  it,  Thou  shalt  love  thy  neigh- 
bour as  thyself.  Ver.  40.  On  these 
two  commandments  hang  all  the 
law  and  the  prophets. 

43.  e  Exod.  xx.  2. 

44.  :  Luke  i.  74.  That  he  would 
grant  unto  us,  that  we,  being  de- 
livered out  of  the  hands  of  our 
enemies,  might  serve  him  without 
fear,  Ver.  75.  In  holiness  and 
righteousness  before  him,  all  the 
davs  of  our  life.     1   Pet.    i.   15. 


416 


The  Shorter  Catechism. 


Q.  45.  Which  is  the  first  commandment P 

A.  The  first  commandment  is,  Thou  shalt  have  no  other 
gods  before  me.* 

Q.  46.  What  is  required  in  the  first  commandment? 

A.  The  first  commandment  requireth  us  to  know  and  ac- 
knowledge God  to  be  the  only  true  God,  and  our  God  ;h  and 
to  worship  and  glorify  him  accordingly.* 

Q.  47    What  is  forbidden  in  the  first  commandment? 

A.  The  first  commandment  forbiddeth  the  denying,k  or 
not  worshipping  and  glorifying  the  true  God,  as  God,1  and 
our  God;m  and  the  giving  of  that  worship  and  glory  to  any 
other,  which  is  due  to  him  alone.n 


But  ns  he  which  hath  called  you 
is  holy,  so  be  ye  holy  in  all  man- 
ner of  conversation  :  Ver.  16.  Be- 
cause it  is  written,  Be  ye  holy; 
for  I  am  holy.  Ver.  17.  And  if  ye 
call  on  the  Father,  who  without 
respect  of  persons  judgeth  accord- 
ing to  every  man's  work,  pass  the 
time  of  your  sojourning  here  in 
fear.  Ver.  18.  Forasmuch  as  ye 
know  that  ye  were  not  redeemed 
with  corruptible  things,  as  silver 
and  gold,  from  your  vain  conver- 
sation, received  by  tradition  from 
your  fathers :  Ver.  19-  But  with 
the  precious  blood  of  Christ,  as  of 
a  lamb  without  blemish  and  with- 
out spot. 

45.  g  Exod.  xx.  3. 

46.  h  1  Chron.  xxviii.  9.  And 
thou,  Solomon  my  son,  know 
thou  the  God  of  thy  father,  and 
serve  him  with  a  perfect  heart, 
and  with  a  willing  mind:  for  the 
Lord  searcheth  all  hearts,  and 
undcrstandeth  all  the  imagina- 
tions of  the  thoughts:  if  thou  seek 
him,  he  will  be  found  of  thee;  but 
if  thou  forsake  him,  he  will  cast 
thee  off  for  ever.  Deut.  xxvi.  17. 
Thou  hast  avouched  the  Lord  this 
day  to  be  thy  God,  and  to  walk  in 
his  ways,  and  to  keep  his  statutes, 


and  his  commandments,  and  hia 
judgments,  and  to  hearken  unto  hie 
voice. 

5  Mat.  iv.  10.  Then  saith  Jesue 
unto  him,  Get  thee  hence,  Satan: 
for  it  is  written,  Thou  shalt 
worship  the  Lord  thy  God,  and 
him  only  shalt  thou  serve.  Psal. 
xxix.  2.  Give  unto  the  Lord  the 
glory  due  unto  his  name ;  worship 
the  Lord  in  the  beauty  of  holiness. 

47.  k  Psal.  xiv.  1.  The  fool  hath 
said  in  his  heart,  There  is  no  God  : 
they  are  corrupt,  they  have  done 
abominable  works,  there  is  none 
that  doeth  good. 

1  Rom.  i.  21.  Because  that  when 
they  knew  God,  they  glorified  him 
not  as  God,  neither  were  thankful, 
but  became  vain  in  their  imagina- 
tions, and  their  foolish  heart  was 
darkened. 

m  Psal.  Ixxxi.  10.  I  am  the  Lord 
thy  God,  which  brought  thee  out 
of  the  land  of  Egypt;  open  thy 
mouth  wide,  and  I  will  fill  it.  Ver. 
11.  But  my  people  would  not 
hearken  to  my  voice,  and  Israel 
would  none  of  me. 

n  Rom.  i.  25.  Who  changed  the 
truth  of  God  unto  a  lie,  and  wor- 
shipped and  served  the  creature 
more   than    the    Creator,   who  i» 


The  Shorter  Catechism. 


417 


Q.  48.  What  are  zee  especially  taught  by  these  words  [before 
me]  in  the  first  commandment! 

A.  These  words  [before  me~\  in  the  first  commandment 
teach  us,  That  God,  who  seeth  all  things,  taketh  notice  of, 
and  is  much  displeased  with,  the  sin  of  having  any  other 
God.0 

Q.  49.  Which  is  the  second  commandment? 

A.  The  second  commandment  is,  Thou  shalt  not  make  unto 
thee  any  graven  image,  or  any  likeness  of  any  thing  that  is  in 
heaven  above,  or  that  is  in  the  earth  beneath,  or  that  is  in  the 
water  under  the  earth.  Thou  shalt  not  bow  down  thyself  to  them, 
nor  serve  them:  for  I  the  Lord  thy  God,  am  a  jealous  God,  vi- 
siting the  iniquity  of  the  fathers  upon  the  children  unto  the  third 
and  fourth  generations  of  them  that  hate  me;  and  shooing  mer- 
cy unto  thousands  of  them  that  love  me,  and  keep  my  command- 
men  ts.v 

Q.  50.    What  is  required  in  the  second  commandment? 

A.  The  second  commandment  requireth  the  receiving, 
observing,  and  keeping  pure  and  entire,  all  such  religious 
worship  and  ordinances  as  God  hath  appointed  in  his 
word/1 

Q.  51.    What  is  forbidden  in  the  second  commandment? 

A.  The  second  commandment  forbiddeth  the    worship- 


blessed  for  ever.  Amen.  Ver.  26. 
For  this  cause  God  gave  them  up 
unto  vile  affections :  tor  even  their 
women  did  change  the  natural  use 
into  that  which  is  against  na- 
ture. 

48.  °  Ezek.  viii.  5.  Then  said 
he  unto  me,  Son  of  man,  lift  up 
thine  eyes  now  the  way  towards 
the  north:  so  I  lifted  up  mine 
eyes  the  way  toward  the  north  ; 
and,  behold,  northward,  at  the 
gate  of  the  altar,  this  image  of 
jealousy  in  the  entry.  Ver.  6.  He 
said  furthermore  unto  me,  Son  of 
man,  seest  thou  what  they  do? 
even  the  great  abominations  that 
the  house  of  Israel  committeth 
here,  that  I  should  go  far  off  from 
my  sanctuary]     But  turn  thee  vet 


again,  and  thou  shalt  see  greater 
abominations,  <f-c.  to  the  end  of  the 
Chapter. 

49.  p  Exod.  xx.  4,  5,  6. 

50.  °-  Deut.  xxxii.  46.  And  he 
said  unto  them,  Set  your  hearts 
unto  all  the  words  which  I  testify 
among  you  this  day;  which  ye 
shall  command  your  children  to 
observe  to  do  all  the  words  of  this 
law.  Mat.  xxviii.  20.  Teaching 
them  to  observe  all  things  what- 
soever I  have  commanded  you : 
and,  lo,  I  am  with  you  alway, 
even  unto  the  end  of  the  world. 
Amen.  Acts  ii.  42.  And  they 
continued  steadfastly  in  the  apos- 
tles' doctrine  and  fellowship,  and 
in    breaking    of    bread,    and     in 


418 


The  Shorter  Catechism. 


ping  of  God  by  images/  or  any  other  way  not  appointed 
in  his  word.8 

Q,.  52.  What  are  the  reasons  annexed  to  the  second  com- 
mandment? 

A.  The  reasons  annexed  to  the  second  commandment 
are,  God's  sovereignty  over  us,1  his  propriety  in  us,v  and 
the  zeal  he  hath  to  his  own  worship. w 

Q,.  53.    Which  is  the  third  command  merit  ? 

A.  The  third  commandment  is,  Thou  shalt  not  take  the 
name  of  the  Lord  thy  God  in  vain  :  for  the  Lord  will  not  hold 
him  guiltless  that  taketh  his  name  in  vain.x 


51.  r  Deut.  iv.  15.  Take  ye 
therefore  good  heed  unto  your- 
selves, (for  ye  saw  no  manner  of 
similitude  on  the  day  that  the 
Lord  spake  unto  you  in  Horeb  out 
of  the  midst  of  the  fire,)  Ver.  16. 
Lest  ye  corrupt  yourselves,  and 
make  you  a  graven  image,  the 
similitude  of  any  figure,  the  like- 
ness of  male  or  female;  Ver.  17. 
The  likeness  of  any  beast  that  is 
on  the  earth,  the  likeness  of  any 
winged  fowl  that  flieth  in  the 
air;  Ver.  18.  The  likeness  of  any 
thing  that  creepeth  on  the  ground, 
the  likeness  of  any  fish  that  is 
in  the  waters  beneath  the  earth: 
Ver.  19.  And  lest  thou  lift  up  thine 
eyes  unto  heaven,  and  when  thou 
seest  the  sun,  and  the  moon,  and 
the  stars,  even  all  the  host  of  hea- 
ven, shouldest  be  driven  to  wor- 
ship them,  and  serve  them,  which 
the  Lord  thy  God  hath  divided 
unto  all  nations  under  the  whole 
heaven.  Exod.  xxxii.  5.  And 
when  Aaron  saw  it,  he  built  an 
altar  before  it;  and  Aaron  made 
proclamation,  and  said,  To-mor- 
row is  a  feast  to  the  Lord.  Ver.  8. 
They  have  turned  aside  quickly 
out  of  the  way  which  I  com- 
manded them :  they  have  made 
them  a  molten  calf,  and  have 
worshipped    it,    and    have    sacri- 


ficed thereunto,  and  said,  These 
be  thy  gods,  O  Israel,  which  have 
brought  thee  up  out  of  the  land  of 
Egypt. 

3  Deut.  xii.  31.  Thou  shalt  not 
do  so  unto  the  Lord  thy  God  :  for 
every  abomination  to  the  Lord 
which  he  hateth  have  they  done 
unto  their  gods;  for  even  their 
sons  and  their  daughters  they  have 
burned  in  the  fire  to  their  gods. 
Ver.  32.  What  thing  soever  I  com- 
mand you,  observe  to  do  it:  thou 
shalt  not  add  thereto,  nor  diminish 
from  it. 

52.  l  Psal.  xcv.  2.  Let  us  come 
before  his  presence  with  thanks- 
giving, and  make  a  joyful  noise 
unto  him  with  psalms.  Ver.  3.  For 
the  Lord  is  a  great  God,  and  a 
great  King  above  all  gods.  Ver.  6. 
O  come,  let  us  worship  and  bow 
down ;  let  us  kneel  before  the 
Lord  our  Maker. 

*Psal.  xlv.  11.  So  shall  the  King 
greatly  desire  thy  beauty:  for  he 
is  thy  Lord,  and  worship  thou 
him. 

w  Exod.  xxxiv.  13.  But  ye  shall 
destroy  their  altars,  break  their 
images,  and  cut  down  their  groves. 
Ver.  14.  For  thou  shalt  worship  no 
other  God :  for  the  Lord,  whose 
name  is  Jealous,  is  a  jealous  God. 

53.  x  Exod.  xx.  7. 


The  Shorter  Catechism. 


419 


Q.  54.    What  is  required  in  the  third  commandment? 

A.  The  third  commandment  requireth  the  holy  and  reve- 
rend use  of  God's  names,1  titles,2  attributes/  ordinances,b 
word,c  and  works. d 

Q.  55.    What  is  forbidden  in  the  third  commandment? 

A.  The  third  commandment  forbiddeth  all  profaning  or 
abusing  of  any  thing  whereby  God  maketh  himself  known. "' 


54.  *  Mat.  vi.  9.  After  this  man- 
ner therefore  pray  ye:  Our  Fa- 
ther which  art  in  heaven ;  Hal- 
lowed  be    thy  name. D:ut. 

xxvii.  58.  If  thou  wilt  not  observe 
to  do  all  the  words  of  this  law 
that  are  written  in  this  book,  that 
thou  mavest  fear  this  glorious  and 
fearful  name,  THE  LORD  THY 
GOD.— 

r  Psal.  lxviii.  4.  Sing  unto  God, 
slug  praises  to  his  name :  extol 
him  that  rideth  upon  the  heavens 
by  his  name  JAH,  and  rejoice  be- 
fore him.  " 

1  Rev.  xv.  3.  And  they  sing1  the 
song  of  Moses  the  servant  of  God, 
and  the  song  of  the  Lamb,  saying, 
Great  and  marvellous  are  thy 
works,  Lord  God  Almighty;  just 
and  true  are  thy  ways,  thou  King 
of  saints.  Ver.  4.  Who  shall  not 
fear  thee,  O  Lord,  and  glorify 
thy  name]  for  thou  only  art  holy: 
for  all  nations  shall  come  and 
worship  before  thee:  for  thy  judg- 
ments are  made  manifest. 

1  Mai.  i.  11.  For  from  the  rising 
of  the  sun,  even  unto  the  going 
down  of  the  same,  my  name  shall 
be  great  among  the  Gentiles,  and 
in  every  place  incense  shall  be  of- 
fered unto  my  name,  and  a  pure 
offering:  for  my  name  shall  be 
great  among  the  heathen,  saith 
the  Lord  orhosts.  Ver.  14.  But 
cursed  be  the  deceiver,  which  hath 
in  his  flock  a  male,  and  voweth 
and  sacrificeth  unto  the  Lord  a 


corrupt  thing:  for  I  am  a  great 
King,  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts,  and 
my  name  is  dreadful  among  the 
heathen. 

c  Psal.  cxxxviii.  1.  1  will  praise 
thee  with  my  whole  heart,  before 
the  gods  will  I  sing  praise  unto 
thee.  Ver.  2.  I  will  worship  to- 
wards thy  holy  temple,  and  praise 
thy  name,  for  thy  loving-kindness, 
and  for  thy  truth  :  for  thou  hast 
magnified  thy  word  above  all  thy 
name. 

d  Job  xxxvi.  24.  Remember  that 
thou  magnify  his  work,  which  men 
behold. 

oo.  -  Mai.  i.  6.  A  son  honoureth 
his  father,  and  a  servant  his  mas- 
ter: if  then  I  be  a  father,  where 
is  mine  honour]  and  if  1  be  a  mas- 
ter, where  is  my  fear]  saith  the 
Lord  of  hosts  unto  you,  O  priests, 
that  despise  my  name:  and  ye  say, 
Wherein  have  we  despised  thy 
name  !  Ver.  7.  Ye  offer  polluted 
bread  upon  mine  altar;  and  ye 
say,  Wherein  have  we  polluted 
thee  ]  In  that  ye  say,  The  table 
of  the  Lord  is  contemptible.  Ver. 
12.  But  ye  have  profaned  it,  in 
that  ye  say,  The  table  of  the  Lord 
is  polluted,  and  the  fruit  thereof, 
even  his  meat,  is  contemptible. 
Mai.  ii.  2.  If  ye  will  not  hear,  and 
if  ye  will  not  lay  it  to  heart,  to 
give  glory  unto  my  name,  saith 
the  Lord  of  hosts,  I  will  even  send 
a  curse  upon  you,  and  I  will  curse 
your  blessings;  yea,  I  have  cursed 


420 


The  Shorter  Catechism. 


Q,.  56.  What  is  the  reason  annexed  to  the  third  com- 
mandment ? 

A.  The  reason  annexed  to  the  third  commandment  is, 
That  however  the  breakers  of  this  commandment  may  es- 
cape punishment  from  men,  yet  the  Lord  our  God  will  not 
suffer  them  to  escape  his  righteous  judgment/ 

Q.  57.    Which  is  the  fourth  commandment? 

A.  The  fourth  commandment  is,  Remember  the  sabbath-day, 
to  keep  it  holy.  Six  days  shalt  thou  labour,  and  do  all  thy 
work:  but  the  seventh  day  is  the  sabbath  of  the  Lord  thy  God: 
in  it  thou  shalt  not  do  any  work,  thou,  nor  thy  son,  nor  thy 
daughter,  thy  man-servant,  nor  thy  maid- servant,  nor  thy  cat- 
tle, nor  thy  stranger  that  is  within  thy  gates.  For  in  six  days 
the  Lord  made  heaven  and  earth,  the  sea,  and  all  that  in  them  is, 
and  rested  the  seventh  day;  wherefore  the  Lord  blessed  the  sab- 
bath-day, and  hallowed  it.s 

Q.  58.    What  is  required  in  the  fourth  commandment? 

A.  The  fourth  commandment  requireth  the  keeping  holy 
to  God  such  set  times  as  he  hath  appointed  in  his  word ;  ex- 
pressly one  whole  day  in  seven,  to  be  a  holy  sabbatK  to 
himself.h 


them  already,  because  ye  do  not 
lay  it  to  heart.  Mai.  iii.  14.  Ye 
have  said,  It  is  vain  to  serve  God; 
and  what  profit  is  it  that  we  have 
kept  his  ordinance,  and  that  we 
have  walked  mournfully  before 
the  Lord  of  hosts. 

56.  f  1  Sam.  ii.  12.  Now  the  sons 
of  Eli  were  sons  of  Belial,  they 
knew  not  the  Lord.  Ver.  17. 
Wherefore  the  sin  of  the  young 
men  was  very  great  before  the 
Lord ;  for  men  abhorred  the  offer- 
ing of  the  Lord.  Ver.  22.  Now  Eli 
was  very  old,  and  heard  all  that 
his  sons  did  unto  all  Israel,  and 
how  they  lay  with  the  women  that 
assembled  at  the  door  of  the  taber- 
nacle of  the  congregation.  Ver.  29. 
Wherefore  kick  ye  at  my  sacrifice, 
and  at  mine  offering  which  I  have 
commanded  in  my  habitation,  and 


honourest  thy  sons  above  me,  to 
make  yourselves  fat  with  the  chief- 
est  of  all  the  offerings  of  Israel  my 
people?  1  Sam.  iii.  13.  For  I  have 
told  him,  that  I  will  judge  his  house 
for  ever,  for  the  iniquity  which  he 
knoweth;  because  his  sons  made 
themselves  vile,  and  he  restrained 
them  not.  Deut.  xxviii.  58.  If  thou 
wilt  not  observe  to  do  all  the  words 
of  this  law  that  are  written  in  this 
book,  that  thou  mayest  fear  this 
glorious  and  fearful  name,  THE 
LORD  THY  GOD;  Ver.  59.  Then 
the  Lord  will  make  thy  plagues 
wonderful,  and  the  plagues  of  thy 
seed,  even  great  plagues,  and  of 
long  continuance,  and  sore  sick- 
nesses, and  of  long  continuance. 

57.  *  Exod.  xx.  8—11. 

58.  h  Deut.  v.  12.  Keep  the  sab- 
bath-day  to    sanctify    it,    as    the 


The  Shorter  Catechism. 


421 


Q.  59.  Which  day  of  the  seven  hath  God  appointed  to 
be  the  weekly  sabbath? 

A.  From  the  beginning  of  the  world  to  the  resurrection 
of  Christ..  God  appointed  the  seventh  day  of  the  week  to  be 
the  weekly  sabbath ;  and  the  first  day  of  the  week  ever 
since,  to  continue  to  the  end  of  the  world,  which  is  the 
Christian  Sabbath. ; 

Q.  60.  How  is  the  sabbath  to  be  sanctified? 
A.  The  sabbath  is  to  be  sanctified  by  a  holy  resting  all 
that  day,k  even  from  such  worldly  employments  and    re- 
creations as  are  lawful  on  other  days;1  and  spending  the 


Lord  thy  God  hath  commanded 
thee.  Ver.  13.  Six  days  thou  shalt 
labour,  and  do  all  thy  work : 
Ver.  14.  But  the  seventh  day  is  the 
sabbath  of  the  Lord  thy  God: 
in  it  thou  shalt  not  do  any  work, 
thou,  nor  thy  son,  nor  thy  daugh- 
ter, nor  thy  man-servant,  nor  thy 
maid-servant,  nor  thine  ox,  nor 
thine  ass,  nor  any  of  thy  cattle, 
nor  thy  stranger  that  is  within 
thy  gates;  that  thy  man-servant 
and  thy  maid-servant  may  rest 
as  well  as  thou. 

59.  !  Gen.  ii.  2.  And  on  the 
seventh  day  God  ended  his  work 
which  he  had  made  ;  and  he  rested 
on  the  seventh  day  from  all  his 
work  which  he  had  made.  Ver.  3. 
And  God  blessed  the  seventh  day, 
and  sanctified  it;  because  that  in 
it  he  had  rested  from  all  his  work, 
which  God  created  and  made. 
1  Cor.  xvi.  1.  Now,  concerning 
the  collection  for  the  saints,  as  I 
have  given  order  to  the  churches 
of  Galatia,  even  so  do  ye.  Ver.  2. 
Upon  the  first  day  of  the  week, 
let  every  one  of  you  lay  by  him  in 
store,  as  God  hath  prospered  him, 
that  there  be  no  gatherings  when 
I  come.  Acts  xx.  7.  And  upon  the 
first  day  of  the  week,  when  the 
disciples  came  together  to  break 
bread,  Paul  preached   unto  them, 


ready  to  depart  on  the  morrow, 
and  continued  his  speech  until 
midnight. 

60.  k  Exod.  xx.  8.  Remember 
the  sabbath-day,  to  keep  it  holy. 
Ver.  10.  But  the  seventh  day  is 
the  sabbath  of  the  Lord  thy  God  : 
in  it  thou  shalt  not  do  any  work. 
thou,  nor  thy  son,  <fcc.  Exod. 
xvi.  25.  And  Moses  said,  Eat  that 
to-day;  for  to-day  is  a  sabbath 
unto  the  Lord:  to-day  ye  shall  not 
find  it  in  the  field.  Ver.  26.  Six 
days  ye  shall  gather  it;  but  en  the 
seventh  day,  which  is  the  sabbath, 
in  it  there  shall  be  none.  Ver.  27. 
And  it  came  to  pass,  that  there 
went  out  some  of  the  people  on 
the  seventh  day  for  to  gather,  and 
they  found  none.  Ver.  28.  And  the 
Lord  said  unto  Moses,  How  long 
refuse  ye  to  keep  my  command- 
ments and  my  laws ! 

1  Neh.  xiii.  15.  In  those  days 
saw  I  in  Judah  some  treading 
wine-presses  on  the  sabbath,  and 
bringing  in  sheaves,  and  lading 
asses:  as  also  wine,  grapes,  and 
figs,  and  all  manner  of  burdens, 
which  they  brought  into  Jerusalem 
on  the  sabbath-day :  and  I  testified 
against  them  in  the  day  wherein 
they  sold  victuals.  Ver.  16.  There 
dwelt  men  of  Tyre  also  therein, 
which  brought  fish,  and  all  man- 


422 


The  Shorter  Catechism, 


whole  time  in  the  public  and  private  exercises  of  God's  wor- 
ship,m  except  so  much  as  is  to  be  taken  up  in  the  works  of 
necessity  and  mercy. n 

Q.  61.  What  is  forbidden  in  the  fourth  commandment? 

«/?.  The  fourth  commandment  forbiddeth  the  omission  or 
careless  performance  of  the  duties  required,0  and  the  pro- 


ner  of  wares,  and  sold  on  the  sab- 
bath unto  the  children  of  Judah, 
and  in  Jerusalem.  Ver.  17.  Then 
I  contended  with  the  nobles  of  Ju- 
dah, and  said  unto  them,  What 
evil  thing  is  this  that  ye  do,  and 
profane  the  sabbath-day]  Ver.  18. 
Did  not  your  fathers  thus,  and  did 
not  our  God  bring  all  this  evil 
upon  us,  and  upon  this  city"?  yet 
ye  bring  more  wrath  upon  Israel 
by  profaning  the  sabbath.  Ver.  19. 
And  it  came  to  pass,  that  when  the 
gates  of  Jerusalem  began  to  be  dark 
before  the  sabbath,  I  commanded 
that  the  gates  should  be  shut,  and 
charged  that  they  should  not  be 
opened  till  after  the  sabbath :  and 
some  of  my  servants  set  I  at  the 
gates,  that  there  should  no  burden 
be  brought  in  on  the  sabbath-day. 
Ver.  21.  Then  I  testified  against 
them,  and  said  unto  them,  Why 
lodge  ye  about  the  wall  ]  if  ye  do 
so  again,  I  will  lay  hands  on  you. 
From  that  time  forth  came  they 
no  more  on  the  sabbath.  Ver.  22. 
And  I  commanded  the  Levites  that 
they  should  cleanse  themselves, 
and  that  they  should  come  and  keep 
the  gates  to  sanctify  the  sabbath- 
day.  Remember  me,  O  my  God, 
concerning  this  also,  and  spare  me 
according  to  the  greatness  of  thy 
mercy. 

m  Luke  iv.  16.  And  he  came  to 
Nazareth,  where  he  had  been 
brought  up:  and,  as  his  custom 
was,  he  went  into  the  synagogue 
on  the  sabbath-day,  and  stood  up 


for  to  read.  Acts  xx.  7.  And  upon 
the  first  day  of  the  week,  &c.  [See 
letter'1.]  Ps.  xcii.  [title,  A  psalm  or 
song  for  the  sabbath-day.']  Isa.  lxvi. 
23.  And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  that 
from  one  new-moon  to  another, 
and  from  one  sabbath  to  another, 
shall  all  flesh  come  to  worship  be- 
fore me,  saith  the  Lord. 
„n  Mat.  xii.  from  Verse  1,  to  31. 
At  that  time  Jesus  went  on  the 
sabbath-day  through  the  corn,  and 
his  disciples  were  a  hungered,  and 
began  to  pluck  the  ears  of  corn, 
and  to  eat.  Ver.  2.  But  when  the 
Pharisees,  &c.  Ver.  12. — It  is  law- 
ful to  do  well  on  the  sabbath- 
days. 

61.  °  Ezek.  xxii.  26.  Her  priests 
have  violated  my  law,  and  have  pro- 
faned mine  holy  things:  they  have 
put  no  difference  between  the  holy 
and  profane,neither  have  they  show- 
ed difference  between  the  unclean 
and  the  clean,  and  have  hid  their 
eyes  from  my  sabbaths,  and  I  am 
profaned  among  them.  Amos  viii.  5. 
Saying,  When  will  the  new-moon 
be  gone,  that  we  may  sell  corn  ?  and 
the  sabbath,  that  we  may  set  forth 
wheat,  making  the  ephah  small,and 
the  shekel  great,  and  falsifying  the 
balances  by  deceit  7  Mai.  i.  13.  Ye 
said  also,  Behold,  what  a  weariness 
is  it !  and  ye  have  snuffed  at  it,  saith 
the  Lord  of  hosts :  and  ye  brought 
that  which  was  torn,  and  the  lame, 
and  the  sick ;  thus  ye  brought  an 
offering:  should  I  accept  this  of 
your  hands'?  saith  the  Lord. 


The  Shorter  Catechism. 


423 


faning  the  day  by  idleness,p  or  doing  that  which  is  in  itself 
sinful,q  or  by  unnecessary  thoughts,  words,  or  works,  about 
our  worldly  employments  or  recreations/ 

Q.  62.  What  are  the  reasons  annexed  to  the  fourth 
commandment? 

e#.  The  reasons  annexed  to  the  fourth  commandment  are. 
God's  allowing  us  six  days  of  the  week  for  our  own  employ- 
ments,5 his  challenging  a  special  propriety  in  the  seventh, 
his  own  example,  and  his  blessing  the  sabbath-day.1 

Q.  63.    Which  is  the  fifth  commandment? 

A.  The  fifth  commandment  is,  Honour  thy  father  and 
thy  mother;  that  thy  days  may  be  long  upon  the  land 
ivhich  the  Lord  thy  God  giveth  thee* 


p  Acts  xx.  7.  And  upon  the  first 
day  of  the  week,  when  the  dis- 
ciples came  together  to  break 
bread,  Paul  preached  unto  them, 
ready  to  depart  on  the  morrow, 
and  continued  his  speech  until 
midnight.  Ver.  9.  And  there  sat  in 
a  window  a  certain  young"  man 
named  Eutychus,  being  fallen  in- 
to a  deep  sleep;  and  as  Paul  was 
long  preaching,  he  sunk  down 
with  sleep,  and  fell  down  from 
the  third  loft,  and  was  taken  up 
dead. 

«  Ezek.  xxiii.  38.  Moreover,  this 
they  have  done  unto  me ;  they 
have  defiled  my  sanctuary  in  the 
same  day,  and  have  profaned  my 
sabbaths. 

r  Jer.  xvii.  24.  And  it  shall 
come  to  pass,  if  ye  diligently 
hearken  unto  me,  saith  the 
Lord,  to  bring  in  no  burden 
through  the  gates  of  this  city 
on  the  sabbath-day,  but  hallow 
the  sabbath-day,  to  do  no  work- 
therein;  Ver.  25.  Then  shall  there 
enter  into  the  gates  of  this  city 
kings  and  princes  sitting  upon 
the  throne  of  David,  riding  in 
chariots,  and  on  horses,  they,  and 
their  princes,  the   men  of  Judah, 


and  the  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem: 
and  this  city  shall  remain  for 
ever.  Ver.  26.  And  they  shall 
come  from  the  cities  of  Judah, 
and  from  the  places  about  Jeru- 
salem, and  from  the  land  of 
Benjamin,  and  from  the  plain, 
and  from  the  mountains,  and 
from  the  south,  bringing  burnt- 
offerings,  and  sacrifices,  and  meat- 
offerings, and  incense,  and  bring- 
ing sacrifices  of  praise  unto  the 
house  of  the  Lord.  Isa.  lviii.  13. 
If  thou  turn  away  thy  foot  from 
the  sabbath,  from  doing  thy  plea- 
sure on  my  holy  day,  and  call 
the  sabbath  a  delight,  the  holy 
of  the  Lord,  honourable,  and 
shalt  honour  him,  not  doing  thine 
own  ways,  nor  finding  thine  own 
pleasure,  nor  speaking  thine  own 
words. 

62.  8  Exod.  xx.  9.  Six  days 
shalt  thou  labour,  and  do  all  thy 
work. 

*  Exod.  xx.  11.  For  in  six  days 
the  Lord  made  heaven  and  earth, 
the  sea,  and  all  that  in  them  is, 
and  rested  the  seventh  day:  where- 
fore the  Lord  blessed  the  sabbath- 
day,  and  hallowed  it. 

63.  T  Exod.  xx.  12, 


424 


The  Shorter  Catechism. 


Q.  64.  What  is  required  in  the  fifth  commandment? 

A.  The  fifth  commandment  requireth  the  preserving  the 
honour,  and  performing  the  duties,  belonging  to  every  one 
in  their  several  places  and  relations,  as  superiors/  inferiors/ 
or  equals.7 

Q,.  65.  What  is  forbidden  in  the  fifth  commandment? 

Ji.  The  fifth  commandment  forbiddeth  the  neglecting  of, 
or  doing  any  thing  against,  the  honour  and  duty  which  be- 
longeth  to  every  one  in  their  several  places  and  relations.2 

Q,.  66.  What  is  the  reason  annexed  to  the  fifth  commandment? 

*#.  The  reason  annexed  to  the  fifth  commandment,  is  a 
promise  of  long  life  and  prosperity  (as  far  as  it  shall  serve 
for  God's  glory  and  their  own  good)  to  all  such  as  keep 
this  commandment/ 

Q,.  67.  Which  is  the  sixth  commandment? 

A,  The  sixth  commandment  is,  Thou  shall  not  kill? 


64.  w  Eph.  v.  21.  Submitting 
yourselves  one  to  another  in  the 
fear  of  God. 

x  1  Pet.  ii.  17.  Honour  all  men. 
Love  the  brotherhood.  Fear  God. 
Honour  the  king-. 

*  Rom.  xii.  10.  Be  kindly  affec- 
tioned  one  to  another  with  bro- 
therly love;  in  honour  preferring 
one  another. 

65.  z  Mat.  xv.  4.  For  God  com- 
manded, saying,  Honour  thy  fa- 
ther and  mother :  and,  He  that 
curseth  father  or  mother,  let  him 
die  the  death.  Ver.  5.  But  ye  say, 
Whosoever  shall  say  to  his  father 
or  his  mother,  Tt  is  a  gift  by  what- 
soever thou  mightest  be  profited 
by  me,  Ver.  6.  And  honour  not  his 
father  or  his  mother,  he  shall  be 
free.  Thus  have  ye  made  the  com- 
mandment of  God  of  none  effect 
by  your  tradition.  Ezek.  xxxiv.  2. 
Son  of  man,  prophesy  against  the 
shepherds  of  Israel,  prophesy,  and 
say  unto  them,  Thus  saith  the 
Lord  God  unto  the  shepherds,  Wo 
be  to  the  shepherds  of  Jsrael  that 
do  feed  themselves !  should  not  the 


shepherds  feed  the  flocks?  Ver.  3. 
Ye  eat  the  fat,  and  ye  clothe  you 
with  the  wool ;  ye  kill  them  that 
are  fed  ;  but  ye  feed  not  the  flock. 
Ver.  4.  The  diseased  have  ye  not 
strengthened,  neither  have  ye  heal- 
ed that  which  was  sick,  neither 
have  ye  bound  up  that  which  was 
broken,  neither  have  ye  brought 
again  that  which  was  driven  away, 
neither  have  ye  sought  that  which 
was  lost;  but  with  force  and  with 
cruelty  have  ye  ruled  them.  Rom. 
xiii.  8.  Owe  no  man  any  thing,  but 
to  love  one  another :  for  he  that 
loveth  another  hath  fulfilled  the  law. 

66.  a  Deut.  v.  16.  Honour  thy 
father  and  thy  mother,  as  the  Lord 
thy  God  hath  commanded  thee; 
that  thy  days  may  be  prolonged, 
and  that  it  may  go  well  with  thee 
in  the  land  which  the  Lord  thy 
God  giveth  thee.  Eph.  vi.  2. 
Honour  thy  father  and  mother, 
(which  is  the  first  commandment 
with  promise;)  Ver.  3.  That  it 
may  be  well  with  thee,  and  thou 
mayest  live  long  on  the  earth. 

67.  b  Exod.  xx.  13. 


The  Shorter  Catechism. 


425 


Q.  68.   What  is  required  in  the  sixth  commandment? 

A.  The  sixth  commandment  requireth  all  lawful  en- 
deavours to  preserve  our  own  life,0  and  the  life  of 
others. d 

Q.  69.    What  is  forbidden  in  the  sixth  commandment  ? 

A.  The  sixth  commandment  forbiddeth  the  taking  away 
of  our  own  life,  or  the  life  of  our  neighbour,  unjustly,  or 
whatsoever  tendeth  thereunto.6 

Q.  70.    Which  is  the  seventh  commandment  ? 

J2.  The  seventh  commandment  is,  Thou  shalt  not  commit 
adultery.1 

Q.  71.    JJ  hat  is  required  in  the  seventh  commandment? 

A.  The  seventh  commandment  requireth  the  preserva- 
tion of  our  own  and  our  neighbour's  chastity,  in  heart, 
speech,  and  behaviour.6 


63.  c  Eph.  v.  28.  So  ought  men 
to  love  their  own  wives  as  their 
own  bodies:  he  that  loveth  his 
wife  loveth  himself.  Ver.  29.  For 
no  man  ever  yet  hated  his  own 
flesh ;  but  nourisheth  and  che- 
rishetk  it,  even  as  the  Lord  the 
church. 

d  1  Kings  xviii.  4.  For  it  was 
so,  when  Jezebel  cut  off  the  pro- 
phets of  the  Lord,  that  Obadiah 
took  a  hundred  prophets,  and 
hid  them  by  fifty  in  a  cave,  and 
fed  them  with  bread  and  water. 

69.  •  Acts  xvi.  28,  But  Paul 
cried  with  a  loud  voice,  saying', 
Do  thyself  no  harm ;  for  we  are 
all  here.  Gen.  ix.  6.  Whoso 
sheddeth  man's  blood,  by  man 
shall  his  blood  be  shed :  for  in 
the  ima^e  of  God  made  he  man. 

70.  fExod.  xx.  14. 

71.  e  1  Cor.  vii.  2.  Neverthe- 
less, to  avoid  fornication,  let 
every  man  have  his  own  wife, 
and  let  every  woman  have  her 
own  husband.  Ver.  3.  Let  the 
husband  render  unto  the  wife 
due    benevolence;    anl    likewise 

36* 


also  the  wife  unto  the  husband. 
Ver.  5.  Defraud  ye  not  one  the 
other,  except  it  be  with  consent 
for  a  time  that  ye  may  give 
yourselves  to  fasting  and  prayer ; 
and  come  together  again,  that 
Satan  tempt  you  not  for  your 
incontinence.  Ver.  34.  There  is 
difference  also  between  a  wife 
and  a  virgin.  The  unmarried 
woman  careth  for  the  things  of 
the  Lord,  that  she  may  be  holy 
both  in  body  and  in  spirit:  but 
she  that  is  married  careth  for 
the  things  of  the  world,  how  she 
may  please  her  husband.  Ver.  36. 
But  if  any  man  think  that  he 
behaveth  himself  uncomely  to- 
ward his  virgin,  if  she  pass  the 
flower  of  her  age,  and  need  so 
require,  let  him  do  what  he  will., 
he  sinneth  not:  let  them  marry. 
Col.  iv.  6.  Let  your  speech  be 
alway  with  grace,  seasoned  with 
salt,  that  ye  may  know  how  ye 
ought  to  answer  every  man. 
1  Pet.  iii.  2.  While  they  behold 
your  chaste  conversation  coupled 
with  fear. 


426 


The  Shorter  Catechism. 


Q.  72.  What  is  forbidden  in  the  seventh  commandment? 

*ft.  The  seventh  commandment  forbiddeth  all  unchaste 
thoughts,  words,  and  actions.11 

Q.  73.  Which  is  the  eighth  commandment? 

A.  The  eighth  commandment  is,  Thou  shalt  not  steals 

Q.  74.   What  is  required  in  the  eighth  commandment? 

•ft.  The  eighth  commandment  requireth  the  lawful  pro- 
curing and  furthering  the  wealth  and  outward  estate  of  our- 
selves and  others. k 


72.  h  Mat  xv.  19.  For  out  of 
the  heart  proceed  evil  thoughts, 
murders,  adulteries,  fornications, 
thefts,  false  witness,  blasphe- 
mies. Mat.  v.  28.  But  I  say  unto 
you,  That  whosoever  looketh  on 
a  woman  to  lust  after  her,  hath 
committed  adultery  with  her  al- 
ready in  his,  heart.  Eph.  v.  3. 
But  fornication,  and  all  unclean- 
ness,  or  covetousness,  let  it  not  be 
once  named  among  you,  as  becom- 
eth  saints :  Ver.  4.  Neither  filthi- 
ness,  nor  foolish  talking,  nor  jest- 
ing, which  are  not  convenient; 
but  rather  giving  of  thanks. 
73. i  Exod.  xx.  15. 
74.  k  Gen.  xxx.  30.  For  it  was 
little  which  thou  hadst  before  I 
came,  and  it  is  now  increased 
unto  a  multitude;  and  the 
Lord  hath  blessed  thee  since  my 
coming:  and  now  when  shall  I 
provide  for  mine  own  house  also? 
1  Tim.  v.  8.  But  if  any  provide 
not  for  his  own,  and  specially  for 
those  of  his  own  house,  he  hath 
denied  the  faith,  and  is  worse 
than  an  infidel.  Lev.  xxv.  35. 
And  if  thy  brother  be  waxen 
poor,  and  fallen  in  decay  with 
thee,  then  thou  shalt  relieve  him ; 
yea,  though  he  be  a  stranger, 
or  a  sojourner;  that  he  may  live 
with  thee.  Deut.  xxii.  1.  Thou 
shalt  not  see  thy  brother's  ox 
or  his  sheep  go  astray,  and  hide 
thyself  from  them :  thou  shalt  in 


any  case  bring  them  again  unto 
thy  brother.  Ver.  2.  And  if  thy 
brother  be  not  nigh  unto  thee,  or 
if  thou  know  him  not,  then  thou 
shalt  bring  it  unto  thine  own 
house,  and  it  shall  be  with  thee 
until  thy  brother  seek  after  it, 
and  thou  shalt  restore  it  to  him 
again.  Ver.  3.  In  like  manner 
shalt  thou  do  with  his  ass,  and  so 
shalt  thou  do  with  his  raiment: 
and  with  all  lost  things  of  thy 
brother's,  which  he  hath  lost,  and 
thou  hast  found,  shalt  thou  do 
likewise:  thou  mayest  not  hide 
thyself.  Ver.  4.  Thou  shalt  not 
see  thy  brother's  ass  or  his  ox 
fall  down  by  the  way,  and  hide 
thyself  from  them:  thou  shalt  sure- 
ly help  him  to  lift  them  up  again. 
Ver.  5.  The  woman  shall  not  wear 
that  which  pertaineth  unto  a  man, 
neither  shall  a  man  put  on  a  wo- 
man's garment:  for  all  that  do  so 
are  abomination  unto  the  Lord 
thy  God.  Exod.  xxiii.  4.  If  thou 
meet  thine  enemy's  ox  or  his  ass 
going  astray,  thou  shalt  surely 
bring  it  back  to  him  again.  Ver.  5. 
If  thou  see  the  ass  of  him  that 
hateth  thee  lying  under  his  burden, 
and  wouldest  forbear  to  help  him, 
thou  shalt  surely  help  with  him. 
Gen.  xlvii.  14.  And  Joseph  ga- 
thered up  all  the  money  that  was 
found  in  the  land  of  Egypt,  and 
in  the  land  of  Canaan,  for  the 
corn  which  they  bought :  and  Jo- 


The  Shorter  Catechism. 


■    427 


Q.  75.   What  is  forbidden  in  the  eighth  commandment? 

A.  The  eighth  commandment  forbiddeth  whatsoever  doth 
or  may  unjustly  hinder  our  own  or  our  neighbour's  wealth 
or  outward  estate.1 

Q.  76.  Which  is  the  ninth  commandment? 

A.  The  ninth  commandment  is,  Thou  shall  not  bear  false 
witness  against  thy  neighbour.131 

Q.  77.  What  is  required  in  the  ninth  commandment? 

A.  The  ninth  commandment  require th  the  maintaining 
and  promoting  of  truth  between  man  and  man,n  and  of  our 
own  and  our  neighbour's  good  name,0  especially  in  witness- 
bearing.? 

Q.  78.  What  is  forbidden  in  the  ninth  commandment? 

A.  The  ninth  commandment  forbiddeth  whatsoever  is 
prejudicial  to  truth,  or  injurious  to  our  own  or  our  neigh- 
bour's good  name.q 

Q.  79.  Which  is  the  tenth  commandment? 

A.  The  tenth  commandment  is,  Thou  shah  not  covet  thy 
neiglibour's  house,  thou  shalt  not  covet  thy  neighbour's  wife,  nor 


seph  brought  the  money  into  Pha- 
raoh's house.  Ver.  20.  And  Joseph 
bought  all  the  land  of  Egypt  for 
Pharaoh ;  for  the  Egyptians  sold 
every  man  his  field,  because  the 
famine  prevailed  over  them :  so  the 
land  became  Pharaoh's. 

75. l  Prow  xxi.  17.  He  that  loveth 
pleasure  shall  be  a  poor  man;  he 
that  loveth  wine  and  oil  shall  not 
be  rich.  Prow  xxiii.  20.  Be  not 
among  wine-bibbers;  among  riotous 
eaters  of  flesh.  Ver.  21.  For  the 
drunkard  and  the  glutton  shall  come 
to  poverty ;  and  drowsiness  shall 
clothe  a  man  with  rags.  Prow 
xxviii.  19.  He  that  tilleth  his 
land  shall  have  plenty  of  bread: 
but  he  that  followeth  after  vain 
persons  shall  have  poverty  enough. 
Eph.  iw  28.  Let  him  that  stole 
steal  no  more:  but  rather  let  him 
labour,  working  with  his  hands 
the    thing    which    is    good,   that 


lie  may  have  to  give  to  him  that 
needeth. 

76.  m  Exod.  xx.  16. 

77.  n  Zech.  viii.  16.  These  are 
the  things  that  ye  shall  do,  Speak 
ye  every  man  the  truth  to  his 
neighbour;  execute  the  judgment 
of  truth  and  peace  in  your  gates. 

°3  John,  Ver.  12.  Demetrius 
hath  good  report  of  all  men,  and 
of  the  truth  itself;  yea,  and  we 
also  bear  record,  and  ye  know  that 
our  record  is  true. 

p  Prow  xiv.  5.  A  faithful  wit- 
ness will  not  lie :  but  a  false  wit- 
ness will  utter  lies.  Ver.  25.  A 
true  witness  delivereth  souls:  but 
a  deceitful  witness  speaketh  lies. 

1  Sam.  xvii.  28.  And  Eliab 
his  eldest  brother  heard  when  he 
spake  unto  the  men ;  and  Eliab's 
anger  was  kindled  against  David, 
and  he  said,  Why  earnest  thou 
down    hither?    and    with    whom 


428 


The  Shorter  Catechism. 


his  man-servant,  nor  his  maid- servant,  nor  his  ox,  nor  his  ass, 
nor  any  thing  that  is  thy  neighbour's.1 

Q.  80.  What  is  required  in  the  tenth  commandment? 

A.  The  tenth  commandment  requireth  full  contentment 
with  our  own  condition,8  with  a  right  and  charitable  frame 
of  spirit  toward  our  neighbour,  and  all  that  is  his.* 

Q.  81.  What  is  forbidden  in  the  tenth  commandment? 

A.  The  tenth  commandment  forbiddeth  all  discontentment 
with  our  own  estate/  envying  or  grieving  at  the  good  of 
our  neighbour/  and  all  inordinate  motions  and  affections  to 
any  thing  that  is  his.x 


hast  thou  left  those  few  sheep  in 
the  wilderness?  I  know  thy  pride, 
and  the  naughtiness  of  thine  heart; 
for  thou  art  come  down  that  thou 
mightest  see  the  battle.  Lev.  xix. 
16.  Thou  shalt  not  go  up  and  down 
as  a  tale-bearer  among  thy  people; 
neither  shalt  thou  stand  against  the 
blood  of  thy  neighbour:  I  am  the 
Lord.  Psal.  xv.  3.  He  that  back- 
biteth  not  with  his  tongue,  nor 
doeth  evil  to  his  neighbour,  nor 
taketh  up  a  reproach  against  his 
neighbour. 

79.  r  Exod.  xx.  17. 

80.  8  Heb.  xiii.  5.  Let  your  con- 
versation be  without  covetousness; 
and  be  content  with  such  things  as 
ye  have :  for  he  hath  said,  1  will 
never  leave  thee,  nor  forsake  thee. 
1  Tim.  vi.  6.  But  godliness  with 
contentment  is  great  gain. 

1  Job  xxxi.  29.  If  I  rejoiced  at 
the  destruction  of  him  that  hated 
me,  or  lifted  up  myself  when  evil 
found  him.  Rom.  xii.  15.  Rejoice 
with  them  that  do  rejoice,  and 
weep  with  them  that  weep.  1 
Tim.  i.  5.  Now  the  end  of  the  com- 
mandment is  charity,  out  of  a  pure 
heart,  and  of  a  good  conscience,  and 
of  faith  unfeigned.  1  Cor.  xiii.  4. 
Charity  suffereth  long,  and  is  kind; 
charily  envieth  not;  charity  vaunt- 
eth  not  itself,  is  not  puffed  up,  Ver. 


5.  Doth  not  behave  itself  unseem- 
ly, seeketh  not  her  own,  is  not 
easily  provoked,  thinketh  no  evil; 
Ver.  6.  Rejoiceth  not  in  iniquity, 
but  rejoiceth  in  the  truth;  Ver.  7. 
Beareth  all  things,  believeth  all 
things,  hopeth  all  things,  endureth 
all  things. 

81.  v  1  Kings  xxi.  4.  And  Ahab 
came  into  his  house  heavy  and  dis- 
pleased, because  of  the  word  which 
Naboth  the  Jezreelite  had  spoken 
to  him :  for  he  had  said,  I  will  not 
give  thee  the  inheritance  of  my  fa- 
thers; and  he  laid  him  down  upon 
his  bed,  and  turned  away  his  face, 
and  would  eat  no  bread.  Esther 
v.  13.  Yet  all  this  availetb  me  no- 
thing, so  long  as  I  see  Mordecai 
the  Jew  sitting  at  the  king's  gate. 
1  Cor.  x.  10.  Neither  murmur  ye 
as  some  of  them  also  murmured, 
and  were  destroyed  of  the  de- 
stroyer. 

w  Gal.  v.  26.  Let  us  not  be  de- 
sirous of  vain-glory,  provoking  one 
another,  envying  one  another. 
James  iii.  14.  But  if  ye  have  bitter 
envying  and  strife  in  your  hearts, 
glory  not,  and  lie  not  against  the 
truth.  Ver.  16.  For  where  envy- 
ing and  strife  is,  there  is  confusion, 
and  every  evil  work. 

x  Rom.  vii.  7.  What  shall  we 
say  then?    Is  the  law  sin?    God 


The  Shorter  Catechism. 


429 


Q.  82.  Is  any  man  able  perfectly  to  keep  the  commandments 
of  God? 

A.  No  mere  man  since  the  fall  is  able  in  this  life  perfectly 
to  keep  the  commandments  of  God,5"  but  doth  daily  break 
them  in  thought,  word,  and  deed.7 

Q.  83.  Are  all  transgressions  of  the  laze  equally  heinous  ? 

A.  Some  sins  in  themselves,  and  by  reason  of  several  ag- 
gravations, are  more  heinous  in  the  sight  of  God  than 
others.1 


forbid.  Nay,  I  had  not  known  sin 
but  by  the  law;  for  I  had  not 
known  lust,  except  the  law  had 
said,  Thou  shalt  not  covet.  Ver.  8. 
But  sin,  taking-  occasion  by  the 
commandment,  wrought  in  me 
all  manner  of  concupiscence.  For 
without  the  law  sin  was  dead. 
Rom.  xiii.  9.  For  this,  Thou  shalt 
not  commit  adultery,  Thou  shalt 
not  kill,  Thou  shalt  not  steal, 
Thou  shalt  not  bear  false  witness. 
Thou  shalt  not  covet:  and  if  there 
be  any  other  commandment,  it  is 
briefly  comprehended  in  this  say- 
ing, namely,  Thou  shalt  love  thy 
neighbour  as  thyself.  Deut.  v. 
21.  Neither  shalt  thou  desire  thy 
neighbour's  wife,  neither  shalt 
thou  covet  thy  neighbour's  house, 
his  field,  or  his  man-servant,  or 
his  maid-servant,  his  ox,  or  his 
ass,  or  any  thing  that  is  thy  neigh- 
bour's. 

82.  r  Eccl.  vii.  20.  For  there  is 
not  a  just  man  upon  earth,  that 
doeth  good,  and  sinneth  not. 
1  John  i.  8.  If  we  say  that  we  have 
no  sin,  we  deceive  ourselves,  and 
the  truth  is  not  in  us.  Ver.  10.  If 
we  say  that  we  have  not  sinned, 
we  make  hi rn  a  liar,  and  his  word 
is  not  in  us.  Gal.  v.  17.  For  the 
flesh  lusteth  against  the  Spirit,  and 
the  Spirit  against  the  flesh:  and 
these  are  contrary  the  one  to  the 
other;  so  that  ye  cannot  do  the 
things  that  ye  would. 


2  Gen.  vi.  5.  And  God  saw  that 
the  wickedness  of  man  was  great 
in  the  earth,  and  that  every  ima- 
gination of  the  thoughts  of  his 
heart  was  only  evil  continually. 
Gen.  viii.  21.  And  the  Lord  smelled 
a  sweet  savour;  and  the  Lord  said 
in  his  heart,  I  will  not  again  curse 
the  ground  any  more  for  man's 
sake;  for  the  imagination  of  man's 
heart  is  evil  from  his  youth: 
neither  will  I  again  smite  any 
more  every  thing  living,  as  I  have 
done.  Rom.  iii.  9.  What  then? 
are  we  better  than  they !  No,  in 
no  wise:  for  we  have  before  proved 
both  Jews  and  Gentiles,  that  they 
are  all  under  sin. — And  so  on  to 
Verse  21.  James  iii.  2.  For  in 
many  things  we  offend  all.  If 
any  man  offend  not  in  word,  the 
same  is  a  perfect  man,  and  able 
also  to  bridle  the  whole  body. — 
And  so  on  to  Verse  13. 

83.  aEzek.  vni.  6.  He  said  fur- 
thermore unto  me,  Son  of  man, 
seest  thou  what  they  do!  even  the 
great  abominations  that  the  house 
of  Israel  committeth  here,  that  I 
should  gro  far  off  from  my  sanctu- 
ary? But  turn  thee  yet  again,  and 
thou  shalt  see  greater  abomina- 
tions. Ver,  13.  He  said  also  unto 
me,  Turn  thee  yet  again,  and 
thou  shalt  see  greater  abomina- 
tions that  they  do.  Ver.  15.  Then 
said  he  unto  me,  Hast  thou  seen 
this,  O  son  of  man?  turn  thee  yet 


430 


The  Shorter  Catechism. 


Q.  84.    What  doth  every  sin  deserve? 

A.  Every  sin  deserveth  God's  wrath  and  curse,  both  in 
this  life,  and  that  which  is  to  come.b 

Q.  85.  What  doth  God  inquire  of  us,  that  we  may  escape 
his  wrath  and  curse  due  to  us  for  sin  ? 

A.  To  escape  the  wrath  and  curse  of  God  due  to  us  for 
sin,  God  requireth  of  us  faith  in  Jesus  Christ,  repentance  unto 
life,c  with  the  diligent  use  of  all  the  outward  means  where- 
by Christ  communicateth  to  us  the  benefits  of  redemption.* 

Q.  86.   What  is  faith  in  Jesus  Christ? 

A.  Faith  in  Jesus  Christ  is  a  saving  grace,6  whereby  we 


again,  and  thou  shalt  see  greater 
abominations  than  these.  1  John 
v.  16."  If  any  man  see  his  brother 
sin  a  sin  which  is  not  unto  death 
he  shall  ask,  and  he  shall  give  him 
life  for  them  that  sin  not  unto 
death.  There  is  a  sin  unto  death  : 
I  do  not  say  that  he  shall  pray  for 
it.  Psal.  lxxviii.  17.  And  they  sin- 
ned yet  more  against  him,  by  pro- 
voking the  Most  High  in  the  wil- 
derness. Ver.  32.  For  all  this  they 
sinned  still,  and  believed  not  for 
his  wondrous  works.  Ver.  56.  Yet 
they  tempted  and  provoked  the 
most  high  God,  and  kept  not  his 
testimonies. 

84.  bEph.  v.  6.  Let  no  man  de- 
ceive you  with  vain  words:  for 
because  of  these  things  cometh  the 
wrath  of  God  upon  the  children 
of  disobedience.  Gal.  iii.  10.  For 
as  many  as  are  of  the  works  of  the 
law  are  under  the  curse:  for  it  is 
written,  Cursed  is  every  one  that 
continueth  not  in  all  things  which 
are  written  in  the  book  of  the  law 
to  do  them.  Lam.  iii.  39.  Where- 
fore doth  a  living  man  complain, 
a  man  for  the  punishment  of  his 
sins?  Mat.  xxv.  41.  Then  shall 
he  say  also  unto  them  on  the  left 
hand,  Depart  from  me,  ye  cursed, 
into  everlasting  fire,  prepared  for 
the  devil  and  his  angels. 


85. e  Acts  xx.  21.  Testifying  both 
to  the  Jews,  and  also  to  the  Greeks, 
repentance  toward  God,  and  faith 
toward  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

dProv.  ii.  1.  My  son,  if  thou 
wilt  receive  my  words,  and  hide 
my  commandments  with  thee; 
Ver.  2.  So  that  thou  incline  thine 
ear  unto  wisdom,  and  apply  thine 
heart  to  understanding;  Ver.  3. 
Yea,  if  thou  criest  after  know- 
ledge, and  liftest  up  thy  voice 
for  understanding  ;  Ver.  4.  If  thou 
seekest  her  as  silver,  and  searchest 
for  her  as  for  hid  treasures ;  Ver.  5. 
Then  shalt  thou  understand  the 
fear  of  the  Lord,  and  find  the 
knowledge  of  God.  Prov.  viii.  33. 
Hear  instruction,  and  be  wise,  and 
refuse  it  not.  Ver.  34.  Blessed  is. 
the  man  that  heareth  me,  watching 
daily  at  my  gates,  waiting  at  the 
posts  of  my  doors.  Ver.  35.  For 
whoso  findeth  me,  findeth  life, 
and  shall  obtain  favour  of  the  Lord. 
Ver.  36.  But  he  that  sinneth 
against  me  wrongeth  his  own  soul: 
all  they  that  hate  me  love  death. 
Isa.  lv.  3.  Incline  your  ear,  and 
come  unto  me:  hear,  and  your 
soul  shall  live;  and  I  will  make 
an  everlasting  covenant  with  you, 
even  the  sure  mercies  of  David. 

86.  e  Heb.  x.  39.  But  we  are  not 
of  them  who  draw  back  unto  per- 


The  Shorter  Catechism, 


431 


receive  and  rest  upon  him  alone  for  salvation,  as  he  is  of- 
fered to  us  in  the  gospel.f 

Q.  87.    What  is  repentance  unto  life? 

«#.  Repentance  unto  life  is  a  saving  grace,5  whereby  a 
sinner,  out  of  a  true  sense  of  his  sin,h  and  apprehension  of 
the  meixy  of  God  in  Christ,1  doth  with  grief  and  hatred  of 
his  sin,  turn  from  it  unto  God,k  with  full  purpose  of,  and  en- 
deavour after,  new  obedience.1 


dition;  but  of  them  that  believe,  to 
the  saving  of  the  soul. 

f  John  i.  12.  But  as  many  as 
received  him,  to  them  gave  he 
power  to  become  the  sons  of  God, 
even  to  them  that  believe  on  his 
name.  Isa.  xxvi.  3.  Thou  wilt 
keep  him  in  perfect  peace,  whose 
mind  is  stayed  on  thee:  because 
he  trusteth  in  thee.  Ver.  4.  Trust 
ye  in  the  Lord  for  ever:  for  in 
the  Lord  JEHOVAH  is  everlast- 
ing strength.  Phil.  iii.  9.  And  be 
found  in  him,  not  having  mine 
own  righteousness  which  is  of  the 
law,  but  that  which  is  through 
the  faith  of  Christ,  the  righteous- 
ness which  is  of  God  by  faith. 
Gal.  ii.  16.  Knowing  that  a  man 
is  not  justified  by  the  works  of 
the  law,  but  by  the  faith  of  Jesus 
Christ,  even  we  have  believed  in 
Jesus  Christ,  that  wc  might  be 
justified  by  the  faith  of  Christ,  and 
not  by  the  works  of  the  law :  for 
by  the  works  of  the  law  shall  no 
flesh  be  justified. 

87.  «  Acts  xi.  18.  When  they 
heard  these  things,  they  held  their 
peace,  and  glorified  God,  saying, 
Then  hath  God  also  to  the  Gen- 
tiles granted  repentance  unto  life. 
h  Acts  ii.  37.  Now  when  they 
heard  this,  they  were  pricked  in 
their  heart,  and  said  unto  Peter, 
and  to  the  rest  of  the  apostles, 
Men  and  brethren,  what  shall  we 
do  )  Ver.  38.  Then  Peter  said  unto 
them,    Repent  and   be    baptized, 


every  one  of  you,  in  the  name  of 
Jesus  Christ,  for  the  remission  of 
sins,  and  ye  shall  receive  the  gift 
of  the  Holy  Ghost. 

1  Joel  ii.  12.  Therefore  also 
now,  saith  the  Lord,  turn  ye  even 
to  me  with  all  your  heart,  and 
with  fasting,  and  with  weeping, 
and  with  mourning.  Jer.  iii.  22. 
Return,  ye  backsliding  children, 
and  I  will  heal  your  backslidings. 
Behold,  we  come  unto  thee,  for 
thou  art  the  Lord  our  God. 

k  Jer.  xxxi.  18.  I  have  surely 
heard  Ephraim  bemoaning  him- 
self thus,  Thou  hast  chastised  me, 
and  I  w?as  chastised,  as  a  bul- 
lock unaccustomed  to  the  yoke: 
turn  thou  me,  and  I  shall  be  turn- 
ed ;  for  thou  art  the  Lord  my 
God.  Ver.  19.  Surely  after  that 
I  was  turned,  I  repented ;  and 
after  that  I  was  instructed,  I  smote 
upon  my  thigh  :  I  was  ashamed, 
yea,  even  confounded,  because  I 
did  bear  the  reproach  of  my 
youth.  Ezek.  xxxvi.  31.  Then 
shall  ye  remember  your  own  evil 
ways,  and  your  doings  that  were 
not  good,  and  shall  loathe  your- 
selves in  your  own  sight  for  your 
iniquities,  and  for  your  abomina- 
tions. 

'2  Cor.  vii.  11.  For,  behold,  this 
self-same  thing  that  ye  sorrowed 
after  a  godly  sort,  what  careful- 
ness it  wrought  in  you,  yea,  what 
clearing  of  yourselves,  yea,  what 
indignation,  yea,   what  fear,  yea, 


432 


The  Shorter  Catechism. 


Q.  88.  What  are  the  outward  means  whereby  Christ 
communicateth  to  us  the  benefits  of  redemption  ? 

«#.  The  outward  and  ordinary  means  whereby  Christ 
communicateth  to  us  the  benefits  of  redemption,  are  his  or- 
dinances, especially  the  word,  sacraments,  and  prayer ;  all 
which  are  made  effectual  to  the  elect  for  salvation.1* 

Q.   89.  How  is  the  word  made  effectual  to  salvation  7 

•ft.  The  Spirit  of  God  maketh  the  reading,  but  especial- 
ly the  preaching  of  the  word,  an  effectual  means  of  con- 
vincing and  converting  sinners,  and  of  building  them  up  in 
holiness  and  comfort,  through  faith  unto  salvation.11 


what  vehement  desire,  yea,  what 
zeal,  yea,  what  revenge!  in  all 
things  ye  have  approved  yourselves 
to  be  clear  in  this  matter.  L?a.  i. 
16.  Wash  you,  make  you  clean; 
put  away  the  evil  of  your  doings 
from  before  mine  eyes;  cease  to  do 
evil;  Ver.  17.  Learn  to  do  well; 
seek  judgment,  relieve  the  op- 
pressed, judge  the  fatherless,  plead 
for  the  widow. 

88.  m  Mat.  xxviii.  19.  Go  ye 
therefore,  and  teach  all  nations, 
baptizing  them  in  the  name  of  the 
Father,  and  of  the  Son,  and  of 
the  Holy  Ghost;  Ver.  20.  Teach- 
ing them  to  observe  all  things 
whatsoever  I  have  commanded 
you :  and,  lo,  I  am  with  you  al- 
way,  even  unto  the  end  of  the 
world.  Amen.  Acts  ii.  42.  And 
they  continued  steadfastly  in  the 
apostles'  doctrine  and  fellowship, 
and  in  breaking  of  bread,  and  in 
prayers.  Ver.  46.  And  they,  con- 
tinuing daily  with  one  accord  in 
the  temple,  and  breaking  bread 
from  house  to  house,  did  eat  their 
meat  with  gladness  and  single- 
ness of  heart.  Ver.  47.  Praising 
God,  and  having  favour  with  all 
the  people.  And  the  Lord  added 
to  the  church  daily  such  as  should 
be  saved. 

89.  n  Nehem.  viii.  8.   So  they 
read  in  the  book  of  the  law  of 


God  distinctly,  and  gave  the  sense, 
and  caused  them  to  understand 
the  reading.  1  Cor.  xiv.  24.  But 
if  all  prophesy,  and  there  come 
in  one  that  believeth  not,  or  one 
unlearned,  he  is  convinced  of  all, 
he  is  judged  of  all.  Ver.  25.  And 
thus  are  the  secrets  of  his  heart 
made  manifest;  and  so,  falling 
down  on  his  face,  he  will  worship 
God,  and  report  that  God  is  in 
you  of  a  truth.  Acts  xxvi.  18. 
To  open  their  eyes,  and  to  turn 
them  from  darkness  to  light, 
and  from  the  power  of  Satan  un- 
to God,  that  they  may  receive 
forgiveness  of  sins,  and  inherit- 
ance among  them  which  are  sanc- 
tified by  faith  that  is  in  me.  Psal. 
xix.  8.  The  statutes  of  the  Lord 
are  right,  rejoicing  the  heart : 
the  commandment  of  the  Lord 
is  pure,  enlightening  the  eyes. 
Acts  xx.  32.  And  now,  brethren, 
I  commend  you  to  God,  and  to 
the  word  of  his  grace,  which  is 
able  to  build  you  up,  and  to  give 
you  an  inheritance  among  all 
them  which  are  sanctified.  Rom. 
xv.  4.  For  whatsoever  things  were 
written  aforetime,  were  written 
for  our  learning;  that  we,  through 
patience  and  comfort  of  the  scrip- 
tures, might  have  hope.  2  Tim. 
iii.  15.  And  that  from  a  child 
thou  hast  known  the  holy  scrip- 


The  Shorter  Catechism. 


Q.  90.  How  is  the  word  to  be  read  and  heard,  that  it  may 
become  effectual  to  salvation  ? 

A.  That  the  word  may  become  effectual  to  salvation,  we 
must  attend  thereunto  with  diligence,0  preparation,9  and 
prayer  ;q  receive  it  with  faith  and  love/ lay  it  up  in  our 
hearts,8  and  practise  it  in  our  lives.1 

Q.  91.  How  do  the  sacraments  become  effectual  means  of  sal- 
vation ? 

A.  The  sacraments  become  effectual  means  of  salvation, 
not  from  any  virtue  in  them,  or  in  him  that  doth  administer 


lures,  which,  are  able  to  make 
thee  wise  unto  salvation,  through 
faith  which  is  in  Christ  Jesus. 
Ver.  16.  All  scripture  is  given  by 
inspiration  of  God,  and  is  profit- 
able for  doctrine,  for  reproof,  for 
correction,  for  instruction  in  right- 
eousness; Ver.  17.  That  the  man 
of  God  may  be  perfect,  through- 
ly furnished  unto  all  good  works. 
Rom.  x.  13.  For  whosoever  shall 
call  upon  the  name  of  the  Lord 
shall  be  saved.  Ver.  14.  How  then 
shall  they  call  on  him  in  whom 
they  have  not  believed  !-  and  how 
shall  they  believe  in  him  of  whom 
they  have  not  heard]  and  how 
shall  they  hear  without  a  preach- 
er'? Ver.  15.  And  how  shall  they 
preach  except  they  be  sent?  as 
it  is  written,  How  beautiful  are 
the  feet  of  them  that  preach  the 
gospel  of  peace,  and  bring  glad 
tidings  of  good  things!  Ver.  16. 
But  they  have  not  all  obeyed  the 
gospel.  For  Esaias  saith,  Lord, 
who  hath  believed  our  report] 
Ver.  17.  So  then  faith  cometh  by 
hearing,  and  hearing  by  the  word 
of  God.  Rom.  i.  16.  "For  I  am 
not  ashamed  of  the  gospel  of 
Christ:  for  it  is  the  power  of  God 
unto  salvation,  to  every  one  that 
believeth,  to  the  Jew  first,  and 
also  to  the  Greek. 
90.  °  Prov.  viii.  34.  Blessed   is 


the  man  that  heareth  me,  watch- 
ing daily  at  my  gates,  waiting  at 
the  posts  of  my  doors. 

p  1  Pet.  ii.  I.  Wherefore,  lay- 
ing aside  all  malice,  and  all  guile* 
and  hypocrisies,  and  envies,  and 
all  evil-speakings,  Ver.  2.  As  new- 
born babes,  desire  the  sincere  milk 
of  the  word,  that  ye  may  grow 
thereby. 

q  Psal.  cxix.  13.  Open  thou 
mine  eyes,  that  I  may  behold 
wondrous  things  out  of  thy  law. 

r  Heb.  iv.  2.  For  unto  us  was 
the  gospel  preached  as  well  as 
unto  them :  but  the  word  preach- 
ed did  not  profit  them,  not  be- 
ing mixed  with  faith  in  them  that 
heard  it.  2  Thess.  ii.  10.  And 
with  all  deceivableness  of  unright- 
eousness in  them  that  perish: 
because  they  receive  not  the  love 
of  the  truth,  that  they  might  be 
saved. 

3  Psal.  cxix.  11.  Thy  word  have 
I  hid  in  mine  heart,  that  I  might 
not  sin  against  thee. 

4  Luke  viii.  15.  But  that  on  the 
good  ground  are  they,  which,  in 
an  honest  and  good  'heart,  having 
heard  the  word,  keep  it,  and  bring 
forth  fruit  with  patience.  James 
i.  25.  But  whoso  looketh  into  the 
perfect  law  of  liberty,  and  con- 
tinued) therein,  he  being  not  a 
forgetful  hearer,  but  a  doer  of  the 


434 


The  Shorter  Catechism. 


them ;  but  only  by  the  blessing  of  Christ/  and  the  working 
of  his  Spirit  in  them  that  by  faith  receive  them.* 

Q.  92.    What  is  a  sacrament  ? 

A.  A  sacrament  is  a  holy  ordinance  instituted  by  Christ; 
wherein,  by  sensible  signs,  Christ,  and  the  benefits  of  the 
new  covenant,  are  represented-,  sealed,  and  applied  to  be- 
lievers. * 

Q.  93.    Which  are  the  sacraments  of the  New  Testament? 

A.  The  sacraments  of  the  New  Testament  are,  Baptism,7 
and  the  Lord's  supper.2 

Q.  94.    What  is  baptism  ? 

A.  Baptism  is  a  sacrament,  wherein  the  washing  with  water 
in  the  name  of  the  Father,and  of  the  Son,and  of  the  HolyGhost,* 


work,  this  man  shall  be  blessed  in 
his  deed. 

91.  v  1  Pet.  iii.  21.  The  like 
figure  whereunto,  even  baptism, 
doth  also  now  save  us,  (not  the 
putting  awny  of  the  filth  of  the 
flesh,  but  the  answer  of  a  good 
conscience  towards  God,)  by  the 
resurrection  of  Jesus  Christ.  Mat. 
iii.  11.  I  indeed  baptize  you  with 
water  unto  repentance;  but  he 
that  cometh  after  me  is  mightier, 
than  I,  whose  shoes  L  am  not 
worthy  to  bear;  he  shall  baptize 
you  with  the  Holy  Ghost,  and 
with  fire.  1  Cor.  iii.  6.  I  have 
planted,  Apollos  watered ;  but 
God  gave  the  increase.  Ver.  7. 
So  then,  neither  is  he  that  plant- 
eth  any  thin^r,  neither  he  that 
watereth;  but  God  that  giveth  the 
increase. 

w  1  Cor.  xii.  13.  For  by  one 
Spirit  are  we  all  baptized  into  one 
body,  whether  we  be  Jews  or  Gen- 
tiles, whether  we  be  bond  or  free ; 
and  have  been  all  made  to  drink 
into  ono  Spirit. 

92  x  G  n.  xvii.  7.  And  I  will 
establish  my  covenant  between  me 
and  thee,  and  thy  seed  after  thee, 
in  their  generations,  for  an  ever- 
lasting   covenant;    to   be  a    God 


unto  thee,  and  to  thy  seed  after 
thee.  Yer.  10;  This  is  my  covenant, 
which  ye  shall  keep  between-  me 
and  you,  and  thy  seed  after  thee; 
Every  man-child  among  you  shall 
be  circumcised.  Exod.  xii.  through- 
out. X  Cor.  xi.  23.  For  1  have 
received  of  the  Lord  that  which 
also  I  delivered  unto  you,  That  the 
Lord  Jesus,  the  same  night  in 
which  he  was  betrayed,  took  bread. 
Ver.  26.  For  as  often  as  ye  eat 
this  bread,  and  drink  this  cup,  ye 
do  show  the  Lord's  death  till  he 
come. 

93.  y  Matth.  xxviii.  19.  Go  ye 
therefore,  and  teach  all  nations, 
baptizing  them  in  the  name  of  the 
Father,  and  of  the  Son,  and  of  the 
Holy  Ghost. 

z  Matth.  xxvi.  26.  And  as  they 
were  eating,  Jesus  took  bread,  and 
blessed  it,  and  brake  it,  and  gave 
it  to  the  disciples,  and  said,  Take, 
eat;  this  is  my  body.  Ver.  27. 
And  he  took  the  cup,  and  gave 
thanks,  and  gave  it  to  them,  say- 
ing, Drink  ye  all  of  it:  Ver.  28. 
For  this  is  my  blood  of  the  new 
testament,  which  is  shed  for  many, 
for  the  remission  of  sins. 

94.  'Matth.  xxviii.  19.  [See  in 
letter  y.] 


The  Shorter  Catechism. 


435 


doth  signify  and  seal  our  ingrafting  into  Christ,  and  par- 
taking of  the  benefits  of  the  covenant  of  grace,  and  our 
engagement  to  be  the  Lord's.b 

Q.  95.  To  whom  is  baptism  to  be  administered? 

•ft.  Baptism  is  not  to  be  administered  to  any  that  are  out 
of  the  visible  church,  till  they  profess  their  faith  in  Christ, 
and  obedience  to  him;c  but  the  infants  of  such  as  are  mem- 
bers of  the  visible  church  are  to  be  baptized.d 

Q.  96.    What  is  the  Lord's  supper? 

«#.  The  Lord's  supper  is  a  sacrament,  wherein,  by  giving 
and  receiving  bread  and  wine,  according  to  Christ's  ap- 
pointment, his  death  is  showed  forth;  and  the  worthy  re- 
ceivers are,  not  after  a  corporal  and  carnal  manner,  but  by 
faith,  made  partakers  of  his  body  and  blood,  with  all  his 
benefits,  to  their  spiritual  nourishment,  and  growth  in 
grace.6 


b  Rom.  vi.  4.  Therefore  we  are 
buried  with  him  by  baptism  into 
death:  that,  like  as  Christ  was 
raised  up  from  the  dead  by  the 
glory  of  the  Father,  even  so  we 
also  should  walk  in  newness  of 
life.  Gal.  iii.  27.  For  as  many  of 
you  as  have  been  baptized  into 
Christ,  have  put  on  Christ. 

95.  c  Acts  viii.  36.  And  as  they 
went  on  their  way,  they  came  unto 
a  certain  water:  and  the  eunuch 
said,  See,  here  is  water;  what  doth 
hinder  me  to  be  baptized]  Ver.  37. 
And  Philip  said,  If  thou  believest 
with  all  thine  heart,  thou  mayest. 
And  he  answered  and  said,  I  be- 
lieve that  Jesus  Christ  is  the  Son 
of  God.  Acts  ii.  33.  Then  Peter 
said  unto  them,  Repent,  and  be 
baptized  every  one  of  you  in  the 
name  of  Jesus  Christ,  for  the  re- 
mission of  sins,  and  ye  shall  receive 
the  gift  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 

d  Acts  ii.  33.  [See  before.]  Ver. 
39.  For  the  promise  is  unto  you, 
and  to  your  children,  and  to  all 
that  are  afar  off,  even  as  many  as 


the  Lord  our  God  shall  call.  Gen. 
xvii.  10.  [See  hi  letter*.]  Com- 
pared with  Col.  ii.  11.  In  whom  also 
ye  are  circumcised  with  the  cir- 
cumcision made  without  hands,  in 
putting  off  the  body  of  the  sins  of 
the  flesh  by  the  circumcision  of 
Christ:  Ver.  12.  Buried  with  him 
in  baptism;  wherein  also  ye  are 
risen  with  him,  through  the  faith 
of  the  operation  of  God,  who  hath 
raised  him  from  the. dead.  1  Cor. 
vii.  11.  For  the  unbelieving  hus- 
band is  sanctified  by  the  wife,  and 
the  unbelieving  wife  is  sanctified 
by  the  husband ;  else  were  your 
children  unclean,  bat  now  are  they 
holy. 

96.  e  1  Cor.  xi.  23.  For  I  have 
received  of  the  Lord  that  which 
also  I  delivered  unto  you,  That 
the  Lord  Jesus,  the  same  night 
in  which  he  was  betrayed,  took 
bread :  Ver.  24.  And,  when  he  had 
given  thanks  he  brake  it,  and 
said,  Take,  eat;  this  is  my  body, 
which  is  broken  for  you:  this  do 
in  remembrance  of  me.    Ver.  25, 


436 


The  Shorter  Catechism. 


Q.  97.  What  is  required  to  the  zvorthy  receiving  of  the  Lord's 
supper  ? 

Ji.  It  is  required  of  them  that  would  worthily  partake  of 
the  Lord's  supper,  that  they  examine  themselves  of  their 
knowledge  to  discern  the  Lord's  body/  of  their  faith  to 
feed  upon  him,6  of  their  repentance,11  love,1  and  new  obe- 
dience; k  lest,  coming  unworthily,  they  eat  and  drink  judg- 
ment to  themselves.1 

Q.  98.  What  is  prayer  ? 

«/?.  Prayer  is  an  offering  up  of  our  desires  unto  God,™ 
for  things  agreeable  to  his  will,"  in  the  name  of  Christ,0 
with  confession  of  our  sins,?  and  thankful  acknowledgment 
of  his  mercies.q 


After  the  same  manner  also  he  took 
the  cup,  when  he  had  supped,  say- 
ing-, This  cup  is  the  new  testament 
in  my  blood:  this  do  ye  as  oft  as 
ye  drink  it,  in  remembrance  of  me. 
Ver.  26.  For  as  often  as  ye  eat  this 
bread,  and  drink  this  cup,  ye  do 
show  the  Lord's  death  till  he  come. 
1  Cor.  x.  16.  The  cup  of  blessing 
which  we  bless,  is  it  not  the  com- 
munion of  the  blood  of  Christ?  the 
bread  which  we  break,  is  it  not  the 
communion  of  the  body  of  Christ? 

97. f  1  Cor.  xi.  28.  But  let  a  man 
examine  himself,  and  so  let  him  eat 
of  that  bread,  and  drink  of  that  cup. 
Ver.  29.  For  he  that  eateth  and 
drinketh  unworthily,  eateth  and 
drinketh  damnation  to  himself,  not 
discerning'  the  Lord's  body. 

e  2  Cor.  xiii.  5.  Examine  your- 
selves, whether  ye  be  in  the  faith; 
prove  your  own  selves:  know  ye 
not  your  own  selves,  how  that 
Jesus  Christ  is  in  you,  except  ye 
be  reprobates? 

h  1  Cor.  xi.  31.  For  if  we  would 
judge  ourselves,  we  should  not  be 
judged. 

1  1  Cor.  x.  16.  The  cup  of  bless- 
ing which  we  bless,  is  it  not  the 
communion  of  the  blood  of  Christ? 


the  bread  which  we  break,  is  it  not 
the  communion  of  the  body  of 
Christ?  Ver.  17.  For  we  being  many 
are  one  bread,  and  one  body:  for  we 
are  all  partakers  of  that  one  bread. 

k  1  Cor.  v.  7.  Purge  out  there- 
fore the  old  leaven,  that  ye  may 
be  a  new  lump,  as  ye  are  unlea- 
vened. For  even  Christ  our  pass- 
over  is  sacrificed  for  us:  Ver.  8. 
Therefore  let  us  keep  the  feast, 
not  with  old  leaven,  neither  with 
the  leaven  of  malice  and  wicked- 
ness; but  with  the  unleavened 
bread  of  sincerity  and  truth. 

1  1  Cor.  xi.  28,  29.  [See  in 
letter r.  ] 

98.  m  Psal.  lxii.  8.  Trust  in  him 
at  all  times ;  ye  people,  pour  out 
your  heart  before  him:  God  is  a 
refuge  for  us.     Selah. 

n  1  John  v.  14.  And  this  is  the 
confidence  that  we  have  in  him, 
that  if  we  ask  any  thing  accord- 
ing to  his  will,  he  heareth  us. 

0  John  xvi.  23.  And  in  that  day 
ye  shall  ask  me  nothing.  Verily, 
verily,  I  say  unto  you,  Whatso- 
ever ye  shall  ask  the  Father  in  my 
name,  he  will  give  it  you. 

p  Psal.  xxxii.  5.  I  acknow- 
ledged my  sin  unto  thee,  and  mine 


The  Shorter  Catechism. 


437 


Q.  99.  What  rule  hath  God  given  for  our  direction  in  prayer? 

A.  The  whole  word  of  God  is  of  use  to  direct  us  in  pray- 
er ;r  but  the  special  rule  of  direction  is  that  form  of prayer 
which  Christ  taught  his  disciples,  commonly  called  The 
Lord's  Prayer.* 

Q.  100. "  What  doth  the  preface  of  the  Lord's  prayer  teach 


us : 


*B.  The  preface  of  the  Lord's  prayer  (which  is,  Our  Fa- 
ther which  art  in  heaven,1)  teacheth  us  to  draw  near  to  God 
with  all  holy  reverence  and  confidence,  as  children  to  a  fa- 
ther, able  and  ready  to  help  us ; v  and  that  we  should  pray 
with  and  for  others.* 

Q.   101.    What  do  we  pray  for  in  the  first  petition  ? 

i%.  In  the  first  petition  (which  is,  Hallowed  be  thy  name  x) 
we  pray,  That  God  would  enable  us  and  others  to  glorify 
him  in  all  that  whereby  he  maketh  himself  known  ;7  and  that 
he  would  dispose  all  things  to  his  own  glory.2 


iniquity  have  I  not  hid:  I  said,  I 
will  confess  my  trangressions  unto 
the  Lord;  and"  thou  forgavest  the 
iniquity  of  my  sin.  Selah.  Ver.  6. 
For  this  shall  every  one  that  is  god- 
ly pray  unto  thee  in  a  time  when 
thou  mayest  be  found :  surely  in  the 
floods  of  great  waters  they  shall  not 
come  nigh  unto  him.  Dan.  ix.  4. 
And  I  prayed  unto  the  Lord  my 
God,  and  made  my  confession,  and 
said,  O  Lord,  the  great  and  dread- 
ful God,  keeping  the  covenant  and 
mercy  to  them  that  love  him,  and  to 
them  that  keep  his  commandments. 

«  Phil.  iv.  G.  Be  careful  for  no- 
thing: but  in  every  thing  by  pray- 
er aid  supplication,  with  thanks- 
giving, let  your  requests  be  made 
known  unto  God. 

99.  r  1  John  v.  14.  And  this  is 
the  confidence  that  we  have  in 
him,  that  if  we  ask  any  thing  ac- 
cording to  his  will,  he  heareth  us. 

s  Mat.  vi.  9—13.  After  this  man- 
ner therefore  pray  ye  :  Our  Father, 
4'C.  Compared  with  Luke  xi.  2,  3, 
4.  And  he  said  unto  them,  When 
ve  pray,  say,  Our  Father.  &c. 


100. l  Matth.  vi.  9. 

v  Rom.  viii.  15-  For  ye  have  not 
received  the  spirit  of  bondage  again 
to  fear:  but  ye  have  received  the 
Spirit  of  adoption,  whereby  we 
cry,  Abba,  Father.  Luke  xi.  13. 
If  ye  then,  being  evil,  know  how 
to  give  good  gifts  unto  your  chil- 
dren, how  much  more  shall  your 
heavenly  Father  give  the  Holy 
Spirit  to  them  that  ask  hirn  ? 

w  Acts  xii.  5.  Peter  therefore  was 
kept  in  prison;  but  prayer  was 
made  without  ceasing  of  the  church 
unto  God  for  him.  1  Tim.  ii.  1.  I 
exhort  therefore,  that  first  of  all, 
supplications,  prayers,  interces- 
sions, and  giving  of  thanks,  be  made 
for  all  men :  Ver.  2.  For  kings,  and 
for  all  that  are  in  authority;  that 
we  may  lead  a  quiet  and  peaceable 
life  in  all  godliness  and  honesty. 

101.  *  Matth.  vi.  9. 

'  Psal.  Ixvii.  2.  That  thy  way  may 
be  known  upon  earth,  thy  saving 
health  among  all  nations.  Ver.  3. 
Let  the  people  praise  thee,  O  God  ; 
let  all  the  people  praise  thee. 

z  Psal,  lxxxiii.  throughout. 


458 


The  Shorter  Catechism. 


Q.   102.    What  do  we  pray  for  in  the  second  petition? 

*#.  In  the  second  petition  (which  is,  Thy  kingdom  come*) 
we  pray,  That  Satan's  kingdom  may  be  destroyed ;b  and 
that  the  kingdom  of  grace  may  be  advanced,0  ourselves 
and  others  brought  into  it,  and  kept  in  it ; d  and  that  the 
kingdom  of  glory  may  be  hastened.6 

Q.    103.    What  do  we  pray  for  in  the  third  petition? 

•ft.  In  the  third  petition  (which  is,  Thy  will  be  done  on  earthy 
as  it  is  in  heaven1)  we  pray  that  God  by  his  grace,  would 
make  us  able  and  willing  to  know,  obey,  and  submit  to  his 
will  in  all  things,6  as  the  angels  do  in  heaven. h 

Q.    104.    What  do  we  pray  for  in  the  fourth  petition  ? 

td.  In  the  fourth  petition  (which  is,  Give  us  this  Say  our 


102.  »  Matth.  vi  10. 

bPsal.  lxviii.  1,  Let  God  arise,  let 
his  enemies  be  scattered  :  let  them 
also  that  hate  him  flee  before  him. 
Ver.  18.  Thou  hast  ascended  on 
high,  thou  hast  led  captivity  cap- 
tive: thou  hast  received  gifts  for 
men;  yea,  for  the  rebellious  also, 
that  the  Lord  God  might  dwell 
among  them. 

c  Rev.  xii.  10.  And  I  heard  a  loud 
voice  saying  in  heaven,  Now  is 
come  salvation,  and  strength,  and 
the  kingdom  of  our  God,  and  the 
power  of  his  Christ:  for  the  ac- 
cuser of  our  brethren  is  cast  down, 
which  accused  them  before  our 
God  day  and  night.  Ver.  11.  And 
they  overcame  him  by  the  blood 
of  the  Lamb,  and  by  the  word  of 
their  testimony;  and  they  loved 
not  their  lives  unto  the  death. 

d  2  THpss.  iii.  1.  Finally,  bre- 
thren, pray  for  us,  that  the  word 
of  the  Lord  may  have  free  course 
and  be  glorified,  even  as  it  is  with 
you.  Rom.  x.  1.  Brethren,  my 
heart's  desire  and  prayer  to  God  for 
Israel  is,  that  they  might  be  saved. 
John  xvii.  9.  I  pray  for  them :  I 
pray  not  For  the  world,  but  for 
them  which  thou  hast  given  me; 


for  they  are  thine.  Ver.  20.  Nei- 
ther pray  I  for  these  alone,  but  for 
them  also  which  shall  believe  on 
me  through  their  word. 

e  Rev.  xx ii.  20.  He  which  testi- 
fied these  things  saith,  Surely  I 
come  quickiy;  Amen.  Even  so, 
come,  Lord  Jesus. 

103  f  Matth.  vi.  10. 

s  Psal.  lxvii.  throughout.  Psal. 
cxix.  36.  Incline  my  heart  unto  thy 
testimonies,  and  not  to  covetous- 
ness.  Mat.  xxvi.  39.  And  he  went 
a  liuie  farther  and  fell  on  his  face, 
and  prayed,  saying,  O  my  Father, 
if  it  be  possible,  let  this  cup  pass 
from  me:  nevertheless,  not  as  I 
will,  but  as  thou  wilt.  2  Sam. 
xv.  25.  And  the  king  said  unto 
Zadok,  Carry  back  the  ark  of  God 
into  the  city :  if  I  shall  find  favour 
in  the  eyes  of  the  Lord,  he  will 
bring  me  again,  and  show  me  both 
it  and  his  habitation.  Job  i.  21. 
And  (Job)  said,  Naked  came  I 
out  of  my  mother's  womb,  and 
naked  shall  I  return  thither:  the 
Lord  gave,  and  the  Lord  hath  taken 
awav;  blessed  be  the  name  of  the 
Lord. 

h  Psal.  ciii.  20.  Bless  the  Lord, 
ye  his  angels,  that  excel  in  strength, 


The  Shorter  Catechism, 


439 


daily  bread1)  we  pray,  That  of  God's  free  gift  we  may  re- 
ceive a  competent  portion  of  the  good  things  of  this  life,  and 
enjoy  his  blessing  with  them.k 

Q,.  105.  What  do  we  pray  for  in  the  fifth  petition? 

A.  In  the  fifth'  petition  (which,  is,.  And  forgive  us  our 
debts,  as  we  forgive  our  debtors J)  we  pray,  That  God,  for 
Christ's  sake,  would  freely  pardon  all  our  sins;m  which  we 
are  the  rather  encouraged  to  ask,  because  by  his  grace  we 
are  enabled  from  the  heart  to  forgive  others.11 

Q,.  106.  What  do  we  pray  for  in  the  sixth  petition  ? 

A.  In  the  sixth  petition  (which  is,  And  lead  us  ?wt  into 
temptation,  but  deliver  us  from  evil0)  we  pray,.  That  God 


that  do  his  commandments,  hear- 
kening" unto  the  voice  of  his  word. 
Yer.  21.  Bless  ye  the  Lord,  all  ye 
his  hosts;  ye  ministers  of  his,  that 
do  his  pleasure. 

104.  '  Matth.  vi.  11. 

k  Prov.  xxx.  8.  Remove  far 
from  me  vanity,  and  lies;  give 
me  neither  poverty  nor  riches, 
feed  me  with  food  convenient  for 
me:  Yer.  9.  Lest  I  be  full,  and 
deny  thee,  and  say,.  Who  is  the 
Lord"?  or  lest  1  be  poor,  and  steal, 
and  take  the  name  of  my  God  in 
vain.  Gen.  xxviii.  20.  And  Jacob 
vowed  a  vow,  saying,  If  God  will 
be  with  me,  and  will  keep  me  in 
this  way  that  I  go,  and  will  give 
me  bread  to  eat,  and  raiment  to 
put  on.  1  Tim.  iv.  4.  For  every 
creature  of  God  is  good,  and  no- 
thing to  be  refused,  if  it  be  re- 
ceived with  thanksgiving:  Ver.  5. 
,  For  it  is  sanctified  by  the  word  of 
God  and  prayer. 

103.  '  Matth.  vi.  12. 

m  Psal.  li.  1.  Have  mercy  upon 
me,  O  God,  according  to  thy  loving- 
kindness:  according  unto  the  mul- 
titude of  thy  tender  mercies,  bLot 
out  my  transgressions.  Ver.  2. 
Wash  me  throughly  from  mine 
iniquity,  and  cleanse  me  from  my 


sin.  Ver.  7.  Purge  me  with  hys- 
sop, and  L  shall  be  clean:  wash 
me,  and  I  shall  be  whiter  than 
snow.  Ver.  9.  Hide  thy  face  from 
my  sins,  and  blot  out  all  mine  ini- 
quities. Dan.  ix,  17.  Now  there- 
fore, O  our  God,  hear  thou  the 
prayer  of  thy  servant,  and  his  sup- 
plications, and  cause  thy  face  to 
shine  upon  thy  sanctuary  that  is 
desolate,  for  the  Lord's  sake.  Ver. 
18.  O  my  God,  incline  thine  ear, 
and  hear;  open  thine  eyes,  and 
behold  our  desolations,  and  the 
city  which  is  called  by  thy  name: 
for  we  do  not  present  our  suppli- 
cations before  thee  for  our  right- 
eousness, but  for  thy  great  mer- 
cies. Ver.  19.  O  Lord,  hear;  O 
Lord,  forgive;  O  Lord,  hearken 
and  do;  defer  not  for  thine  own 
sake,  O  my  God :  for  thy  city 
and  thy  people  arc  called  by  thy 
name. 

**  Luke  xi.  4.  And  forgive  us, 
our  sins;  for  we  also  forgive  every 
one  that  is  indebted  to  us. — Mat. 
xviii.  35.  So  likewise  shall  my 
heavenly  Father  do  also  unto  you, 
if  ye  from  your  hearts  forgive 
not  every  one  his  brother  their 
trespasses. 

106,  °  Matth.  vi.  13. 


440 


The  Shorter  Catechism. 


would  either  keep  us  from  being  tempted  to  sin,p  or  support 
and  deliver  us  when  we  are  tempted.q 

Q,.  107.  What  doth  the  conclusion  of  the  Lord's  prayer 
teach  us  ? 

A.  The  conclusion  of  the  Lord's  prayer  (which  is,  For 
thine  is  the  kingdom,  and  the  pozcer,  and  the  glory,  for  ever, 
Amen1)  teacheth  us  to  take  our  encouragement  in  pray- 
er from  God  only,8  and  in  our  prayers  to  praise  him, 
ascribing   kingdom,   power,    and   glory   to    him.1      And, 


p  Mat.  xxvi.  41.  Watch  and 
pray,  that  ye  enter  not  into  temp- 
tation :  the  spirit  indeed  is  willing, 
but  the  flesh  is  weak. 

i  2  Cor.  xii.  7.  And  lest  I  should 
be  exalted  above  measure  through 
the  abundance  of  the  revelations, 
there  was  given  to  me  a  thorn  in 
the  flesh,  the  messenger  of  Satan  to 
buffet  me,  lest  I  should  be  exalted 
above  measure.  Ver.  H.  For  this 
thing  I  besought  the  Lord  thrice, 
that  it  might  depart  from  me. 

107. r  Mattli.  vi.  13. 

s  Dan.  ix.  4.  And  I  prayed  unto 
the  Lord  my  God,  and  made  my 
confession,  and  said,  O  Lord,  the 
great  and  dreadful  God,  keeping 
the  covenant  and  mercy  to  them 
that  love  him,  and  to  them  that 
keep  his  commandments.  Ver.  7. 
O  Lord,  righteousness  belongeth 
unto  thee,  but  unto  us  confusion  of 
faces,  as  at  this  day,  to  the  men  of 
Judah,  and  to  the  inhabitants  of 
Jerusalem,  and  unto  all  Israel  that 
are  near,  and  that  are  far  off, 
through  all  the  countries  whither 
thou  hast  driven  them,  because  of 
their  trespass  that  they  have  tres- 
passed against  thee.  Ver.  8.  O 
Lord,  to  us  belongeth  confusion  of 
face,  to  our  kings,  to  our  princes, 
and  to  our  fathers,  because  we 
have  sinned  against  thee.  Ver.  9. 
To  the  Lord  our  God  belong  mer- 
cies and  forgivenesses,  though  we 


have  rebelled  against  him.  Ver. 
1.6.  O  Lord,  according  to  all  thy 
righteousness,  I  beseech  thee,  let 
thine  anger  and  thy  fury  be  turned 
away  from  thy  city  Jerusalem,  thy 
holy  mountain ;  because  for  our 
sins,  and  for  the  iniquities  of  our 
fathers,  Jerusalem  and  thy  people 
are  become  a  reproach  to  all  that 
are  about  us.  Ver.  17.  Now  there- 
fore, O  our  God,  hear  the  prayer 
of  thy  servant,  and  his  supplica- 
tions, and  cause  thy  face  to  shine 
upon  thy  sanctuary  that  is  deso- 
late, for  the  Lord's  sake.  Ver.  18. 
O  my  God,  incline  thine  ear,  and 
hear;  open  thine  eyes,  and  be- 
hold our  desolations,  and  the  city 
which  is  called  by  thy  name :  for 
we  do  not  present  our  .supplica- 
tions before  thee  for  our  right- 
eousness, but  for  thy  great  mer- 
cies. Ver.  19.  O  Lord,  hear;  O- 
Lord,  forgive ;  O  Lord,  hearken 
and  do;  defer  not,  for  thine  own 
sake,  O  my  God :  for  thy  city  and 
thy  people  are  called  by  thy  name. 
*  1  Chron.  xxix.  10.  Where- 
fore David  blessed  the  Lord  be- 
fore all  the  congregation:  and 
David  said,  Blessed  be  thou,  Lord 
God  of  Israel  our  father,  for  ever 
and  ever.  Ver.  11.  Thine,  O  Lord, 
is  the  greatness  and  the  power, 
and  the  glory,  and  the  victory, 
and  the  majesty:  for  all  that  is 
in  the  heaven  and   in  the  earth 


The  Shorter  Catechism. 


441 


in  testimony  of  our  desire,  and  assurance  to  be  heard,  we 
say,  Amen." 


is  thine;  thine  is  the  kingdom,  O 
Lord,  and  thou  art  exalted  as  head 
above  all.  Ver.  12.  Both  riches 
and  honour  come  of  thee,  and  thou 
reignest  over  all;  and  in  thine 
hand  is  power  and  might,  and  in 
thine  hand  it  is  to  make  great,  and 
to  give  strength  unto  all.  Ver.  13. 
Now  therefore,  our  God,  we  thank 
thee,  and  praise  thy  glorious  name. 
T  1  Cor.  xiv.  16.  Etse,  when  thou 


shalt  bless  with  the  Spirit,  how 
shall  he  that  occupieth  the  room  of 
the  unlearned,  say  Amen  at  thy 
giving  of  thanks,  seeing  he  under- 
standeth  not  what  thou  sayest? 
Rev.  xxii.  20.  He  which  testifieth 
these  things  saith,  Surely  I  come 
quickly;  Amen.  Even  so,  come, 
Lord  Jesus.  Ver.  21.  The  grace 
of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  be  with 
you  all.     Amen. 


THE  TEN  COMMANDMENTS. 

Exod.  xx. 

God  spake  all  these  words,  saying,  I  am  the  Lord  thy  God,  which 
have  brought  thee  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt,  out  of  the  house  of  bondage. 

I.  Thou  shalt  have  no  other  gods  before  me. 

II.  Thou  shalt  not  make  unto  thee  any  graven  image,  or  any  likeness- 
of  any  thing  that  is  in  heaven  above,  or  that  is  in  the  earth  beneath,  or 
that  is  in  the  water  under  the  earth :  Thou  shalt  not  bow  down  thyself 
to  them,  nor  serve  them :  for  I  the  Lord  thy  God  am  a  jealous  God,  vi- 
siting the  iniquity  of  the  fathers  upon  the  children  unto  the  third  and 
fourth  generation  of  them  that  hate  me ;  and  showing  mercy  unto  thou- 
sands of  them  that  love  me,  and  keep  my  commandments. 

III.  Thou  shalt  not  take  the  name  of  the  Lord  thy  God  in  vain ;  for 
the  Lord  will  not  hold  him  guiltless  that  taketh  his  name  in  vain. 

IV.  Remember  the  sabbath-day,  to  keep  it  holy.  Six  days  shalt  thou 
labour,  and  do  all  thy  work :  But  the  seventh  day  is  the  sabbath  of  the  Lord 
thy  God;  in  it  thou  shalt  not  do  any  work,  thou,  nor  thy  son,  nor  thy 
daughter,  thy  man-servant,  nor  thy  maid-servant,  nor  thy  cattle,  nor  thy 
stranger  that  is  within  thy  gates.  For  in  six  days  the  Lord  made  hea- 
ven and  earth,  the  sea,  and  all  that  in  them  is,  and  rested  the  seventh 
day:  wherefore  the  Lord  blessed  the  sabbath-day,  and  hallowed  it. 

V.  Honour  thy  father  and  thy  mother;  that  thy  days  may  be  long 
upon  the  land  which  the  Lord  thy  God  giveth  thee. 

VI.  Thou  shalt  not  kill. 

VII.  Thou  shalt  not  commit  adultery. 

VIII.  Thou  shalt  not  steal. 

IX.  Thou  shalt  not  bear  false  witness  against  thy  neighbour. 

X.  Thou  shalt  not  covet  thy  neighbour's  house,  thou  shalt  not  covet 
thy  neighbour's  wife,  nor  his  man-servant,  nor  his  maid-servant,  nor  his 
ox,  nor  his  ass,  nor  any  thing  that  is  thy  neighbour's. 


442  The  Shorter  Catechism. 


THE  LORD'S  PRAYER. 

Matth.  vi. 

Our  Father  which  art  in  heaven,  Hallowed  be  thy  name.  Thy  king- 
dom come.  Thy  will  be  done  in  earth,  as  it  is  in  heaven.  Give  us  this 
day  our  daily  bread.  And  forgive  us  our  debts,  as  we  forgive  our  debt- 
ors. And  lead  us  not  into  temptation;  but  deliver  us  from  evil:  For 
thine  is  the  kingdom,  and  the  power,  and  the  glory,  for  ever.    Amen. 

THE  CREED. 

I  believe  in  God  the  Father  Almighty,  maker  of  heaven  and  earth, 

and  in  Jesus  Christ,  his  only  Son,  our  Lord,  which  was  conceived  by  the 

Holy  Ghost,  born  of  the  Virgin  Mary,  suffered  under  Pontius  Pilate, 

was  crucified,  dead,  and  buried  :  he  descended  into 

*i.e  Continued  hell;*  the  third  day  he  arose  again  from  the  dead;  he 
dead,  and6  under  ascended  into  heaven,  and  sitteth  on  the  right  hand  of 
the  power  of  death  God  the  Father  Almighty,  from  thence  he  shall  come 
till  the  third  day.       tQ  judge  the  quick  and  the  dead#     j  be]ieve  in  the  Holy 

Ghost ;  the  holy  catholic  church ;  the  communion  of 
saints ;  the  forgiveness  of  sins ;  the  resurrection  of  the  body ;  and  the  life 
everlasting.    Amen. 

So  much  of  every  question,  both  in  the  Larger  and  Shorter  Catechism, 
is  repeated  in  the  answer,  as  maketh  every  answer  an  entire  proposition 
or  sentence  in  itself;  to  the  end  the  learner  may  farther  improve  it 
upon  all  occasions,  for  his  increase  in  knowledge  and  piety,  even  out  of 
the  course  of  catechising,  as  well  as  in  it. 

And  albeit  the  substance  of  the  doctrine  comprised  in  that  abridgment, 
commonly  called  The  Apostle's  Creed,  be  fully  set  forth  in  each  of  the 
Catechisms,  so  as  there  is  no  necessity  of  inserting  the  Creed  itself;  yet 
it  is  here  annexed,  not  as  though  it  were  composed  by  the  Apostles,  or 
ought  to  be  esteemed  canonical  scripture,  as  the  Ten  Commandments, 
and  the  Lord's  Prayer,  (much  less  a  prayer,  as  ignorant  people  have 
been  apt  to  make  both  it  and  the  Decalogue,)  but  because  it  is  a  brief 
sum  of  the  Christian  faith,  agreeable  to  the  word  of  God,  and  anciently 
received  in  the  churches  of  Christ. 


FINIS. 


SUM  OF  SAVING  KNOWLEDGE 

on,  a 

BRIEF    SU  M 

OF 

CHRISTIAN    DOCTRINE, 

CONTAINED  IK  THE 

HOLY  SCRIPTURES, 

AXD  HOLDEK  FORTH  IK  THE  FORESAID 

CONFESSION  OF  FAITH  AXD  CATECHISMS, 

TOGETHER  WITH  THE 

PRACTICAL  USE  THEREOF. 


John  vj  37.  AH  that  the  Father  hath  given  me  shall  come  to  me;  and  him  that  cometh 
to  me  I  will  in  no  wise  cast  out. 


THE  CONTEXTS  OF  THE  SIWI  OF  SAVING  KNOWLEDGE. 


Heads. 

I.  Our  woful  condition  by  nature. 

II.  The  remedy  provided  In  Christ  Jes 

III.  Tiie  means  provided  in  the  covei 
of  srace. 

IV.  The  blessings  conveyed  by  these  means. 


The  Use  of  Savin?  Knowledge. 

For  convincing  of  sin  by  the  law. 
Of  righteousness  by  the  law. 
Of  judgment  by  the  law. 
For  convincing  of  sin,  righteousness, 
and  judgment  by  the  gospel. 
Of  righteousness  to  be  had  only  by  faith, 
in  Christ. 
For  strengthening  a  man's  faith,  &c. 


Warrants  and  Motives  to  Belicce. 
1-  God's  hearty  invitation. 

2.  His  earnest  request  to  be  reconciled. 

3    His  command,  charging  all  to  believe. 
4.  Much  assurance  of  life  given   to    be- 
lievers, <fcc. 

Evidences  of  true  Faith. 

1.  Conviction  of  the  believer's  obligation 

to  keep  the  moral  law. 
■2.  That  the  believer  practise  the  rules  of 

godliness  and  righteousness. 

3.  "That  obedience  to  the  law  run  in  the 
riuht  channel  of  faith  in  Christ. 

4.  The  keeping  of  strait  communion  with 
Christ  the  fountain  of  all  grace  and  good 
works. 

For  strengthening  the  believer  in  faith 
and  obedience,  by  these  evidences. 


THE 

SUM  OF  SAVING  KNOWLEDGE,  &c. 

The  Sum  of  Savi7ig  Knowledge  maybe  taken  up  in  these  four  heads:  1. 
The  woful  condition  wherein  all  men  are  by  nature,  through  breaking 
of  the  covenant  of  works.  2.  The  remedy  provided  for  the  elect  in  Jesus 
Christ  by  the  covenant  of  grace.  3.  The  means  appointed  to  make  them 
partakers  of  this  covenant.  4.  The  blessings  which  are  effectually  con- 
veyed unto  the  elect  by  these  means. —  Which  four  heads  are  set  down  each 
of  them  in  some  few  propositions. 


HEAD  I. 


Our  woful  condition  by  nature,  through  breaking  the  covenant 
of  works.  Hos.  xiii.  9.  0  Israel,  thou  hast  destroyed 
thyself. 

I.  The  almighty  and  eternal  God,  the  Father,  the  Son, 
and  the  Holy  Ghost,  three  distinct  persons  in  the  one  and 
the  same  undivided  Godhead,  equally  infinite  in  all  per- 
fections, did,  before  time,  most  wisely  decree,  for  his  own 
glory,  whatsoever  cometh  to  pass  in  time ;  and  doth  most 
S8 


446  The  Sum  of  Saving  Knowledge. 

holily  and  infallibly  execute  all  his  decrees,  without  being 
partaker  of  the  sin  of  any  creature. 

II.  This  God,  in  six  days,  made  all  things  of  nothing, 
very  good  in  their  own  kind:  in  special,  he  made  all  the 
angels  holy;  and  he  made  our  first  parents,  Adam  and 
Eve,  the  root  of  mankind,  both  upright  and  able  to  keep 
the  law  written  in  their  heart.  Which  law  they  were 
naturally  bound  to  obey  unde^pain  of  death ;  but  God 
was  not  bound  to  reward  their  service,  till  he  entered  into 
a  covenant  or  contract  with  them,  and  their  posterity  in 
them,  to  give  them  eternal  life,  upon  condition  of  perfect 
personal  obedience ;  withal  threatening  death  in  case  they 
should  fail.     This  is  the  covenant  of  works. 

III.  Both  angels  and  men  were  subject  to  the  change  of 
their  own  free-will,  as  experience  proved,  (God  having  re- 
served to  himself  the  incommunicable  property  of  being 
naturally  unchangeable :)  for  many  angels  of  their  own 
accord  fell  by  sin  from  their  first  estate,  and  became  devils. 
Our  first  parents,  being  enticed  by  Satan,  one  of  these 
devils,  speaking  in  a  serpent,  did  break  the  covenant  of 
works,  in  eating  the  forbidden  fruit;  whereby  they,  and 
their  posterity,  being  in  their  loins,  as  branches  in  the  root, 
and  comprehended  in  the  same  covenant  with  them,  be- 
came not  only  liable  to  eternal  death,  but  also  lost  all  abi- 
lity to  please  God ;  yea,  did  become  by  nature  enemies  to 
God,  and  to  all  spiritual  good,  and  inclined  only  to  evil 
continually.  This  is  our  original  sin,  the  bitter  root  of  all 
our  actual  transgressions,  in  thought,  word,  and  deed. 

HEAD  II. 

The  remedy  provided  in  Jesus  Christ  for  the  elect  by  the  cove- 
nant of  grace.  -Hos.  xiii.  9.  O  Israel,  thou  hast  destroyed 
thyself;  but  in  me  is  thine  help. 

I.  Albkit  man,  having  brought  himself  into  this  woful 
condition,  be  neither  able  to  help  himself,  nor  willing  to  be 
helped  by  God  out  of  it,  but  rather  inclined  to  lie  still, 
insensible  of  it,  till  he  perish ;  yet  God,  for  the  glory  of 
his  rich  grace,  hath  revealed  in  his  word  a  way  to  save 
sinners,  viz.  by  faith  in  Jesus  Christ,  the  eternal  Son  of 
God,  by   virtue   of,   and   according   to   the  tenor   of  the 


, 


The  Sum  of  Saving  Knowledge.  44 7 

covenant  of  redemption,  made  and  agreed  upon  between 
God  the  Father  and  God  the  Son,  in  the  council  of  the 
Trinity,  before  the  world  began. 

IJ.  The  sum  of  the  covenant  of  redemption  is  this:  God 
having  freely  chosen  unto  life  a  certain  number  of  lost  man- 
kind, for  the  glory  of  his  rich  grace,  did  give  them,  before 
the  world  began,  unto  God  the  Son,  appointed  Ptedeemer, 
that,  upon  condition  he  would  humble  himself  so  far  as  to 
assume  the  human  nature,  of  a  soul  and  a  body,  unto  per- 
sonal union  with  his  divine  nature,  and  submit  himself  to  the 
law,  as  surety  for  them,  and  satisfy  justice  for  them,  by 
giving  obedience  in  their  name,  even  unto  the  suffering  of 
the  cursed  death  of  the  cross,  he  should  ransom  and  redeem 
them  all  from  sin  and  death,  and  purchase  unto  them  righ- 
teousness and  eternal  life,  with  all  saving  graces  leading 
thereunto,  to  be  effectually,  by  means  of  his  own  appoint- 
ment, applied  in  due  time  to  every  one  of  them.  This  con- 
dition the  Son  of  God  (who  is  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord)  did 
accept  before  the  world  began,  and  in  the  fulness  of  time 
came  into  the  world,  was  born  of  the  Virgin  Mary,  sub- 
jected himself  to  the  law,  and  completely  paid  the  ransom 
on  the  cross:  But  by  virtue  of  the  aforesaid  bargain,  made 
before  the  world  began,  he  is  in  all  ages,  since  the  fall  of 
Adam,  still  upon  the  work  of  applying  actually  the  pur- 
chased benefits  unto  the  elect;  and  that  he  doth  by  way  of 
entertaining  a  covenant  of  free  urace  and  reconciliation  with 
them  through  faith  in  himself;  by  which  covenant,  he 
makes  over  to  every  believer  a  right  and  interest  to  him- 
self, and  to  all  his  blessings. 

III.  For  the  accomplishment  of  this  covenant  of  redemp- 
tion, and  making  the  elect  partakers  of  the  benefits  thereof 
in  the  covenant  of  grace,  Christ  Jesus  was  clad  with  the 
threefold  office  of  Prophet,  Priest,  and  King ;  made  a  Pro- 
phet, to  reveal  all  saving  knowledge  to  his  people,  and  to 
persuade  them  to  believe  and  obey  the  same  ;  made  a  Priest, 
to  offer  up  himself  a  sacrifice  once  for  them  all,  and  to  in- 
tercede continually  with  the  Father,  for  making  their  persons 
and  services  acceptable  to  him;  and  made  a  King,  to  subdue 
them  to  himself,  to  feed  and  rule  them  by  his  own  appoint- 
ed ordinances,  and  to  defend  them  from  their  enemies. 


448  The  Sum  of  Saving  Knowledge, 

HEAD  III. 

The  outward  means  appointed  to  make  the  elect  partakers  of 
this  covenant,  and  all  the  rest  that  are  called,  to  be  inex- 
cusable.    Mat.  xxii.  14.     Many  are  called. 

I.  The  outward  means  and  ordinances,  for  making  men 
partakers  of  the  covenant  of  grace,  are  so  wisely  dispensed, 
as  that  the  elect  shall  be  infallibly  converted  and  saved 
by  them  ;  and  the  reprobate,  among  -whom  they  are,  not 
to  be  justly  stumbled.  The  means  are  especially  these 
four.  1.  The  word  of  God.  2.  The  sacraments.  3.  Kirk- 
government.  4.  Prayer.  In  the  word  of  God  preached 
by  sent  messengers,  the  Lord  makes  offer  of  grace  to  all 
sinners,  upon  condition  of  faith  in  Jesus  Christ ;  and  who- 
soever do  confess  their  sin,  accept  of  Christ  offered,  and 
submit  themselves  to  his  ordinances,  he  will  have  both  them 
and  their  children  received  into  the  honour  and  privileges 
of  the  covenant  of  grace.  By  the  sacraments,  God  will 
have  the  covenant  sealed  for  confirming  the  bargain  on  the 
foresaid  condition.  By  kirk-government,  he  will  have 
them  hedged  in,  and  helped  forward  unto  the  keeping  of 
the  covenant.  And  by  prayer,  he  will  have  his  own  glo- 
rious grace,  promised  in  the  covenant,  to  be  daily  drawn 
forth,  acknowledged,  and  employed.  All  which  means  are 
followed  either  really,  or  in  profession  only,  according  to 
the  quality  of  the  covenanters,  as  they  are  true  or  counter- 
feit believers. 

II.  The  covenant  of  grace,  set  down  in  the  Old  Testa- 
ment before  Christ  came,  and  in  the  New  since  he  came,  is 
one  and  the  same  in  substance,  albeit  different  in  outward 
administration :  For  the  covenant  in  the  Old  Testament, 
being  sealed  with  the  sacraments  of  circumcision  and  the 
pasclial  lamb,  did  set  forth  Christ's  death  to  come,  and  the 
benefits  purchased  thereby,  under  the  shadow  of  bloody 
.sacrifices,  and  sundry  ceremonies :  but  since  Christ  came, 
the  covenant  being  sealed  by  the  sacraments  of  baptism 
and  the  Lord's  supper,  doth  clearly  hold  forth  Christ  al- 
ready crucified  before  our  eyes,  victorious  over  death  and 
the  grave,  and  gloriously  ruling  heaven  and  earth,  for  the 
good  of  his  own  people. 


The  Sum  of  Saving  Knowledge.  449 


HEAD  IV. 

The  blessings  which  are  effectually  conveyed  by  these  means  to 
the  Lord's  elect,  or  chosen  ones.  "Mat.  xxii.  14.  Many  are 
called,  but  few  are  chosen. 

I.  Bv  these  outward  ordinances,  as  our  Lord  makes  the 
reprobate  inexcusable,  so,  by  the  power  of  his  Spirit,  he 
applies  unto  the  elect,  effectually,  all  saving  graces  pur- 
chased to  them  in  the  covenant  of  redemption,  and  maketh 
a  change  in  their  persons.  In  particular,  1.  He  doth  con- 
vert or  regenerate  them,  by  giving  spiritual  life  to  them,  in 
opening  their  understandings,  renewing  their  wills,  affec- 
tions, and  faculties,  for  giving  spiritual  obedience  to  his 
commands.  2.  He  gives  them  saving  faith,  by  making  them, 
in  the  sense  of  deserved  condemnation,  to  give  their  con- 
sent heartily  to  the  covenant  of  grace,  and  to  embrace  Je- 
sus Christ  unfeignedly.  3.  He  gives  them  repentance,  by 
making  them,  with  godly  sorrow,  in  the  hatred  of  sin,  and 
love  of  righteousness,  turn  from  all  iniquity  to  the  service 
of  God.  And,  4.  He  sanctifies  them,  by  making  them  go 
on  and  persevere  in  faith  and  spiritual  obedience  to  the  law 
of  God,  manifested  by  fruitfulness  in  all  duties,  and  doing 
good  works,  as  God  offereth  occasion. 

II.  Together  with  this  inward  change  of  their  persons,God 
changes  also  their  state  :  for  so  soon  as  they  are  brought  by 
faith  into  the  covenant  of  grace,  1.  He  justifies  them,  by  im- 
puting unto  them  that  perfect  obedience  which  Christ  gave  to 
the  law,  and  the  satisfaction  also  which  upon  the  cross  Christ 
gave  unto  justice  in  their  name.  2.  He  reconciles  them,  and 
makes  them  friends  to  God,  who  were  before  enemies  to  God. 
3.  He  adopts  them,  that  they  shall  be  no  more  children  of 
Satan,  but  children  of  God,  enriched  with  all  spiritual  pri- 
vileges of  his  sons.  And,  last  of  all,  after  their  warfare  in 
this  life  is  ended,  he  perfects  the  holiness  and  blessedness,  first 
of  their  souls  at  their  death,  and  then  both  of  their  souls  and 
their  bodies,  being  joyfully  joined  together  again  in  the  re- 
surrection, at  the  day  of  his  glorious  coming  to  judgment, 
when  all  the  wicked  shall  be  sent  away  to  hell,  with  Satan 
whom  they  have  served:  but  Christ's  own  chosen  and  re- 


450  The  Practiced  Use  of  Saving  Knowledge. 

deemed  ones,  true  believers,  students  of  holiness,  shall  re- 
main with  himself  for  ever,  in  the  state  of  glorification. 


THE 

PRACTICAL  USE  OF  SAVING  KNOWLEDGE, 

Contained  in  Scripture,  and  holden  forth  briefly  in  the  foresaid 
Confession  of  Faith  and  Catechisms. 

The  chief  general  use  of  Christian  doctrine  is,  to  con- 
vince a  man  of  sin,  and  of  righteousness,  and  of  judgment, 
John  xvi.  8.  partly  by  the  law  or  covenant  of  works, 
that  he  may  be  humbled  and  become  penitent ;  and  partly 
by  the  gospel  or  covenant  of  grace,  that  he  may  become 
an  unfeigned  believer  in  Jesus  Christ,  and  be  strengthened 
in  his  faith  upon  solid  grounds  and  warrants,  and  give 
evidence  of  the  truth  of  his  faith  by  good  fruits,  and  so  be 
saved. 

The  sum  of  the  covenant  of  works,  or  of  the  law,  is  this : 
If  thou  do  all  that  is  commanded,  and  not  fail  in  any 
point,  thou  shalt  be  saved :  but  if  thou  fail,  thou  shalt 
"die."     Rom.  x.  5.    Gal.  iii.  10,  12. 

The  sum  of  the  gospel,  or  covenant  of  grace  and  recon- 
ciliation, is  this :  "  If  thou  flee  from  deserved  wrath  to  the 
"  true  Redeemer  Jesus  Christ,  (who  is  able  to  save  to  the 
"  uttermost  all  that  come  to  God  through  him,)  thou  shalt 
"  not  perish,  but  have  eternal  life.''     Rom.  x.  8,  9,  11. 

For  convincing  a  man  of  sin,  of  righteousness,  and  of 
judgment  by  the  law,  or  covenant  of  works,  let  these  scrip- 
lures,  among  many  more,  be  made  use  of. 

I.    For    convincing    a  man  of  sin  by  the  law,   consider 
Jer.  xvii.  9,  10. 

The  heart  is  deceitfal  above  cdl  things,  and  desperately  wick- 
ed; who  can  know  it  P  I  the  Lord  search  the  heart,  J  try  the 
reins,  even  to  give  every  man  according  to  his  ivays,  and  accord- 
ing to  the  fruit  of  his  doings. 

Here  the  Lord  teacheth  these  two  things: 
1.  That  the  fountain  of  all  our  miscarriage,  and  actual  sin- 
ning against  God,  is  in  the  heart,  which  comprehendeth  the 


a 


The  Practical  Use  of  Saving  Knowledge.  451 

mind,  will,  affection?,  and  all  the  powers  of  the  soul,  as  they 
are  corrupted  and  defiled  with  original  sin:  the  mind  being 
not  only  ignorant  and  incapable  of  saving  truth,  but  also  full 
of  error  and  enmity  against  God;  and  the  will  and  affections 
being  obstinately  disobedient  unto  all  God's  directions,  and 
bent  toward  that  only  which  is  evil:  "The  heart  (saith  he) 
'•'is  deceitful  above  all  things,  and  desperately  wicked;"  yea, 
and  unsearchably  wicked,  so  that  no  man  can  know  it;  and 
Gen.  vi.  5.  "Every  imagination  of  the  thoughts  of  "man's 
heart  is  only  evil  continually,"  saith  the  Lord,  whose  testi- 
mony we  must  trust  in  this  and  all  other  matters;  and  expe- 
rience also  may  teach  us,  that,  till  God  make  us  deny  our- 
selves, we  never  look  to  God  in  any  thing,  but  fleshly  self- 
interest  alone  doth  rule  us,  and  move  all  the  wheels  of  our 
actions. 

2.  That  the  Lord  bringeth  our  original  sin,  or  wicked  in- 
clination, with  all  the  actual  fruits  thereof,  unto  reckoning 
before  his  judgment-seat;  "For  he  searcheth  the  heart,  and 
"  trieth  the  reins,  to  give  every  man  according  to  his  ways, 
"  and  according  to  the  fruit  of  his  doings. 

Hence  let  every  man  reason  thus: 

"What  God  and  my  guilty  conscience  bear  witness  of,  "I 
am  convinced  that  it  is  true: 

"But  God  and  my  guilty  conscience  bear  witness,  that 
"my  heart  is  deceitful  above  all  things,  and  desperately 
"wicked;  and  that  all  the  imaginations  of  my  heart,  by  na- 
"ture,  are  only  evil  continually: 

"Therefore  I  am  convinced  that  this  is  true." 

Thus  a  man  may  be  convinced  of  sin  by  the  law. 

II.  For  convincing  a  man  of  righteousness  by  the  law,  con- 
sider Gal.  hi.  10. 

As  many  as  are  of  the  works  of  the  law  are  under  the  ctirse: 
for  it  is  written,  Cursed  is  every  one  that  continuelh  not  in  all 
things  which  are  -written  in  the  book  of  the  law  to  do  them. 

Here  the  apostle  teacheth  us  three  things: 

1.  That,  by  reason  of  our  natural  sinfulness,  the  impossibi- 
lity of  any  man's  being  justified  by  the  works  of  the  law  is 


452  The  Practical  Use  of  Saving  Knowledge. 

so  certain,  that  whosoever  do  seek  justification  by  the  works 
of  the  law,  are  liable  to  the  curse  of  God  for  breaking  of 
the  law;  "For  as  many  as  are  of  the  works  of  the  law  are 
"  under  the  curse,"  saith  he. 

2.  That,  unto  the  perfect  fulfilling  of  the  law,  the  keep- 
ing of  one  or  two  of  the  precepts,  or  doing  of  some,  or  of 
all  duties  (if  it  were  possible)  for  a  time,  is  not.  sufficient;  for 
the  law  rcquireth,  that  "a  man  continue  in  all  things  which 
"are  written  in  the  book  of  the  law  to  do  them." 

3.  That,  because  no  man  can  come  up  to  this  perfection, 
every  man  by  nature  is  under  the  curse;  for  the  law  saith, 
"Cursed  is  every  one  that  continueth  not  in  all  things  which 
"  are  written  in  the  book  of  the  law  to  do  them." 

Now,  to  be  under  the  curse,  comprehendeth  all  the  dis- 
pleasure of  God,  with  the  danger  of  the  breaking  forth  more 
and  more  of  his  wrath  upon  soul  and  body,  both  in  this  life, 
and  after  death  perpetually,  if  grace  do  not  prevent  the  full 
execution  thereof. 

Hence  let  every  man  reason  thus: 

,k  Whosoever,  according  to  the  covenant  of  works,  is 
"liable  to  the  curse  of  God  for  breaking  the  law,  times  and 
"ways  out  of  number,  cannot  be  justified,  or  find  righteous- 
"ness  by  the  works  of  the  law: 

"But  I,  (may  every  man  say,)  according  to  the  covenant 
"of  works,  am  liable  to  the  curse  of  God,  for  breaking  the 
"law  times  and  ways  without  number: 

"Therefore  I  cannot  be  justified,  or  have  righteousness 
"by  the  works  of  the  law." 

Thus  may  a  man  be  convinced  of  righteousness,  that  it  is 
not  to  be  had  by  his  own  works,  or  by  the  law. 

III.  For  convincing  a  man  of  judgment  by  the  law,  con- 
sider 2  Thess.  i.  7. 

The  Lord  Jesus  shall  be  revealed  from  heaven  with,  his  mighty 
angels,  Ver.  8.  In  flaming  fire,  taking  vengeance  on  them  that 
know  not  God,  and  that  obey  not  the  gospel  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ:  Ver.  0.  Who  shall  be  punished  wilh  everlasting  destruc- 
tion from  the  presence  of  the  Lord,  and  from  the  glonj  of  his 


The  Practical  Use  of  Saving  Knowledge.  453 

power;  Ver.  10.  When  he  shall  come  to  be  glorified  in  his  saints, 
and  to  be  admired  in  all  them  thai  believe. 

Wherein  we  are  taught,  that  our  Lord  Jesus,  who  now 
offers  to  be  Mediator  for  them  who  believe  in  him,  shall,  at 
the  last  day,  come  armed  with  flaming  fire,  to  judge,  con- 
demn, and  destroy  all  them  who  have  not  believed  God, 
have  not  received  the  oiler  of  grace  made  in  the  gospel,  nor 
obeyed  the  doctrine  thereof;  but  remain  in  their  natural 
state,  under  the  law  or  covenant  of  works. 

Hence  let  every  man  reason  thus: 

"  What  the  righteous  Jud^e  hath  forewarned  me  shall  be 
"done  at  the  last  day,  I  am  sure  is  just  judgment: 

"But  the  righteous  Judire  hath  forewarned  me,  that  if  I 
"do  not  believe  God  in  time,  and  obey  not  the  doctrine  of 
"the  gospel,  I  shall  be  secluded  from  his  presence  and  his 
"glory  at  the  last  day,  and  be  tormented  in  soul  and  body 
"for  ever: 

"Therefore  I  am  convinced  that  this  is  a  just  judgment: 

"And  I  have  reason  to  thank  God  heartily,  who  hath 
"forewarned  me  to  flee  from  the  wrath 'which  is  to  come." 

Thus  every  man  may  be,  by  the  law  or  covenant  of 
works,  convinced  of  judgment,  if  he  shall  continue  under 
the  covenant  of  works,  or  shall  not  obey  the  gospel  of  our 
Lord  Jesus. 

IV.  For  convincing  a  man  of  sin,  righteousness,  and  judg- 
ment, by  the  gospel. 

As  for  convincing  a  man  of  sin,  and  righteousness,  and 
judgment,  by  the  gospel,  or  covenant  of  grace,  he  must  un- 
derstand three  things:  1.  That  not  believing  in  Jesus  Christ, 
or  refusing  of  the  covenant  of  grace  offered  in  him,  is  a 
greater  and  more  dangerous  sin  than  all  other  sins  against 
the  law;  because  the  hearers  of  the  gospel,  not  believing  in 
Christ,  do  reject  God's  mercy  in  Christ,  the  only  way  of 
freedom  from  sin  and  wrath,  and  will  not  yield  to  be  recon- 
ciled to  God.  2.  Next,  he  must  understand,  that  perfect 
remission  of  sin,  and  true  righteousness,  is  to  be  had  only  by 
faith  in  Jesus;  because  God  requireth  no  other  conditions 
but  faith;  and  testifies  from  heaven,  that  he  is  well  pleased 


454  The  Practical  Use  of  Saving  Knowledge. 

to  justify  sinners  upon. this  condition.  3.  He  must  under- 
stand, that  upon  righteousness  received  by  faith,  judgment 
shall  follow,  on  the  one  hand,  to  the  destroying  of  the  works 
of  the  devil  in  the  believer,  and  to  the  perfecting  of  the  work 
of  sanctification  in  him,  with  power:  and  that,  upon  refusing 
to  take  righteousness  by  faith  in  Jesus  Christ,  judgment  shall 
follow,  on  the  other  hand,  to  the  condemnation  of  the  mis- 
believer, and  destroying  of  him  with  Satan  and  his  servants 
for  ever. 

For  this  end,  let  these  passages  of  scripture,  among  many 
others,  serve  to  make  the  greatness  of  the  sin  of  not  be- 
lieving in  Christ  appear;  or,  to  make  the  greatness  of  the  sin 
of  refusing  of  the  covenant  of  grace  offered  to  us,  in  the 
offering  of  Christ  unto  us  appear,  let  the  fair  offer  of  grace 
be  looked  upon  as  it  is  made,  Jsa.  lv.  3.  Incline  your  ear,  and 
come  unto  me,  (saith  the  Lord:)  hear,  and  your  soul  shall  live; 
and  I  will  make  an  everlasting  covenant  with  yon,  even  the  sure 
mercies  of  David.  That  is,  Jf  ye  will  believe  me,  and  be  re- 
conciled to  me,  I  will,  by  covenant,  give  unto  you  Christ, 
and  all  saving  graces  in  him:  repeated  Acts  xiii..34. 

Again,  consider,  that  this  general  offer  in  substance  is  equi- 
valent to  a  special  offer  made  to  every  one  in  particular;  as 
appeareth  by  the  apostle's  making  use  of  it,  Acts  xvi.  31. 
Believe  on  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  thou  shall  be  saved,  and 
thy  house.  The  reason  of  which  offer  is  given,  John  hi.  10. 
For  God  so  loved  the  world,  that  he  gave  his  only  begotten  Son, 
that  whosoever  believeth  in  him  should  not  perish,  but  have  ever- 
lasting life.  Seeing  then  this  great  salvation  is  offered  in 
the  Lord  Jesus,  whosoever  believeth  not  in  him,  but  looks  for 
happiness  some  other  way,  what  doth  he  else  but  observe  lying 
vanities,  and  forsake  his  ozcn  mercy,  which  he  might  have  had 
in  Christ?  Jonah  ii.  8,  9.  What  doth  he  else  but  blaspheme 
God  in  his  heart?  as  it  is  said,  1  John  v.  10,  11.  He  that  be- 
lieveth not  God,  hath  made  him  a  liar,  because  he  believeth  not 
the  record  that  God  gave  of  his  Son.  And  this  is  the  record, 
that  God  hath  given  to  us  eternal  life:  and  this  life  is  in  his 
Son.  And  that  no  sin  against  the  law  is  like  unto  this  sin, 
Christ  testifies,  John  xv.  22.  If  I  had  not  come  and  spoken 
unto  them,  they  had  not  had  sin:  but  now  they  have  no  cloak  for 
their  sin.  This  may  convince  a  man  of  the  greatness  of  this 
sin  of  not  believing  in  Christ. 


The  Practical  Use  of  Saving  Knowledge,  455 

For  convincing  a  man  of  righteousness  to  be  had  only  by 
faith  in  Jesus  Christ,  consider  how,  Bom.  x.  3,  4. 

It  is  said,  that  the  Jews,  being  ignorant  of  God's  righte- 
ousness, and  going  about  to  establish  their  own  righteous- 
ness, have  not  submitted  themselves  unto  the  righteousness 
of  God,  (and  so  they  perished.)  For  Christ  is  the  end  of 
the  law  for  righteousness  to  every  one  that  believeth.  And 
Acts  xiii.  39.  By  Him  all  that  believe  are  justified  from 
all  things,  from  which  ye  could  not  be  justified  by  the  law 
of  Moses.  And  1  John  i.  7.  The  blood  of  Jesus  Christ  his 
Son  cleanseth  us  from  all  sin. 

For  convincing  a  man  of  judgment,  if  a  man  embrace 
this  righteousness,  consider  1  John  iii.  8.  For  this  purpose 
the  Son  of  God  was  manifested,  that  he  might  destroy  the 
works  of  the  devil.  And  Heb.  ix.  14.  How  much  more 
shall  the  blood  of  Christ,  tuho  through  the  eternal  Spirit 
offered  himself  without  spot  to  God,  purge  your  conscience 
from  dead  icorks  to  serve  the  living  God? 

But  if  a  man  embrace  not  this  righteousness,  his  doom  is 
pronounced,  John  iii.  18,  19.  He  that  believeth  not  is  con- 
demned  already,  because  he  hath  not  believed  in  the  name 
of  the  only  begotten  Son  of  God.  And  this  is  the  condem- 
nation, that  light  is  come  into  the  world,  and  men  loved 
darkness  rather  than  light. 

Hence  let  the  penitent,  desiring  to  believe,  reason  thus: 

"What  doth  suffice  to  convince  all  the  elect  in  the  world 
"of  the  greatness  of  the  sin  of  not  believing  in  Christ,  or 
"refusing  to  flee  to  him  for  relief  from  sins  done  against 
"the  law,  and  from  wrath  due  thereto;  and  what  sufficeth 
"  to  convince  them  that  righteousness  and  eternal  life  is  to 
"be  had  by  faith  in  Jesus  Christ,  or  by  consenting  to  the 
"  covenant  of  grace  in  him :  and  what  sufficeth  to  convince 
"them  of  judgment  to  be  exercised  by  Christ,  for  destroying 
"the  works  of  the  devil  in  a  man,  and  sanctifying  and  saving 
"all  that  believe  in  him,  may  suffice  to  convince  me  also: 

"But  what  the  Spirit  hath  said,  in  these  or  other  like 
"scriptures,  sufficeth  to  convince  the  elect  world  of  the 
"foresaid  sin,  and  righteousness,  and  judgment: 

"Therefore  what  the  Spirit  hath  said,  in  these  and  other 
"like  scriptures,  serveth  to  convince  me  thereof  also." 


456  The  Practical  Use  of  Saving  Knowledge. 

Whereupon  let  the  penitent  desiring  to  believe  take  with 
him  words,  and  say  heartily  to  the  Lord,  Seeing  thou  sayest 
Seek  ye  my  face ;  my  soul  answereth  unto  thee,  Thy  face, 
Lord,  will  I  seek.  I  have  hearkened  unto  the  offer  of  an 
everlasting  covenant  of  all  saving  mercies  to  be  had  in 
Christ,  and  I  do  heartily  embrace  thy  offer.  Lord,  let  it 
be  a  bargain;  Lord,  I  believe;  help  my  unbelief:  Behold,  I 
give  myself  to  thee,  to  serve-thee  in  all  things  for  ever;  and 
I  hope  thy  right  hand  shall  save  me:  the  Lord  will  perfect 
that  which  concerneth  me ;  thy  mercy,  O  Lord,  endureth 
for  ever;  forsake  not  the  work;;  of  thine  own  hands. 

Thus  may  a  man  be  made  an  unfeigned  believer  in  Christ. 

For  strengthening  the  man's  faith  who  hath  agreed  unto 
the  covenant  of  grace. 

Because  many  true  believers  are  weak,  and  do  much 
doubt  if  ever  they  shall  be  sure  of  the  soundness  of  their 
own  faith  and  effectual  calling,  or  made  certain  of  their  jus- 
tification and  salvation,  when  they  see  that  many,  who  pro- 
fess faith,  are  found  to  deceive  themselves ;  let  us  see  how 
every  believer  may  be  made  strong  in  the  faith,  and  sure  of 
his  own  election  and  salvation  upon  solid  grounds,  by  sure 
warrants,  and  true  evidences  of  faith.  To  this  end,  among 
many  other  scriptures,  take  these  following. 

1.  For  laying  solid  grounds  of  faith,  consider  2  Pet.  i. 
10.  Wherefore  the  rather,  brethren,  give  diligence  to  make 
yonr  calling  and  election  sure:  for  if  ye  do  these  things  ye  shall 
never  fall. 

In  which  words,  the  apostle  teacheth  us  these  four  things, 
for  help  and  direction  how  to  be  made  strong  in  the  faith. 

1.  That  such  as  believe  in  Christ  Jesus,  and  are  fled  to 
him  for  relief  from  sin  and  wrath,  albeit  they  be  weak  in 
the  faith,  yet  they  are  indeed  children  of  the  same  Father 
with  the  apostles ;  for  so  he  accounteth  of  them,  while  he 
callcth  them  brethren. 

2.  That  albeit  we  be  not  sure,  for  the  time,  of  our  effec- 
tual calling  and  election,  yet  we  may  be  made  sure  of  both, 
if  we  use  diligence  ;  for  this  he  presupposeth,  saying,  "  Give 
"  diligence  to  make  your  calling  and  election  sure." 


The  Practical  Use  of  Saving  Knowledge.  457 

3.  That  we  must  not  be  discouraged,  when  we  see  many 
seeming  believers  prove  rotten  branches,  and  make  defec- 
tion ;  but  we  must  the  rather  take  the  better  heed  to  our- 
selves: "Wherefore  the  rather,  brethren,  (saith  he,)  give  all 
"  diligence." 

4.  That  the  way  to  be  sure  both  of  our  effectual  calling 
and  election,  is  to  make  sure  work  of  our  faith,  by  laying 
the  grounds  of  it,  solidly,  and  bringing  forth  the  fruits  of 
our  faith  in  new  obedience  constantly :  "  For  if  ye  do  these 
"  things,  (saith  he,)  ye  shall  never  fall ;"  understanding  by 
these  things,  what  he  had  said  of  sound  faith,  Ver.  1, 2,  3,  4; 
and  what  he  had  said  of  the  bringing  out  of  the  fruits  of  faith, 
Vei\  5,  6,  7,  8,  9. 

To  this  same  purpose,  consider  Rom.  viii.  1.  There  is 
therefore  now  no  condemnation  to  them  ivhich  are  in  Christ 
Jesus,  who  walk  not  after  the  flesh,  but  after  the  Spirit. 
V.  2.  For  the  taw  of  the  Spirit  of  life  in  Christ  Jesus  hath 
made  me  free  from  the  law  of  sin  and  death.  V.  3.  For 
what  the  law  could  not  do,  in  that  it  was  iveak  through 
the  flesh,  God  sending  his  own  Son  in  the  likeness  of  sin- 
ful flesh,  and  for  sin  condemned  sin  in  the  flesh;  V.  4. 
That  the  righteousness  of  the  law  might  be  fulfilled  in  us, 
who  walk  not  after  the  flesh,  but  after  the  Spirit. 

Wherein  the  apostle  teacheth  us  these  four  things,  for 
laying  of  the  ground  of  faith  solidly  : 

1.  That  every  one  is  a  true  believer,  who,  in  the  sense  of 
his  sin,  and  fear  of  God's  wrath,  doth  flee  for  full  relief  from 
both  unto  Jesus  Christ  alone,  as  the  only  Mediator  and  all- 
sufficient  Redeemer  of  men ;  and,  being  fled  to  Christ,  doth 
strive  against  his  own  flesh,  or  corrupt  inclination  of  nature, 
and  studieth  to  follow  the  rule  of  God's  Spirit,  set  down  in 
his  word :  for  the  man,  whom  the  apostle  doth  here  bless  as 
a  true  believer,  is  a  man  in  Christ  Jesus,  "  who  doth  not 
"  walk  after  the  flesh,  but  after  the  Spirit." 

2.  That  all  such  persons  as  are  fled  to  Christ,  and  do 
strive  against  sin,  howsoever  they  may  be  possibly  exercised 
under  the  sense  of  wrath,  and  fear  of  condemnation,  yet 
they  are  in  no  danger ;  for  "  there  is  no  condemnation 
"  (saith  he)  to  them  that  are  in  Christ  Jesus,  who  walk  not 
"  after  the  flesh,  but  after  the  Spirit." 

3.  That  albeit  the  apostle  himself,  (brought  in  here  for 

39 


458  The  Practical  Use  of  Saving  Knowledge. 

example's  cause,)  and  all  other  true  believers  in  Christ,  be 
by  nature  under  the  law  of  sin  and  death,  or  under  the  cove- 
nant of  works,  (called  the  law  of  sin  and  death,  because  it 
bindeth  sin  and  death  upon  us,  till  Christ  set  us  free ;)  yet 
the  law  of  the  Spirit  of  life  in  Christ  Jesus,  or  the  covenant 
of  grace,  (so  called,  because  it  doth  enable  and  quicken  a 
man  to  a  spiritual  life  through  Christ,)  doth  set  the  apostle, 
and- all  true  believers,  free  from  the  covenant  of  works,  or 
the  law  of  sin  and  death ;  so  that  every  man  may  say  with 
him,  "  The  law  of  the  Spirit  of  life,"  or  the  covenant  of 
grace,  "  hath  made  me  free  from  the  law  of  sin  and  death," 
or  covenant  of  works. 

4.  That  the  fountain  and  first  ground,  from  whence  our 
freedom  from  the  curse  of  the  law  doth  flow,  is  the  cove- 
nant of  redemption,  passed  betwixt  God  and  God  the  Son 
as  incarnate,  wherein  Christ  takes  the  curse  of  the  law  upon 
him  for  sin,  that  the  believer,  who  could  not  otherwise  be 
delivered  from  the  covenant  of  works,  may  be  delivered 
from  it.  And  this  doctrine  the  apostle  holdeth  forth  in  these 
four  branches :  (1.)  That  it  was  utterly  impossible  for  the 
law,  or  the  covenant  of  works,  to  bring  righteousness  and 
life  to  a  sinner,  because  it  was  weak.  (2.)  That  this  weak- 
ness and  inability  of  the  law,  or  covenant  of  works,  is  not 
the  fault  of  the  law,  but  the  fault  of  sinful  flesh,  which  is 
neither  able  to  pay  the  penalty  of  sin,  nor  to  give  perfect 
obedience  to  the  law,  (presuppose  bygone  sins  were  for- 
given:) "  The  law  was  weak  (saith  he)  through  the  flesh." 
(3.)  That  the  righteousness  and  salvation  of  sinners,  which 
was  impossible  to  be  brought  about  by  the  law,  is  brought 
to  pass  by  sending  God's  own  Son,  Jesus  Christ,  in  the  flesh, 
in  whose  flesh  sin  is  condemned  and  punished,  for  making 
satisfaction  in  the  behalf  of  the  elect,  that  they  might  be  set 
free.  (4.)  That  by  his  means  the  law  loseth  nothing,  be- 
cause the  righteousness  of  the  law  is  best  fulfilled  this  way; 
first,  by  Christ's  giving  perfect  active  obedience  in  our  name 
unto  it  in  all  things ;  next,  by  his  paying  in  our  name  the 
penalty  due  to  our  sins  in  his  death ;  and,  lastly,  by  his  work- 
ing of  sanctification  in  us,  who  are  true  believers,  who  strive 
to  give  new  obedience  unto  the  law,  and  "  walk  not  after 
41  the  flesh,  but  after  the  Spirit." 


The  Practical  Use  of  Saving  Knowledge.  459 


WARRANTS  TO  BELIEVE. 

For  building  our  confidence  upon  this  solid  ground,  these 
four  Warrants  and  special  Motives  to*  believe  in  Christ  may- 
serve. 

The  first  whereof  is  God's  hearty  invitation,  holden  forth, 
Isa.  Iv.  1,2,  3,4,  5. 

Ho,  every  one  that  thirsteth,  come  ye  to  the  waters,  and  he  that 
hath  no  money:  come  ye,  buy  and  eat;  yea,  come,  buy  wine  and 
milk  without  money,  and  without  price.  Ver.  2.  Wherefore  do 
ye  spend  money  for  that  which  is  not  bread?  and  y$ur  labour 
for  that  which  satisfieth  not?  Hearken  diligently  unto  me,  and 
eat  ye  that  which  is  good;  and  let  your  soul  delight  itself  in  fat- 
ness. Ver.  3.  Incline  your  ear,  and  come  unto  me:,  hear,  and 
your  soul  shall  live;  and  J  will  make  an  everlasting  covenant  with 
you,  even  the  sure  mercies  of  David.  Ver.  4.  Behold,  I  have 
given  him  for  a  witness  to  the  people,  a  leader  and  commander 
to  the  people,  &c. 

Here  (after  setting  down  the  precious  ransom  of  our  re- 
demption by  the  sufferings  of  Christ,  and  the  rich  blessings 
purchased  to  us  thereby,  in  the  two  former  chapters)  the 
Lord,  in  this  chapter,, 

1.  Maketh  open  offer  of  Christ  and  his  grace,  by  procla- 
mation of  a  free  and  gracious  market  of  righteousness  and 
salvation,  to  be  had  through  Christ  to  every  soul,  without 
exception,  that  truly  desires  to  be  saved  from  sin  and  wrath: 
"  Ho,  every  one  that  thirsteth,5*  saith  he. 

2.  He  inviteth  all  sinners,  that  for  any  reason  stand  at  a 
distance  from  God,  to  come  and  take  from  him  riches  of 
grace,  running  in  Christ  as  a  river,  to  wash  away  sin,  and 
to  slacken  wrath  i  «  Come  ye  to  the  waters,"  saith  he. 

3.  Lest  any  should  stand  aback,  in  the  sense  of  his  own 
sinfulness  or  imworthiness,  and  inability  to-  do  any  good, 
the  Lord  calleth  upon  such  persons  in  special,  saying, "  He 
"  that  hath  no  money,  come." 

4.  He  craveth  no  more  of  his  merchant,  but  that  he  be 
pleased  with  the  wares  offered,  which  are  grace,  and  more 
grace ;  and  that  he  heartily  consent  unto,  and  embrace  this 


460  The  Practical  Use  of  Saving  Knowledge. 

>ffer  of  grace,  so  that  he  may  close  a  bargain,  and  a  formal 
covenant  with  God  ;  "  Come,  buy  without  money,  (saith  he,) 
"  come,  eat;"  that  is,  consent  to  have,  and  take  unto  you 
all  saving  graces ;  make  the  wares  your  own,  possess  them, 
and  make  use  of  all  blessings  in  Christ ;  whatsoever  maketh 
for  your  spiritual  life  and  comfort,  use  and  enjoy  it  freely, 
without  paying  any  thing  for  it :  "  Come,  by  wine  and 
"  milk  without  money,  and  without  price,',  saith  he. 

5.  Because  the  Lord  knoweth  how  much  we  are  inclined 
to  seek  righteousness  and  life  by  our  own  performances  and 
satisfaction,  to  have  righteousness  and  life  as  it  were  by  the 
way  of  works,  and  how  loath  we  are  to  embrace  Christ 
Jesus,  and  to  take  life  by  way  of  free  grace  through  Jesus 
Christ,  upon  the  terms  whereupon  it  is  offered  to  us ;  there- 
fore the  Lord  lovingly  calls  us  off  this  our  crooked  and  un- 
happy way  with  a  gentle  and  timeous  admonition,  giving  us 
to  understand,  that  we  shall  but  lose  our  labour  in  this  our 
way :  "  Wherefore  do  ye  spend  your  money  (saith  he)  for 
"  that  which  is  not  bread?  and  your  labour  for  that  which 
"  satisfieth  not  V 

6.  The  Lord  promiseth  to  us  solid  satisfaction  in  the  way 
of  betaking  ourselves  unto  the  grace  of  Christ,  even  true 
contentment,  and  fulness  of  spiritual  pleasure,  saying, 
"  Hearken  diligently  unto  me,  and  eat  ye  that  which  is 
"  good,  and  let  your  soul  delight  itself  in  fatness." 

7.  Because  faith  cometh  by-hearing,  he  calleth  for  audi- 
ence unto  the  explication  of  the  offer,  and  calleth  for  be- 
lieving of,  and  listening  unto  the  truth,  which  is  able  to  be- 
get the  application  of  saving  faith,  and  to  draw  the  soul  to 
trust  in  God :  "  Incline  your  ear,  and  come  unto  me," 
saith  he.  To  which  end,  the  Lord  promises  that  this  offer 
being  received,  shall  quicken  the  dead  sinner;  and  that,  upon 
the  welcoming  of  this  offer,  he  will  close  the  covenant  of 
grace  with  the  man  that  shall  consent  unto  it,  even  an  in- 
dissolvable  covenant  of  perpetual  reconciliation  and  peace: 
"  Hearken,  and  your  soul  shall  live :  and  I  will  make  an 
"  everlasting  covenant  with  you."  Which  covenant,  he 
declareth,  shall  be  in  substance  the  assignation,  and  the 
making  over,  of  all  the  saving  graces  which  David  (who 
is  Jesus  Christ,  (Acts  xiii.  34,)  hath  bought  for  us  in  the 


The  Practical  Use  of  Saving  Knowledge.  461 

covenant  of  redemption :  "  I  will  make  a  covenant  with  you, 
"  (saith  he,)  even  the  sure  mercies  of  David."  By  sure 
mercies,  he  means  saving  grace,  such  as  are  righteousness, 
peace  and  joy  in  the  Holy  Ghost,  adoption,  sanctification, 
and  glorification,  and  whatsoever  belongs  to  godliness  and 
life  eternal. 

8.  To  confirm  and  assure  us  of  the  real  grant  of  these 
saving  mercies,  and  to  persuade  us  of  the  reality  of  the  cove- 
nant betwixt  God  and  the  believer  of  this  word,,  the  Father 
hath  made  a  fourfold  gift  of  his  eternal  and  only  begotten  Son: 

First,  To  be  incarnate  and  born  for  our  sake,  of  the  seed  of 
David  his  type;  for  which  cause  he  is  called  here,  and  Acts 
xiii.  34,  David,  the  true  and  everlasting  King  of  Israel.  This 
is  the  great  gift  of  God  to  man,  John  iv.  10.  And  here,  / 
have  given  him  to  be  David,  or  born  of  David,  to  the  people. 

Secondly,  He  hath  made  a  gift  of  Christ  to  be  a  witness  to 
the  people,  both  of  the  sure  and  saving  mercies  granted  to 
the  redeemed  in  the  covenant  of  redemption;  and  also  of 
the  Father's  willingness  and  purpose  to  apply  them,  and  to 
make  them  fast  in  the  covenant  of  reconciliation  made  with 
such  as  embrace  the  offer:  "  I  have  given  him  (saith  the 
••  Lord  here)  to  be  a  witness  to  the  people."  And  truly  he 
is  a  sufficient  witness  in  this  matter  in  many  respects:  lst> 
Because  he  is  one  of  the  blessed  Trinity,  and  party-contractor 
for  us,  in  the  covenant  of  redemption,  before  the  world  was. 
2dly,  He  is  by  office,  as  Mediator,  the  Messenger  of  the  co- 
venant, and  hath  gotien  commission  to  reveal  it.  Sd/y,  He 
began  actually  to  reveal  it  in  paradise,  where  he  promised, 
that  the  seed  of  the  woman  should  bruise  the  head  of  the 
serpent.  4thly,,He  set  forth  his  own  death  and  sufferings, 
and  the  great  benefits  that  should  come  thereby  to  us,  in  the 
types  and  figures  of  sacrifices  and  ceremonies  before  his 
coming,  bthly,  He  gave  more  and  more  light  about  this  cove- 
nant, speaking  by  his  Spirit,  from  age  to  age,  in  the  holy 
prophets.  Qthlij,  He  came  himself,  in  the  fulness  of  time, 
and  did  bear  witness  of  things  belonging  to  this  covenant, 
and  of  God's  willing  mind  to  take  believers  into  it ;  partly, 
by  uniting  our  nature  in  one  person  with  the  divine  nature; 
partly,  by  preaching  the  good  tidings  of  the  covenant  with 
his  own  mouth;  partly,  by  paying  the  price  of  redemption 
39* 


462  Tlie  Practical  Use  of  Saviyig  Knowledge. 

on  the  cross ;  and  partly,  by  dealing  still  with  the  people, 
from  the  beginning  to  this  day,  to  draw  in,  and  to  hold  in 
the  redeemed  in  this  covenant. 

Thirdly,  God  hath  made  a  gift  of  Christ,  as  a  leader  to 
the  people,  to  bring  us  through  all  difficulties,  all  afflictions 
and  temptations,  unto  life,  by  this  covenant :  and  he  it  is, 
and  no  other,  who  doth  indeed  lead  his  own  unto  the  cove- 
nant ;  and,  in  the  covenant,  all  the  way  unto  salvation : 
1.  By  the  direction  of  his  word  and  Spirit.  2.  By  the  ex- 
ample of  his  own  life,  in  faith  and  obedience,  even  to  the 
death  of  the  cross.  3.  By  his  powerful'  working,  bearing 
his  redeemed  ones  in  his  arms,  and  causing  them  to  lean  on 
him,  while  they  go  up  through  the  wilderness. 

Fourthly,  God  hath  made  a  gift  of  Christ  unto  his  people, 
as  a  commander :  which  office  he  faithfully  exerciseth,  by 
giving  to  his  kirk  and  people  laws  and  ordinances,  pastors 
and  governors,  and  all  necessary  officers ;  by  keeping  courts 
and  assemblies  among  them,  to  see  that  his  laws  be  obeyed; 
subduing,  by  his  word,  Spirit,  and  discipline,  his  people's 
corruptions;  and,  by  his  wisdom  and  power,  guarding 
them  against  all  their  enemies  whatsoever. 

Hence  he  who  hath  closed  bargain  with  God  may 
strengthen  his  faith,  by  reasoning  after  this  manner: 

"  Whosoever  doth  heartily  receive  the  offer  of  free  grace, 
•■  made  here  to  sinners,  thirsting  for  righteousness  and  sal- 
"vation;  unto  him,  by  an  everlasting  covenant,  belongeth 
ki  Christ,  the  true  David,  with  all  his  sure  and  saving  mercies: 

"  But  I  (may  the  weak  believer  say)  do  heartily  receive 
"  the  offer  of  free  grace  made  here  to  sinners,  thirsting  for 
"  righteousness  and  salvation: 

•k  Therefore  unto  me,  by  an  everlasting  covenant,  belong- 
"  eth  Christ  Jesus,  with  all  his  sure  and  saving  mercies." 

The  second  Warrant  and  special  Motive  to  embrace  Christ, 
and  believe  in  him,  is  the  earnest  request  that  God  maketh 
To  us  to  be  reconciled  to  him  in  Christ ;  holden  forth,  2 
Cur.  v.  19,20,21. 

God  was  in  Christ,  reconciling  the  world  unto  himself,  not 
imputing  their  trespasses  unto  them;  and  hath  committed  unto 
us  fhc  word  of  reconciliation.    Vet*.  20.  Now  then  we  arc  am- 


The  Practical  Use  of  Saving  Knowledge.  463 

bassadors  fo r  Christ,  as  though  God  did  beseech  you  by  us  :  we 
pray  you  in  Christ's  stead,  be  ye  reconciled  to  God.  Ver.  21. 
For  he  hath  made  him  to  be  sin,  for  us,  who  knew  no  sin  -,  that 
ice  might  be  made  the  righteousness  of  God  in  him. 

'Wherein  the  apostle  teacheth  us  these  nine  doctrines : 

1.  That  the  elect  world,  or  world  of  redeemed  souls,  are 
by  nature  in  the  estate  of  enmity  against  God :  this  is  pre- 
supposed in  the  word  reconciliation  :  for  reconciliation,  or 
renewing  of  friendship,  cannot  be,  except  betwixt  those  that 
have  been  at  enmity. 

2.  That  in  all  the  time  bypast,  since  the  fall  of  Adam, 
Christ  Jesus,  the  eternal  Son  of  God,  as  Mediator,  and  the 
Father  in  him,  hath  been  about  the  making  friendship  (by 
his  word  and  Spirit)  betwixt  himself  and  the  elect  world  : 
'<  God  (saith  he)  was  in  Christ  reconciling  the  world  to 
"  himself.*' 

3.  That  the  way  of  reconciliation  was  in  all  ages  one 
and  the  same  in  substance,  viz.  by  forgiving  the  sins  of 
them  who  do  acknowledge  their  sins  and  their  enmity 
against  God,  and  do  seek  reconciliation  and  remission  of 
sins  in  Christ :  "  For  God  (saith  he)  was  in  Christ  recon- 
"  ciling  the  world  unto  himself,"  by  way  of  u  not  imputing 
"  their  trespasses  unto  them." 

4.  That  the  end  and  scope  of  the  gospel,  and  whole  word 
of  God,  is  threefold :  (1.)  It  serveth  to  make  people  sensible 
of  their  sins,  and  of  their  enmity  against  God,  and  of  their 
danger,  if  they  should  stand  out,  and  not  fear  God's  displea- 
sure. (2.)  The  word  of  God  serveth  to  make  men  acquaint- 
ed with  the  course  which  God  hath  prepared  for  making 
friendship  with  them  through  Christ,  viz.  That  if  men  shall 
acknowledge  the  enmity,  and  shall  be  content  to  enter  into 
a  covenant  of  friendshi'p  with  God  through  Christ,  then  God 
will  be  content  to  be  reconciled  with  them  freely.  (3.)  The 
word  of  God  serveth  to  teach  men  how  to  carry  themselves 
towards  God,  as  friends,  after  they  are  reconciled  to  him, 
viz.  to  be  loath  to  sin  against  him,"  and  to  strive  heartily  to 
obey  his  commandments :  and  therefore  the  word  of  God 
here  is  called  the  word  of  reconciliation,  because  it  teacheth 
u?  what  need  we  have  of  reconciliation,  and  how  to  make 


464  The  Practical  Use  of  Saving  Knowledge. 

it,  and  how  to  keep  the  reconciliation  of  friendship,  being 
made  with  God  through  Christ. 

5.  That  albeit  the  hearing,  believing,  and  obeying  of  this 
word,  doth  belong  to  all  those  to  whom  this  gospel  doth 
come;  yet  the  office  of  preaching  of  it  with  authority  be- 
longeth  to  none,  but  to  such  only  as  God  doth  call  to  his 
ministry,  and  sendeth  out  with  commission  for  this  work. 
This  the  apostle  holdeth  forth,  Ver.  19,  in  these  words. 
"  He  hath  committed  to  us  the  word  of  reconciliation. " 

6..  That  the  ministers  of  the  gospel  should  behave  them- 
selves as  Christ's  messengers,  and  should  -closely  follow  their 
commission  set  down  in  the  word,  Mat.  xxviii.  19,  20;  and 
when  they  do  so,  they  should  be  received  by  the  people  as 
ambassadors  from  God;  for  here  the  apostle,  in  all  their 
names,  saith,  "  We  are  ambassadors  for  Christ,, as  though 
>'  God  did  beseech  you  by  us." 

7.  That  ministers,, in- all  earnestness  of  affections,  should 
deal  with  people  to  acknowledge  their  sins,  and  their  na- 
tural enmity  against  God,  more  and  more  seriously;  and  to 
consent  to  the  covenant  of  grace  and  embassage  of  Christ 
more  and  more  heartily ;  and  to  evidence  more  and  more 
clearly  their  reconciliation,  by  a  holy  carriage  before  God. 
This  he  holdeth  forth,  when  he  sayeth,  "  We  pray  you,  be 
M  ye  reconciled  to  God." 

8.  That  in  the  ministers7  affectionate  dealing  with  the 
people,  the  people  should  consider  that  they  have  to  do  with 
God  and  Christ,  requesting  them,  by  the  ministers,  to  be 
reconciled.  Now,  there  cannot  be  a  greater  inducement  to 
break  a  sinner's  hard  heart,  than  God's  making  a  request  to 
him  for  friendship ;  for  when  it  became  us,  who  have  done 
so  many  wrongs  to  God,  to  seek  friendship  of  God,  he  pre- 
vented us :  and  (O  wonder  of  wonders  !)  he  rcquesteth  us 
to  be  content  to  be  reconciled  to  him ;  and  therefore  most 
fearful  wrath  must  abide  them  who  do  set  light  by  this 
request,  and  do  not  yield  when  they  hear  ministers  with 
commission,  saying,  "  We  are  ambassadors  for  Christ,  as 
11  though  God  did  beseech  you  by  us :  we  pray  you,  in 
"  Christ's  stead,  be  ye  reconciled  to  God." 

9.  To  make  it  appear  how  it  cometh  to  pass  that  the 
covenant  of  reconciliation  should  be  so  easily  made  up  be- 


The  Practical  Use  of  Saving  Knowledge.  465 

twixt  God  and  an  humble  sinner  fleeing  to  Christ,  the  apos- 
tle leads  us  unto  the  cause  of  it,  holden  forth  in  the  cove- 
nant of  redemption,  the  sum  whereof  is  this :  "  It  is  agreed 
"  betwixt  God  and  the  Mediator  Jesus  Christ  the  Son  of  God, 
"  surety  for  the  redeemed,  as  parties  contractors,  that  the 
"  sins  of  the  redeemed  should  be  imputed  to  innocent  Christ, 
"  and  he  both  condemned  and  put  to  death  for  them,  upon 
"  this  very  condition,  that  whosoever  heartily  consents  unto 
"  the  covenant  of  reconciliation  offered  through  Christ, 
"  shall,  by  the  imputation  of  his  obedience  unto  them,  be 
"justified  and  holden  righteous  before  God;  for  God  hath 
"  made  Christ,  icho  knew  no  sin,  to  be  sin  for  us,  saith  the  apos- 
"  tie,  that  we  might  be  made  the  righteousness  of  God  in 
"him:' 

Hence  may  a  weak  believer  strengthen  his  faith,  by  rea- 
soning from  this  ground  after  this  manner : 

"  He  that,  upon  the  loving  request  of  God  and  Christ, 
"  made  to  him  by  the  mouth  of  ministers,  (having  com- 
"  mission  to  that  effect,)  hath  embraced  the  offer  of  per- 
H  petual  reconciliation  through  Christ,  and  doth  purpose, 
"  by  God's  grace,  as  a  reconciled  person,  to  strive  against 
"  sin,  and  to  serve  God  to  his  power  constantly,  may  be  as 
"  sure  to  have  righteousness  and  eternal  life  given  to  him, 
"  for  the  obedience  of  Christ  imputed  to  him,  as  it  is  sure 
"  that  Christ  was  condemned  and  put  to  death  for  the  sins 
"  of  the  redeemed  imputed  to  him. 

"  But  I  (may  the  weak  believer  say)  upon  the  loving  re- 
"  quest  of  God  and  Christ,  made  to  me  by  the  mouth  of  his 
"  ministers,  have  embraced  the  offer  of  perpetual  reconcili- 
"  ation  through  Christ,  and  do  purpose,  by  God's  grace,  as  a 
"  reconciled  person,  to  strive  against  sin,  and  to  serve  God 
"  to  my  power  constantly  : 

"  Therefore  I  may  be'as  sure  to  have  righteousness  and 
"  eternal  life  given  to  me,  for  the  obedience  of  Christ  im- 
"  puted  to  me,  as  it  is  sure  that  Christ  was  condemned  and 
"  put  to  death  for  the  sins  of  the  redeemed  imputed  to  him." 


466  The  Practical  Use  of  Saving  Knowledge. 

The  third  Warrant  and  special  Motive  to  believe  in  Christ, 
is  the  strait  and  avful  command  of  God,  charging  all  the 
hearers  of  the  gospel  to  approach  to  Christ,  in  the  order 
set  down  by  him,  and  to  believe  in  him ;  holden  forth,  1 
John  iii.  23. 

This  is  his  commandment.  That  we  slwuld  believe  on  the  name 
of  his  Son  Jesus  Christ,  and  love  one  another,  as  he  gave  us 
commandment. 

Wherein  the  apostle  giveth  us  to  understand  these  five 
doctrines : 

1 .  That  if  any  man  shall  not  be  taken  with  the  sweet  in- 
vitation of  God,  nor  wkh  the  humble  and  loving  request  of 
God,  made  to  him  to  be  reconciled,  he  shall  find  he  hath  to 
do  with  the  sovereign  authority  of  the  highest  Majesty ;  for 
"  this  is  his  commandment,  that  we  believe  in  him/'  saith  he. 

2.  That  if  any  man  look  upon  this  commandment  as  he 
hath  looked  heretofore  upon  the  neglected  commandments 
of  the  law,,  he  must  consider  that  this  is  a  command  of  the- 
gospel,  posterior  to  the  law,  given  for  making  use  of  the 
remedy  of  all  sins  ;  which,  if  it  be  disobeyed,  there  is  no 
other  command  to  follow  but  this,  "  Go,  ye  cursed,  into 
"  the  everlasting  fire  of  hell;"  for  "  this  [that  is,  to  believe,] 
"is  his  commandment ;"  the  obedience  of  which  is  most 
pleasant  in  his  sight,  Ver.  22 ;  and  without  which  it  is  im- 
possible to  please  him,  Heb^  xi.  6. 

3.  That  every  one  who  heareth  the  gospel,  must  make 
conscience  of  the  duty  of  lively  faith  in  Christ ;  the  weak 
believer  must  not  think  it  presumption  to  do  what  is  com- 
manded ;  the  person  inclined  to  desperation  must  take  up 
himself,  and  think  upon  obedience  unto  this  sweet  and 
saving  command ;  the  strong  believer  must  dip  yet  more  in 
the  sense  of  his  need  he  hath  of  Jesus  Christ,,  and  more  and 
more  grow  in  the  obedience  of  this  command;  yea,  the 
most  impenitent,  profane,  and  wicked  person  must  not 
thrust  out  himself,  or  be  thrust  out  by  others,  from  orderly 
aiming  at  this  duty,  how  desperate  soever  his  condition  seem 
to  be;  for  he  that  commands  all  men  to  believe  in  Christ, 
doth  thereby  command  all  men   to  believe  that  they  are 


The  Practical  Use  of  Saving  Knowledge.  467 

damned  and  lost  without  Christ :  he  thereby  commands  all 
men  to  acknowledge  their  sins,  and  their  need  of  Christ, 
and  in  effect  commands  all  men  to  repent,  that  they  may 
believe  in  him.  And  whosoever  do  refuse  to  repent  of 
their  bygone  sins,  are  guilty  of  disobedience  to  this  com- 
mand given  to  all  hearers,  but  especially  to  those  that  are 
within  the  visible  church:  for  "  this  is  his  commandment, 
"  that  we  should  believe  on  the  name  of  his  Son  Jesus 
"  Christ,"  saith  he. 

4.  That  he  who  obeyeth  this  commandment  hath  built 
his  salvation  on  a  solid  ground :  for  1st,  He  hath  found  the 
promised  Messiah,  completely  furnished  with  all  perfections 
unto  the  perfect  execution  of  the  offices  of  Prophet,  Priest, 
and  King ;  for  he  is  that  Christ  in  whom  the  man  doth  be- 
lieve. 2d,  He  hath  embraced  a  Saviour,  who  is  able  to  save 
to  the  uttermost,  yea,  and  who  doth  effectually  save  every 
one  that  cometh  to  God  through  him ;  for  he  is  Jesus,  the 
true  Saviour  of  his  people  from  their  sins.  3d,  He  that 
obeyeth  this  command  hath  built  his  salvation  on  the  Rock, 
that  is,  on  the  Son  of  God,  to  whom  it  is  no  robbery  to  be 
called  equal  to  the  Father,  and  who  is  worthy  to  be  the 
object  of  saving  faith,  and  of  spiritual  worship  :  for  "  this 
"  is  his  command,  (saith  he,)  that  we  believe  in  the  name 
"  of  his  Son  Jesus  Christ." 

5.  That  he  who  hath  believed  on  Jesus  Christ,  though  he 
be  freed  from  the  curse  of  the  law,  is  not  freed  from  the 
command  and  obedience  of  the  law,  but  tied  thereunto  by 
a  new  obligation,  and  a  new  command  from  Christ ;  which 
new  command  from  Christ  importeth  help  to  obey  the  com- 
mand: unto  which  command  from  Christ,  the  Father  addeth 
his  authority  and  command  also ;  for  "  this  is  his  command- 
"  ment,  (saith  John,)  that  we  believe  on  the  name  of  his 
"  Son  Jesus  Christ,  and  love  one  another,  as  he  hath  com- 
"  manded  us."  The  first  part  of  which  command,  enjoin- 
ing belief  in  him,  necessarily  implieth  love  to  God,  and 
so  obedience  to  the  first  table;  for  believing  in  God,  and 
loving  God,  are  inseparable;  and  the  second  part  of  the 
command  enjoineth  love  to  our  neighbour,  (especially  to 
the  household  of  faith,)  and  so  obedience  to  the  second 
table  of  the  law. 


468  The  Practical  Use  of  Saving  Knowledge. 

Hence  may  a  weak  believer  strengthen  himself,  by  rea- 
soning from  this  ground  after  this  manner : 

"Whosoever,  in  the  sense  of  his  own  sinfulness,  and 
"  fear  of  God's  wrath,  at  the  command  of  God,  is  fled  to 
"Jesus  Christ,  the  only  remedy  of  sin  and  misery,  and 
"  hath  engaged  his  heart  to  the  obedience  of  the  law  of 
"  love,  his  faith  is  not  presumptuous  or  dead,  but  true  and 
"  saving  faith : 

"  But  I,  (may  the  weak  believer  say,)  in  the  sense  of  my 
"  own  sinfulness,  and  fear  of  God's  wrath,  am  fled  to  Jesus 
"  Christ,  the  only  remedy  of  sin  and  misery,  and  have  en- 
"  gaged  my  heart  to  the  obedience  of  the  law  of  love : 

"  Therefore  my  faith  is  not  a  presumptuous  and  dead 
"  faith,  but  true  and  saving  faith." 

The  fourth  Warrant  and  special  Motive  to  believe  in 
Christ,  is  much  assurance  of  life,  given,  in  case  men  shall 
obey  the  command  of  believing;  and  a  fearful  certifica- 
tion of  destruction,  in  case  they  obey  not ;  holding  forth, 
John  hi.  35. 

The  Father  lovelh  the  Son,  and  hath  given  all  things 
into  his  hand.  Ver.  36.  He  that  believeth  on  the  Son  hath 
everlasting  life:  and  he  that  believeth  not  the  Son  shall 
not  see  life;  but  the  wrath  of  God  abideth  on  him. 

Wherein  are  holden  forth  to  us  these  five  following 
doctrines : 

1 .  That  the  Father  is  well  satisfied  with  the  undertakings 
of  the  Son,  entered  Redeemer  and  Surety,  to  pay  the  ran- 
som of  believers,  and  to  perfect  them  in  holiness  and  salva- 
tion :  "  The  Father  loveth  the  Son,"  saith  he ;  viz.  as  he 
standeth  Mediator  in  our  name,  undertaking  to  perfect  our 
redemption  in  all  points :  The  Father  loveth  him,  that  is, 
doth  heartily  accept  his  offer  to  do  the  work,  and  is  well 
pleased  with  him :  his  soul  delighteth  in  him,  and  resteth 
upon  him,  and  maketh  him,  in  this  his  office,  the  "  recep- 
tacle of  love,  and  grace,  and  good  will,"  to  be  conveyed 
by  him  to  believers  in  him. 

2.  That,  for  fulfilling  of  the  covenant  of  redemption,  the 
Father  hath  given  to  the  Son  (as  he  standeth  in  the  capacity 


The  Practical  Use  of  Saving  Knowledge.  469 

of  the  Mediator,  or  as  he  is  God  incarnate,  the  Word  made 
flesh)  all  authority  in  heaven  and  earth,  all  furniture  of  the 
riches  of  grace,  and  of  spirit  and  life,  with  all  power  and 
ability,  which  the  union  of  the  divine  nature  with  the  hu- 
man, or  which  the  fulness  of  the  Godhead  dwelling  sub- 
stantially in  his  human  nature,  or  which  the  indivisible  all- 
sufficiency  and  omnipotency  of  the  inseparable,  every  where 
present  Trinity  doth  import,  or  the  work  of  redemption  can 
require :  "  The  Father  (saith  he)  hath  given  all  things  into 
u  the  Son's  hand/'  to  wit,  for  accomplishing  his  work. 

3.  Great  assurance  of  life  is  holden  forth  to  all  who  shall 
heartily  receive  Christ,  and  the  offer  of  the  covenant  of 
grace  and  reconciliation  through  him:  ••'He  that  believeth 
"  on  the  Son  (saith  he)  hath  everlasting  life  ;"  for  it  is  made 
fast  unto  him,  1st,  In  God's  purpose  and  irrevocable  decree, 
as  the  believer  is  a  man  elected  to  life.  2d,  By  effec- 
tual calling  of  him  unto  life  by  God,  who,  as  he  is  faith- 
ful, so  will  he  do  it.  3d,  By  promise  and  everlasting  co- 
venant, sworn  by  God,  to  give  the  believer  strong  conso- 
lation in  life  and  death,  upon  immutable  grounds.  4th,  By 
a  pawn  and  infeftment  under  the  great  seal  of  the  sacrament 
of  the  Lord's  supper,  so  oft  as  the  believer  shall  come  to 
receive  the  symbols  and  pledges  of  life.  5th,  In  Christ  the 
fountain  and  head  of  life,  who  is  entered  into  possession,  as 
attorney  for  believers;  in  whom  our  life  is  so  laid  up,  that 
it  cannot  be  taken  away.  (Mh,  By  begun  possession  of  spi- 
ritual life  and  regeneration,  and  a  kingdom  consisting  in 
righteousness,  peace,  and  joy  in  the  Holy  Ghost,  erected 
within  the  believer,  as  earnest  of  the  full  possession  of  ever- 
lasting life. 

4.  A  fearful  certification  is  given,  if  a  man  receive  not 
the  doctrine  concerning  righteousness  and  eternal  life  to 
be  had  by  Jesus  Christ :  "  He  that  believeth  not  the  Son, 
?  shall  not  see  life,"  that  is,  not  so  much  as  understand 
what  it  meaneth. 

5.  He  farther  certifietb,  that  if  a  man  receive  not  the 
doctrine  of  the  Son  of  God,  he  shall  be  burdened  twice 
with  the  wrath  of  God ;  once  as  a  born  rebel  by  nature,  he 
shall  bear  the  curse  of  the  law,  or  the  covenant  of  works ; 
and   next,  he    shall    endure   a   greater   condemnation 

40 


470  The  Practical  Use  of  Saving  Knowledge. 

respect  that  light  being  come  into  the  world,  and  of- 
fered to  him,  he  hath  rejected  it,  and  loveth  darkness  ra- 
ther than  light:  and  this  double  wrath  shall  be  fastened 
and  fixed  immoveably  upon  him,  so  long  as  he  remaineth 
in  the  condition  of  misbelief:  "  The  wrath  of  God  abideth 
"  on  him,"  saith  he. 

Hence  may  the  weak  believer  strengthen  his  faith,  by 
reasoning  from  this  ground  after  this  manner : 

"  Whosoever  believeth  the  doctrine  delivered  by  the 
"Son  of  God,  and  findeth  himself  partly  drawn  power- 
"  fully  to  believe  in  him,  by  the  sight  of  life  in  him, 
"  and  partly  driven,  by  the  fear  of  God's  wrath,  to  adhere 
"  unto  him,  may  be  sure  of  right  and  interest  to  life  eternal 
"  through  him : 

"  But  sinful  and  unworthy  I  (may  the  weak  believer  say) 
"  do  believe  the  doctrine  delivered  by  the  Son  of  God,  and 
"  do  feel  myself  partly  drawn  powerfully  to  believe  in  him, 
"  by  the  sight  of  life  in  him,  and  partly  driven,  by  the  fear 
"  of  God's  wrath,  to  adhere  unto  him  : 

"  Therefore  I  may  be  sure  of  my  right  and  interest  unto 
"  eternal  life  through  him," 

THE  EVIDENCES  OF  TRUE  FAITH. 

So  much  for  the  laying  the  grounds  of  faith,  and  war- 
rants to  believe.  Now,  for  evidencing  of  true  faith  by 
fruits,  these  four  things  are  requisite :  1.  That  the  believer 
be  soundly  convinced,  in  his  judgment,  of  his  obligation  to 
keep  the  whole  moral  law,  all  the  days  of  his  life;  and  that 
not  the  less,  but  so  much  the  more,  as  he  is  delivered  by 
Christ  from  the  covenant  of  works,  and  curse  of  the  law. 
2.  That  he  endeavour  to  grow  in  the  exercise  and  daily 
practice  of  godliness  and  righteousness.  3.  That  the  course 
of  his  new  obedience  run  in  the  right  channel,  that  is, 
through  faith  in  Christ,  and  through  a  good  conscience, 
to  all  the  duties  of  love  towards  God  and  man.  4.  That 
he  keep  strait  communion  with  the  fountain  Christ  Jesus, 
from  whom  grace  must  run  along,  for  furnishing  of  good 
fruits. 


The  Practical  Use  of  Saving  Knowledge.  471 


For  the  first,  viz.  To  convince  the  believer,  in  his  judg- 
ment, of  his  obligation  to  keep  the  moral  law,  among 
many  passages,  take  Mat.  v.  16. 

Let  your  light  so  shine  before  men,  that  they  may  see  your 
good  works,  and  glorify  your  Father  which  is  in  heaven.  Ver. 
17.  Think  not  that  I  am  come  to  destroy  the  law  or  the  pro- 
phets: I  am  not  come  to  destroy,  but  to  fulfil.  Ver.  18.  For 
verily  I  say  unto  you,  Till  heaven  and  earth  pass,  one  jot  or 
one  tittle  shall  in  no  wise  pass  from  the  law,  till  all  be  fulfilled. 
Ver.  19.  Whosoever,  therefore,  shall  break  one  of  these  least 
commandments,  and  shall  teach  men  so,  he  shall  be  called  the 
least  in  the  kingdom  of  heaven:  but  ichosoever  shall  do  and 
leach  them,  the  tame  shall  be  called  great  in  the  kingdom  of 
heaven.  Ver.  20.  For  I  say  unto  you,  That  except  your  righ- 
teousness shall  exceed  the  righteousness  of  the  Scribes  and  Pha- 
risees, ye  shall  in  no  case  enter  into  the  kingdom  of  heaven. 

Wherein  our  Lord, 

1.  Giveth  commandment  to  believers,  justified  by  faith, 
to  give  evidence  of  the  grace  of  God  in  them  before  men, 
by  doing  good  works:  "  Let  your  light  so  shine  before  men, 
"  (saith  he,)  that  they  may  see  your  good  works." 

2.  He  induceth  them  so  to  do,  by  showing,  that  albeit 
they  be  not  justified  by  works,  yet  spectators  of  their  good 
works  may  be  converted  or  edified;  and  so  glory  may  re- 
dound to  God  by  their  good  works,  when  the  witnesses 
thereof  "  shall  glorify  your  Father  which  is  in  heaven." 

3.  He  gives  them  no  other  rule  for  their  new  obedience 
than  the  moral  law,  set  down  and  explicated  by  Moses  and 
the  prophets :  "  Think  not  (saith  he)  that  I  am  come  to 
"  destroy  the  law  or  the  prophets." 

4.  He  gives  them  to  understand,  that  the  doctrine  of 
grace,  and  freedom  from  the  curse  of  the  law  by  faith  in 
him,  is  readily  mistaken  by  men's  corrupt  judgments,  as  if 
it  did  loose  or  slacken  the  obligation  of  believers  to  obey  the 
commands,  and  to  be  subject  to  the  authority  of  the  law: 
and  that  this  error  is  indeed  a  destroying  of  the  law  and 
of  the  prophets,  which  he  will  in  no  case  ever  endure  in 
any  of  his  disciples,  it  is  so  contrary  to  the  end  of  his 


472  The  Practical  Use  of  Saving  Knowledge. 

coming,  which  is  first  to  sanctify,  and  then  to  save  believers ; 
"  Think  not  (saith  he)  that  I  am  come  to  destroy  the  law 
"  or  the  prophets." 

5.  He  teacheth,  that  the  end  of  the  gospel  and  cove- 
nant of  grace  is  to  procure  men's  obedience  unto  the  moral 
law :  "  I  am  come  (saith  he)  to  fulfil  the  law  and  the  pro- 
"phets." 

6.  That  the  obligation  of  the  moral  law,  in  all  points 
unto  all  holy  duties,  is  perpetual,  and  shall  stand  to  the 
world's  end,  that  is,  "  till  heaven  and  earth  pass  away." 

7.  That  as  God  hath  had  a  care  of  the  scriptures  from 
the  beginning,  so  shall  he  have  a  care  of  them  still  to  the 
world's  end,  that  there  shall  not  one  jot  or  one  tittle  of 
the  substance  thereof  be  taken  awav ;  so  saith  the  text, 
Ver.  18. 

8.  That  as  the  breaking  of  the  moral  law,  and  defend- 
ing the  transgressions  thereof  to  be  no  sin,  doth  exclude 
men  both  from  heaven,  and  justly  also  from  the  fellow- 
ship of  the  true  kirk  ;  so  the  obedience  of  the  law,  and 
teaching  others  to  do  the  same,  by  example,  counsel, 
and  doctrine,  according  to  every  man's  calling,  proveth 
a  man  to  be  a  true  believer,  and  in  great  estimation  with 
God,  and  worthy  to  be  much  esteemed  of  by  the  true 
church,  Ver.  19. 

9.  That  the  righteousness  of  every  true  Christian  must 
be  more  than  the  righteousness  of  the  scribes  and  Phari- 
sees ;  for  the  scribes  and  Pharisees,  albeit  they  took  great 
pains  to  discharge  sundry  duties  of  the  law,  yet  they  cut 
short  the  exposition  thereof,  that  it  might  the  less  con- 
demn their  practice;  they  studied  the  outward  part  of 
the  duty,  but  neglected  the  inward  and  spiritual  part; 
they  discharged  some  meaner  duties  carefully,  but  neglect- 
ed judgment,  mercy,  and  the  love  of  God  ;  in  a  word,  they 
went  about  to  establish  their  own  righteousness,  and  re- 
jected the  righteousness  of  God  by  faith  in  Jesus.  But 
a  true  Christian  must  have  more  than  all  this ;  he  must 
acknowledge  the  Tull  extent  of  the  spiritual  meaning  of 
the  law,  and  have  a  respect  to  all  the  commandments,  and 
labour  to  cleanse  himself  from  all  filthiness  of  flesh  and 
spirit,  and  "  not  lay  weight  upon  what   service  he   hath 


Ttie  Practical  Use  of  Saving  Knowledge.  473 

"  done,  or  shall  do,"  but  clothe  himself  with  the  imputed 
righteousness  of  Christ,  which  only  can  hide  his  nakedness, 
or  else  he  cannot  be  saved;  so  saith  the  text,  "Except 
"  your  righteousness,"  (Sic. 

The  second  thing  requisite  to  evidence  true  faith  is,  that 
the  believer  endeavour  to  put  the  rules  of  godliness  and 
righteousness  in  practice,  and  to  grow  in  the  daily  exer- 
cise thereof;  holden  forth,  2  Pet.  i.  5. 

And  besides  this,  giving  all  diligence,  add  to  your  faith  vir- 
tue; and  to  virtue,  knowledge;  Ver.  6.  And  to  knowledge,  tem- 
perance; and  to  temperance,  patience;  and  to  patience,  godliness; 
Ver.  7 .  And  to  godliness,  brotherly-kindness;  and  to  brotherly- 
kindness,  charity.  Ver.  8.  For  if  these  things  be  in  you,  and 
abound,  they  make  you  that  ye  shall  neither  be  barren  nor  un- 
fruitful in  the  knowledge  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

Wherein,  1.  The  apostle  teacheth  believers  for  evidencing 
of  precious  faith  in  themselves,  to  endeavour  to  add  to  their 
faith  seven  other  sister  graces.  The  first  is  Virtue,  or  the 
active  exercise  and  practice  of  all  moral  duties,  that  so  faith 
may  not  be  idle,  but  put  forth  itself  in  work.  The  second  is 
Knowledge,  which  serves  to  furnish  faith  with  information 
of  the  truth  to  be  believed,  and  to  furnish  virtue  with  direc- 
tion what  duties  are  to  be  done,  and  how  to  go  about  them, 
prudently.  The  third  is  Temperance,  which  serveth  to 
moderate  the  use  of  all  pleasant  things,  that  a  man  be  not 
clogged  therewith,  nor  made  unfit  for  any  duty  whereto  he 
is  called.  The  fourth  is  Patience,  which  serveth  to  mode- 
rate a  man's  affections,  when  lie  meeteth  with  any  difficulty 
or  unpleasant  thing;  that  he  neither  weary  for  pains  re- 
quired in  well-doing,  nor  faint  when  the  Lord  chastiseth 
him,  nor  murmur  when  he  crosseth  him.  The  fifth  is 
Godliness,  which  may  keep  him  up  in  all  the  exercises  of 
religion  inward  and  outward  ;  whereby  he  may  be  furnished 
from  God  for  all  other  duties  which  "he  hath  to  do.  The 
sixth  is  Brotherly-kindness,  which  keepeth  estimation  of, 
and  affection  to,  all  the  household  of  faith,  and  to  the 
image  of  God  in  every  one  wheresoever  it  is  seen.  The 
seventh  is  Love,  which  keepeth  the  heart  in  readiness  to  do, 
40* 


4r4  The  Practical  Use  of  Saving  Knowledge. 

good  to  all    men,  whatsoever  they  be,  upon  all  occasions 
which  God  shall  offer. 

2.  Albeit  it  be  true,  that  there  is  much  corruption  and  in- 
firmity in  the  godly;  yet  the  apostle  will  have  men  uprightly 
endeavouring,  and  doing  their  best,  as  they  are  able,  to  join 
all  these  graces  one  to  another,  and  to  grow  in  the  measure 
of  exercising  them:  "Giving  all  diligence,  (saith  he)  add  to 
"your  faith,"  &c. 

3.  He  assuret h  all  professed  believers,  that  as  they  shall 
profit  in  the  obedience  of  this  direction,  so  they  shall  pro- 
fitably prove  the  soundness  of  their  own  faith  ;  and,  if  they 
want  these  grnces,  that  they  shall  be  found  blind  deceivers 
of  themselves,  Ver.  9. 

The  third  thing  requisite  to  evidence  true  faith  is,  that 
obedience  to  the  law.  run  in  the  right  channel,  that  is, 
through  faith  in  Christ,  &c.  holden  forth,  1  Tim.  i.  5. 

JVbw  the  end  of  the  commandment  is  love,  out  of  a  pure  heart, 
and  of  a  good  conscience,  and  of  faith  m  feigned. 

Wherein  the  apostle  teacheth  these  seven  doctrines : 

1.  That  the  obedience  of  the  law  must  flow  from  love,  and 
love  from  a  pure  heart,  and  a  pure  heart  from  a  good  con- 
science, and  a  good  conscience  from  faith  unfeigned:  this  he 
makes  the  only  right  channel  of  good  works:  "The  end  of 
"  the  law  is  love,"  &c. 

2.  That  the  end  of  the  law  is  not,  that  men  may  be  jus- 
tified by  their  obedience  of  it,  as  the  Jewish  doctors  did 
falsely  teach  ;  for  it  is  impossible  that  sinners  can  be  justi- 
fied by  the  law,  who,  for  every  transgression,  are  con- 
demned by  the  law :  "  P'or  the  end  of  the  law  is  (not  such 
"as  the  Jewish  doctors  taught,  but)  love,  out  of  a  pure 
"  heart,"  &c. 

3.  That  the  true  end  of  the  law,  preached  unto  the  people, 
is,  that  they,  by  the  law,  being  made  to  see  their  deserved 
condemnation,  should  flee  to  Christ  unfeignedly,  to  be  justi- 
fied by  faith  in  him  ;  so  saith  the  text,  while  it  maketh  love 
to  flow  through  faith  in  Christ. 

4.  That  no  man  can  set  himself  in  love  to  obey  the  law 
excepting  as  far  as  his  conscience  is  quieted  by  faith,  or  is 


The  Practical  Use  of  Saving  Knowledge.  475. 

seeking  to  be  quieted  in  Christ ;  for  "  the  end  of  the  law  is 
"love,  out  of  a  good  conscience,  and  faith  unfeigned. 

5.  That  feigned  faith  goeth  to  Christ  without  reckoning 
with  the  law,  and  so  wants  an  errand;  but  unfeigned  faith 
reckoneth  with  the  law,  and  is  forced  to  flee  for  refuge  unto 
Christ,  as  the  end  of  the  law  for  righteousness,  so  often  as 
it  finds  itself  guilty  for  breaking  of  the  law:  "For  the  end 
"of  the  law  is  faith  unfeigned. " 

6.  That  the  fruits  of  love  may  come  forth  in  act  par- 
ticularly, it  is  necessary  that  the  heart  be  brought  to  the 
hatred  of  all  sin  and  uncleanness,  and  to  a  steadfast  purpose 
to  follow  all  holiness  universally :  "  For  the  end  of  the  law 
"  is  love,  out  of  a  pure  heart." 

7.  That  unfeigned  faith  is  able  to  make  the  conscience 
good  and  the  heart  pure,  and  the  man  lovingly  obedient 
to  the  law ;  for  when  Christ's  blood  is  seen  by  faith  to 
quiet  justice,  then  the  conscience  becometh  quiet  also,  and 
will  not  suffer  the  heart  to  entertain  the  love  of  sin,  but  sets 
the  man  on  work  to  fear  God  for  his  mercy,  and  to  obey 
all  his  commandments,  out  of  love  to  God,  for  his  free  gift 
of  justification,  by  grace  bestowed  on  him:  "For  this  is 
"  the  end  of  the  law  indeed,"  whereby  it  obtaineth  of  a 
man  more  obedience  than  any  other  way. 

The  fourth  thing  requisite  to  evidence  true  faith  is,  the 
keeping  strait  communion  with  Christ,  the  fountain  of  all 
graces,  and  of  all  good  works;  holden  forth,  John  xv.  5. 

I  am  the  vine,  ye  are  the  branches:  lie  that  abidcfh  in  me,  and 
I  in  him,  the  same  bringeth  forth  much  fruit:  for  without  me  ye 
can  do  nothing. 

Wherein  Christ,  in  a  similitude  from  a  vine-tree, 
teacheth  us, 

1.  That  by  nature  we  are  wild  barren  briers,  till  wre  be 
changed  by  coming  unto  Christ;  and  that  Christ  is  that 
noble  vine-tree,  having  all  life  and  sap  of  grace  in  himself, 
and  able  to  change  the  nature  of  every  one  that  cometh  to 
him,  and  to  communicate  spirit  and  life  to  as  many  as  shall 
believe  in  him :  "lam  the  vine,  (saith  he,)  and  ye  are  the 
"  branches." 


476  The  Practical  Use  of  Saving  Knowledge. 

2.  That  Christ  loveth  to  have  believers  so  united  unto  him, 
as  that  they  be  not  separated  at  any  time  by  unbelief:  and 
that  there  may  be  a  mutual  inhabitation  of  them  in  him,  by 
faith  and  love ;  and  of  him  in  them,  by  his  word  and  Spirit; 
for  he  joineth  these  together,  "  If  ye  abide  in  me,  and  I  in 
"  you,"  as  things  inseparable. 

3.  That  except  a  man  be  ingrafted  into  Christ,  and. 
united  to  him  by  faith,  he  cannot  do  any  the  least  good 
works  of  his  own  strength ;  yea,  except  in  as  far  as  a  man 
doth  draw  spirit  and  life  from  Christ  by  faith,  the  work 
which  he  doth  is  naughty  and  null  in  point  of  goodness  in 
God's  estimation :  "  For  without  me  (saith  he)  ye  can  do- 
"  nothing." 

4.  That  this  mutual  inhabitation  is  the  fountain  and  in- 
fallible cause  of  constant  continuing  and  abounding  in  well- 
doing :  For  "  he  that  abideth  in  me,  and  I  in  him,  (saith 
"  he,)  the  same  beareth  much  fruit."  Now,  as  our  abiding 
in  Christ  presupposeth  three  things;  1st,  That  we  have 
heard  the  joyful  sound  of  the  gospel,  making  offer  of  Christ 
to  us,  who  are  lost  sinners  by  the  law;  2d,  That  we  have 
heartily  embraced  the  gracious  offer  of  Christ ;  3d,  That  by 
receiving  of  him  we  are  become  the  sons  of  God,  John  i.  12, 
and  are  incorporated  into  his  mystical  body,  that  he  may 
dwell  in  us,  as  his  temple,  and  we  dwell  in  him,  as  in  the 
residence  of  righteousness  and  life ;  so  our  abiding  in  Christ 
importeth  other  three  things,  (1.)  An  employing  of  Christ 
in  all  our  addresses. to.  God,  and  in  all  our  undertakings  of 
whatsoever  piece  of  service  to  him.  (2.)  A  contentedness 
with  his  sufficiency,  without  going  out  from  him  to  seek 
righteousness,  or  life,  or  furniture  in  any  case,  in  our  own 
or  any  of  the  creature's  worthiness.  (3.)  A  fixedness  in  our 
believing  in  him,  a  fixedness  in  our  employing  and  making 
use  of  him,  and  a  fixedness  in  our  contentment  in  him,  and 
adhering  to  him,  so  that  no  allurement,  no  temptation  of 
Satan  or  the  world,  no  terror  nor  trouble,  may  be  able  to 
drive  our  spirits  from  firm  adherence  to  him,  or  from  the 
constant  avowing  of  his  truth,  and  obeying  his  commands, 
who  hath  loved  us,  and  given  himself  for  us ;  and  in  whom 
not  only  our  life  is  laid  up,  but  also  the  fulness  of  the 
Godhead   dwelleth   bodily,  by  reason   of  the   substantial 


The  Practical  Use  of  Saving  Knoivlcdge.  477 

and  personal  union  of  the  divine  and  human  nature  in 
him. 

Hence  let  every  watchful  believer,  for  strengthening  him- 
self in  faith  and  obedience,  reason  after  this  manner: 

"  Whosoever  doth  daily  employ  Christ  Jesus  for  cleansing 
"  his  conscience  and  affections  from  the  guiltiness  and  filthi- 
"  ness  of  sins  against  the  law,  and  for  enabling  him  to  give 
"  obedience  to  the  law  in  love,  he  hath  the  evidence  of  true 
"faith  in  himself: 

"  But  I  (may  every  watchful  believer  say)  do  daily  em- 
"  ploy  Jesus  Christ  for  cleansing  my  conscience  and  affec- 
"  tions  from  the  guiltiness  and  fllthiness  of  sins  against  the 
"  law,  and  for  enabling  of  me  to  give  obedience  to  the  law 
"  in  love : 

"  Therefore  I  have  the  evidence  of  true  faith  in  myself." 

And  hence  also  let  the  sleepy  and  sluggish  believer  reason, 
for  his  own  upstirring,  thus : 

"  Whatsoever  is  necessary  for  giving  evidence  of  true 
"  faith,  I  study  to  do  it,  except  I  would  deceive  myself 
"  and  perish : 

"  But  to  employ  Christ  Jesus  daily  for  cleansing  of  my 
"  conscience  and  affections  from  the  guiltiness  and  filthi- 
"  ness  of  sins  against  the  law,  and  for  enabling  me  to  give 
°  obedience  to  the  law  in  love,  is  necessary  for  evidencing 
"  of  true  faith  in  me: 

"  Therefore  this  I  must  study  to  do,  except  I  would  de- 
"  ceive  myself  and  perish. 

And,  lastly,  Seeing  Christ  himself  hath  pointed  this  forth, 
as  an  undoubted  evidence  of  a  man  elected  of  God  unto 
life,  and  given  to  Jesus  Christ  to  be  redeemed,  "  if  he  come 
"  unto  him,"  that  is,  close  covenant,  and  keep  communion 
with  him,  as  he  teacheth  us,  John  vi.  37 ;  saying,  "  All  that 
"  the  Father  hath  given  me  shall  come  to  me ;  and  him 
"  that  cometh  to  me  I  will  in  no  wise  cast  out;"  let  every 
person,  who  doth  not  in  earnest  make  use  of  Christ  for  re- 
mission of  sin,  and  amendment  of  life,  reason  hence,  and 
from  the  whole  premises,  after  this  manner,  that  his  con- 
science may  be  awakened : 

"  Whosoever  is  neither  by  the  law,  nor  by  the  gospel,  so 


478  The  Practical  Use  of  Saving  Knowledge. 

"  convinced  of  sin,  righteousness,  and  judgment,  as  to  make 
"  him  come  to  Christ,  and  employ  him  daily  for  remission 
"  of  sin,  and  amendment  of  life ;  he  wanteth  not  only  all 
"  evidence  of  saving  faith,  but  also  all  appearance  of  his 
"  election,  so  long  as  he  remaineth  in  this  condition : 

"  But  I  (may  every  impenitent  person  say)  am  neither 
"  by  the  law  nor  gospel  so  convinced  of  sin,  righteousness, 
u  and  judgment,  as  to  make  me  come  to  Christ,  and  em- 
"  ploy  him  daily  for  remission  of  sin,  and  amendment  of 
"  life : 

"  Therefore  I  want  not  only  all  evidence  of  saving  faith, 
"  but  also  all  appearance  of  my  election,  so  long  as  I  re- 
"  main  in  this  condition." 


FINIS. 


THE 


CONFESSION   OF  FAITH 


OF  THE 


KIRK  OF  SCOTLAND: 


OR,  THE 


NATIONAL    COVENANT 


WITH 


A  DESIGNATION  OF  SUCH  ACTS  OF  PARLIAMENT  AS  ARE  EXPEDIENT 
FOR  JUSTIFYING  THE  UNION  AFTER  MENTIONED. 


Josh.  xxiv.  25.  So  Joshua  made  a  covenant  with  the  people  that  day,  and  set  them  a 
statute  and  an  ordinance  in  Shechem. 

2  Kings  xi.  17-  And  Jehoiada  made  a  covenant  between  the  Lord  and  the  kin»,  and  the 
people,  that  thsy  sbjulj  be  the  Lord's  people;  between  the  king  also  and  the  people. 

Isa.  xliv.  5.  One  shall  say.  I  am  the  Lord's;  and  another  shall  call  himself  by  the  name 
of  Jacob;  and  another  >hall  subscribe  with  his  hand  unto  the  Lord,  and  surname  him- 
Belf  by  the  name  of  Israel. 


_ 


[     481 


Assembly  at  Edinburgh,  August  50,  1639,  Sess.  23. 

Act  ordaining,  by  Ecchsiasiical  Authority ,  the  Subscription  of  the  Con]: 
of  Faith  and  Covenant,  ivith  the  Assembly's  Declaration. 

The  General  Assembly  considering-  the  great  happiness  which  may  flc* 
from  a  full  and  perfect  union  of  this  kirk  and  kingdom,  by  joining  of  all  in 
one  and  the  same  Covenant  with  God,  with  the  King's  Majesty,  and  amongst 
ourselves;  having,  by  our  great  oath,  declared  the  uprightness  and  loyalty 
of  our  intentions  in  all  our  proceedings;  and  having  withal  supplicated  his 
Majesty's  high  Commissioner,  and  the  Lords  of  his  Majesty's  honourable 
Privy  Council,  to  enjoin,  by  act  of  council,  all  the  lieges  in  time  coming  to 
subscribe  the  Confession  of  Faith  and  Covenant;  which,  as  a  testimony  of 
our  fidelity  to  God,  and  loyalty  to  our  King,  we  have  subscribed:  And  see- 
ing his  Majesty's  high  Commissioner,  and  the  Lords  of  his  Majesty's  honour- 
able Privy  Council,  have  granted  the  desire  of  our  supplication,  ordaining,  by 
civil  authority,  all  his  Majesty's  lieges,  in  time  coming,  to  subscribe  the 
foresaid  Covenant:  that  our  union  may  be  the  more  full  and  perfect,  we,  by 
our  act  and  constitution  ecclesiastical,  do  approve  the  foresaid  Covenant  in  all 
the  heads  and  clauses  thereof;  and  ordain  of  new,  under  all  ecclesiastical 
censure,  That  all  the  masters  of  universities,  colleges,  and  schools,  all  scho- 
lars, at  the  passing  of  their  degrees,  all  persons  suspected  of  Papistry,  or  any 
other  error;  and  finally,  all  the  members  of  this  kirk  and  kingdom,  subscribe 
the  same,  with  these  words  prefixed  to  their  subscription,  "  The  Article  of 
this  Covenant,  which  was  at  the  first  subscription  referred  to  the  determina- 
tion of  the  General  Assembly,  being  determined;  and  thereby  the  five  articles 
of  Perth,  the  government  of  the  kirk  by  bishops,  the  civil  places  and  power 
of  kirkmen,  upon  the  reasons  and  grounds  contained  in  the  acts  of  the  Ge- 
neral Assembly,  declared  to  be  unlawful  within  this  kirk;  we  subscribe  ac- 
cording to  the  determination  aforesaid."  And  ordain  the  Covenant  with 
this  declaration,  to  be  insert  in  the  registers  of  the  Assemblies  of  this  kirk, 
general,  provincial,  and  presbyterial,  ad  perpetuam  rei  memoriam.  And  in 
all  humility  supplicate  his  Majesty's  high  Commissioner,  and  the  honourable 
estates  of  Parliament,  by  their  authority,  to  ratify  and  enjoin  the  same,  under 
all  civil  pains;  which  will  tend  to  the  glory  of  God,  preservation  of  religion, 
the  King's  Majesty's  honour,  and  perfect  peace  of  this  kirk  and  kingdom. 

41 


[     482     ] 


Charles  I.  Pari.  2.  Act  5. 

Act  anent  the  Ratification  of  the  Covenant,  and  of  the  Assembly's 
Supplication,  Act  of  Council,  and  Act  of  Assembly  concerning 
the  Covenant. 

At  Edinburgh,  June  11,  1640. 

The  Estates  of  Parliament,  presently  convened  by  his 
Majesty's  special  authority,  considering  the  supplication 
of  the  General  Assembly  at  Edinburgh,  the  12th  of  August, 
1639,  to  his  Majesty's  high  Commissioner,  and  the  Lords  of 
his  Majesty's  honourable  Privy  Council ;  and  the  act  of  coun- 
cil of  the  30th  of  August,  1639,  containing  the  answer  of  the 
said  supplication ;  and  the  act  of  the  said  General  Assembly, 
ordaining,  by  their  ecclesiastical  constitution,  the  subscrip- 
tion of  the  Confession  of  Faith  and  Covenant  mentioned  in 
their  supplication :  and  withal,  having  supplicated  his  Ma- 
jesty to  ratify  and  enjoin  the  same  by  his  royal  authority, 
under  all  civil  pains,  as  tending  to  the  glory  of  God,  the  pre- 
servation of  religion,  the  King's  Majesty's  honour,  and  the 
perfect  peace  of  this  kirk  and  kingdom :  do  ratify  and  ap- 
prove the  said  supplication,  act  of  Council,  and  act  of  As- 
sembly ;  and,  conform  thereto,  ordain  and  command  the 
said  Confession  and  Covenant  to  be  subscribed  by  all  his  Ma- 
jesty's subjects  of  what  rank  and  quality  soever,  under  all 
civil  pains  ;  and  ordain  the  said  supplication,  act  of  Council, 
and  act  of  the  Assembly,  with  the  whole  Confession  and  Co- 
venant itself,  to  be  insert  and  registrate  in  the  acts  and  books 
of  parliament;  and  also  ordain  the  same  to  be  presented 
at  the  entry  of  every  parliament,  and,  before  they  proceed 
to  any  other  act,  that  the  same  be  publicly  read,  and  sworn 
by  the  whole  members  of  parliament  claiming  voice  therein ; 
otherwise  the  refusers  to  subscribe  and  swear  the  same  shall 
have  no  place  nor  voice  in  parliament :  And  sicklike,  ordain 
all  judges,  magistrates,  or  other  officers,  of  whatsoever  place, 
rank,  or  quality,  and  ministers  at  their  entry,  to  swear  and 
subscribe  the  same  Covenant,  whereof  the  tenor  follows. 


C     483     ] 

THE 

NATIONAL    COVENANT; 

OR,  THE 

CONFESSION  OF  FAITH: 

Subscribed  at  first  by  the  King's  Majesty,  and  his  Household,  in 
the  Year  1580  ;  thereafter  by  persons  of  all  ranks  in  the  year 
1581,  by  ordinance  of  the  Lords  of  secret  council,  and  acts  of 
the  General  Assembly ;  subscribed,  again  by  all  sorts  of  per- 
sons in  the  year  1590,  by  a  new  ordinance  of  council,  at  the 
desire  of  the  General  Assembly :  with  a  general  bond  for  the 
maintaining  of  the  true  Christian  religion,  and  the  King's 
person;  and,  together  with  a  resolution  and  promise,  for  the 
causes  after  expressed,  to  maintain  the  true  religion,  and  the 
King's  Majesty,  according  to  the  foresaid  Confession  and  acts 
of  Parliament,  subscribed  by  Barons,  Nobles,  Gentlemen,  Bur- 
gesses, Ministers,  and  Commons,  in  the  year  1638:  approven 
by  the  General  Assembly  1038  and  1639;  and  subscribed 
again  by  persons  of  all  ranks  and  qualities  in  the  year  1639. 
by  an  ordinance  of  council,  upon  the  supplication  of  the  Ge- 
?\eral  Assembly,  and  act  of  the  General  Assembly,  ratified  by 
an  act  of  Parliament  1640;  and  subscribed  by  King  Charles 
II.  at  Spey,  June  23,  1650,  and  Scoon,  January  1,  1651. 

We  all  and  every  one  of  us  under-written,  protest,  That, 
after  long  and  due  examination  of  our  own  consciences 
in  matters  of  true  and  false  religion,  we  are  now  thoroughly 
resolved  in  the  truth  by  the  word  and  Spirit  of  God:  and 
therefore  we  believe  with  our  hearts,  confess  with  our 
mouths,  subscribe  with  our  hands,  and  constantly  affirm, 
before  God  and  the  whole  world,  that  this  only  is  the  true 
Christian  faith  and  religion,  pleasing  God,  and  bringing  sal- 
vation to  man,  which  now  is,  by  the  mercy  of  God,  reveal- 
ed to  the  world  by  the  preaching  of  the  blessed  evangel; 
and  is  received,  believed,  and  defended  by  many  and  sundry 
notable  kirks  and  realms,  but  chiefly  by  the  kirk  of  Scotland, 
the  King's  Majesty,  and  three   estates  of  this   realm,  as 


484  Tlie  Confession  of  Faith ; 

God's  eternal  truth,  and  only  ground  of  our  salvation ;  as 
more  particularly  is  expressed  in  the  Confession  of  our  Faith, 
established  and  publicly  confirmed  by  sundry  acts  of  Par- 
liaments, and  now  of  a  long  time  hath  been  openly  professed 
by  the  King's  Majesty,  and  whole  body  of  this  realm  both 
in  burgh  and  land.     To  the  which  Confession  and  Form  of 
Religion  we  willingly  agree  in  our  conscience  in  all  points, 
as  unto  God's  undoubted  truth  and  verity,  grounded  only 
upon  his  written  word.     And  therefore  we  abhor  and  de- 
test all  contrary  religion  and  doctrine;  hut  chiefly  all  kind 
of  Papistry  in  general  and  particular  heads,  even  as  they  are 
now  damned  and  confuted  by  the  word  of  God  and  Kirk 
of  Scotland.     But,  in  special,  we    detest  and   refuse   the 
usurped  authority  of  that  Roman  Antichrist  upon  the  scrip- 
tures of  God  upon  the  kirk,  the  civil  magistrate,  and  con- 
sciences of  men;  all  his  tyrannous  laws;  made  upon  indiffe- 
rent things  against  our  Christian  liberty;  his  erroneous  doc- 
trine against  the  sufficiency  of  the  written  word,  the  per- 
fection of  the  law,  the  office  of  Christ,  and   his  blessed 
evangel ;  his  corrupted  doctrine  concerning  original  sin,  our 
natural  inability  and  rebellion  to  God's  law,  our  justifica- 
tion by  faith  only,  our  imperfecfsanctification   and  obe- 
dience to  the  law ;  the  nature,  number,  and  use  of  the  holy 
sacraments;  his  five,  bastard  sacraments,  with  all  his  rites, 
ceremonies,  and  false  doctrine,  added  to  the  ministration  of 
the  true  sacraments  without  the  word  of  God ;  his  cruel 
judgment  against  infants  departing  without  the  sacrament ; 
his  absolute  necessity  of  baptism;  his  blasphemous  opinion 
of  transubstantiation,  or  real  presence  of  Christ's  body  in  the 
elements,  and  receiving  of  the  same  by  the  wicked,  or  bodies 
of  men;  his  dispensations  with  solemn  oaths,  perjuries,  and 
degrees  of  marriage  forbidden   in  the  word ;   his   cruelty 
against  the  innocent  divorced;  his  devilish  mass;  his  blas- 
phemous priesthood;  his  profane  sacrifice  for  sins  of  the 
dead  and  the  quick;  his  canonization  of  men;   calling  upon 
angels  or  saints  departed,  worshipping  of  imagery,  relics, 
and  crosses ;  dedicating  of  kirks,  altars,  days ;  vows  to  crea- 
tures;   his  purgatory,  prayers   for  the  dead;    praying  or 
speaking  in  a  strange  language,  with  his  processions,  and 
blasphemous  litany,  and  multitude  of  advocates  or  media- 


Or,  National  Covenant.  485 

cors ;  his  manifold  orders,  auricular  confession ;  his  despe- 
rate and  uncertain  repentance ;  his  general  and  doubtsome 
faith ;  his  satisfaction  of  men  for  their  sins ;  his  justifica- 
tion by  works,  opus  opemtum,  works  of  supererogation,  me- 
rits, pardons,  peregrinations,  and  stations ;  his  holy  water, 
baptizing  of  bells,  conjuring  of  spirits,  crossing,  sayning, 
anointing,  conjuring,  hallowing  of  God's  good  creatures, 
with  the  superstitious  opinion  joined  therewith ;  his  worldly 
monarchy,  and  wicked  hierarchy ;  his  three  solemn  vows, 
with  all  his  shavellings  of  sundry  sorts ;  his  erroneous  and 
bloody  decrees  made  at  Trent,  with  all  the  subscribers  or 
approvers  of  that  cruel  and  bloody  band,  conjured  against 
the  kirk  of  God.  And  finally,  we  'detest  all  his  vain  allego- 
ries, rites,  signs,  and  traditions  brought  in  the  kirk,  without 
or  against  the  word  of  God,  and  doctrine  of  this  true  re- 
formed kirk ;  to  the  which  we  join  ourselves  willingly,  in 
doctrine,  faith,  religion,  discipline,  and  use  of  the  holy  sa- 
craments, as  lively  members  of  the  same  in  Christ  our  head  : 
promising  and  swearing,  by  the  great  name  of  the  LORD 
our  GOD,  that  we  shall  continue  in  the  obedience  of  the 
doctrine  and  discipline  of  this  kirk,*  and  shall  defend  the 
same,  according  to  our  vocation  and  power,  all  the  days 
of  our  lives ;  under  the  pains  contained  in  the  law,  and 
danger  both  of  body  and  soul  in  the  day  of  God's  fearful 
judgment. 

And  seeing  that  many  are  stirred  up  by  Satan,  and  that 
Roman  Antichrist,  to  promise,  swear,  subscribe,  and  for  a 
time  use  the  holy  sacraments  in  the  kirk  deceitfully,  against 
their  own  conscience ;  minding  hereby,  first,  under  the  ex- 
ternal cloak  of  religion,  to  corrupt  and  subvert  secretly 
God's  true  religion  within  the  kirk;  and  afterward,  when 
time  may  serve,  to  become  open  enemies  and  persecutors  of 
the  same,  underlain  hope  of  the  Pope's  dispensation,  de- 
vised against  the  word  of  God,  to  his  greater  confusion,  and 
their  double  condemnation  in  the  day  of  the  Lord  Jesus : 
we  therefore,  willing  to  take  away  all  suspicion  of  hypo-. 

*  The  confession  which  was  subscribed  at  Holyrud-house  the  25th 
of  February,  1587-8,  by  the  King,  Lennox.  Huntly,  the  Chancellor,  and 
about  ninety-five  other  persons,  hath  here  adebd,  ''agreeing-  to  the  word/'' 
Sir  John  Maxwell  of  Pollock  hath  the  original  parchment. 

41* 


486  The  Confession  o/Fakh; 

crisy,  and  of  such  double  dealing  with  God,  and  his  kirk, 
protest,  and  call  the  Searcher  of  all  hearts  for  witness,  that 
our  minds  and  hearts  do  fully  agree  with  this  our  Confes- 
sion, promise,  oath,  and  subscription :  so  that  we  are  not 
moved  with  any  worldly  respect,  but  are  persuaded  only  in 
our  conscience,  through  the  knowledge  and  love  of  God's 
true  religion  imprinted  in  our  hearts  by  the  Holy  Spirit,  as 
we  shall  answer  to  him  in  the  day  when  the  secrets  of  alt 
hearts  shaH  be  disclosed. 

And  because  we  perceive,  that  the  quietness  and  stability 
of  our  religion  and  kirk  doth  depend  upon  the  safety  and 
good  behaviour  of  the  King's  Majesty,  as  upon  a  comfort- 
able instrument  of  God's  mercy  granted  to  this  country,  for 
the  maintaining  of  his  kirk,  and  ministration  of  justice 
amongst  us ;  we  protest  and  promise  with  our  hearts,  under 
the  same  oath,  hand- writ,  and  pains,  that  we  shall  defend 
his  person  and  authority  with  our  goods,  bodies,  and  lives, 
in  the  defence  of  Christ  his  evangel,  liberties  of  our  country, 
ministration  of  justice,  and  punishment  of  iniquity,  against 
all  enemies  within  this  realm  or  without,  as  we  desire  our 
God  to  be  a  strong  and  merciful  defender  to  us  in  the  day 
of  our  death,  and  coming  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ;  to  whom, 
with  the  Father,  and  the  Holy  Spirit,  be  all  honour  and: 
glory  eternaiiy.     Amen. 

LIKEAS  may  Acts  of  Parliament,  not  only  in  general, 
do  abrogate,  annul,  and  rescind  all  laws,  statutes,  acts,, 
constitutions,  canons  civil  or  municipal,  with  all  other  ordi- 
nances, and  practique  penalties  whatsoever,  made  in  preju- 
dice of  the  true  religion,  and  professors  thereof;  or  of  the 
true  kirk,  discipline,  jurisdiction,  and  freedom  thereof;  or 
in  favours  of  idolatry  and  superstition,  or  of  the  Papistical 
kirk:  As  Act  3.  Act  31,  Pari.  J.  Act  23.  Pari.  11.  Act 
114.  Pari.  12.  of  King  James  VI.  That  Papistry  and  super- 
stition may  be  utterly  suppressed,  according  to  the  intention 
of  the  Acts  of  Parliament,  repeated  in  the  5th  Act,  Pari. 
20.  King  James  VI.  And  to  that  end  they  ordain  all 
Papists  and  Priests  to  be  punished  with  manifold  civil  and 
ecclesiastical  pains,  as  adversaries  to  God's  true  religion, 
nreached,  and  by  law  established,  within  this  realm,  Act  24.. 


Or,  National  Covenant.  487 

Pari.  11.  King  James  VI.;  as  common  enemies  to  all 
Christian  government..  Act  18.  Pari.  16.  King  James  VI.; 
as  rebellers  and  gainstanders  of  our  Sovereign  Lord's  au- 
thority, Act  47.  Pari.  3.  King  James  VI.:  and  as  idolaters, 
Act  104.  Pari.  7.  King  James  VI.  But  also  in  particular, 
by  and  attour  the  Confession  of  Faith,  do  abolish  and  con- 
demn the  Pope's  authority  and  jurisdiction  out  of  this  land, 
and  ordains  the  maintainers  thereof  to  be  punished,  Act  2. 
Pari.  1.  Act  51.  Pari.  3.  Act  106.  Pari.  7.  Act  114. 
Pari.  12.  King  James  VI.  do  condemn  the  Pope's  errone- 
ous doctrine,  or  any  other  erroneous  doctrine  repugnant  to 
any  of  the  articles  of  the  true  and  Christian  religion,  pub- 
licly preached,  and  by  law  established  in  this  realm ;  and 
ordains  the  spreaders  and  makers  of  books  or  libels,  or 
letters  or  writs  of  that  nature  to  be  punished.  Act  46.  Pari. 
3.  Act  106.  Pari.  7.  Act  24.  Pari.  11.  King  James  VI.  do 
condemn  all  baptism  conform  [conformably]  to  the  Pope's 
kirk,  and  the  idolatry  of  the  mass;  and  ordains  all  savers, 
wilful  hearers,  and  concealers  of  the  mass,  the  maintainers 
and  resetters  of  the  priests,  Jesuits,  trafficking  Papists,  to 
be  punished  without  anv  exception  or  restriction,  Act  5. 
Pari.  1.  Act  120.  Pari.  12.  Act  164.  Pari.  13.  Act  193.  Pari. 
14.  Act  1.  Pari.  19.  Act  5.  Pari.  20.  King  James  VI.  do 
condemn  ail  erroneous  books  and  writs  containing  errone- 
ous doctrine  against  the  religion  presently  professed  or 
containing  superstitious  rites  and  ceremonies  Papistical, 
whereby  the  people  are  greatly  abused,  and  ordains  the 
home-bringers  of  them  to  be  punished,  Act  25.  Pari.  11. 
King  James  VI.  do  condemn  the  monuments  and  dregs  of 
by-gone  idolatry,  as  going  to  crosses,  observing  the  festival 
days  of  saints,  and  such  other  superstitious  and  Papistical 
rites,  to  the  dishonour  of  God,  contempt  of  true  religion, 
and  fostering  of  great  error  among  the  people  ;  and  ordains 
the  users  of  them  to  be  punished  for  the  second  fault,  as 
idolaters,  Act  104.  Pari.  7.  King  James  VI. 

Likeas  many  Acts  of  Parliament  are  conceived  for  main- 
tenance of  God*s  true  and  Christian  religion,  and  the  purity 
thereof,  in  doctrine  and  sacraments  of  the  true  church  of 
God,  the  liberty  and  freedom  thereof,  in  her  national,  sy- 
nodal assemblies,  presbyteries,  sessions,  policy,  discipline, 


488  The  Confession  of  Faith; 

and  jurisdiction  thereof;  as  that  purity  of  religion,  and  liber- 
ty of  the  church  was  used,  professed,  exercised,  preached, 
and  confessed,  according  to  the  reformation  of  religion  in 
this  realm:  As,  for  instance,  the  99th  Act,  Pari.  7.  Act  25. 
Pari.  11.  Act  114.  Parl.12.  Act  160.  Parl.13.  of  King  James 
VI.  ratified  by  the  4th  Act  of  King  Charles.     So  that  the 
6th  Act,  Pari.  1.  and  68th  Act,  Park  6.  of  King  James 
VI.  in  the  year  of  God  1579,  declare  the  ministers  of  the 
blessed  evangel,  whom  God  of  his  mercy  had  raised  up, 
or  hereafter  should  raise,  agreeing  with  them    that   then 
lived,  in  doctrine  and  administration  of   the  sacraments ; 
and  the  people  that  professed  Christ  as  he  was  then  offered 
in  the  evangel,  and  doth  communicate  with  the  holy  sacra- 
ments (as  in  the  reformed  kirks  of  this  realm  they  were 
presently  administered)   according   to   the   Confession   of 
Faith,  to  be  the  true  and  holy  kirk  of  Christ  Jesus  within 
this  realm.     And  decerns  and  declares  all  and  sundry,  who 
either  gainsay  the  word  of  the  evangel  received  and  ap- 
proved as  the  heads  of  the  Confession  of  Faith,  professed 
in  Parliament  in  the  year  of  God  1560,  specified  also  in 
the  first  Parliament  of  King  James  VI.  and  ratified  in  this 
present  Parliament,  more  particularly  do  express ;  or  that 
refuse  the  administration  of  the  holy  sacraments,  as  they 
were  then  ministrated ;  to  be  no  members  of  the  said  kirk 
within  this  realm,  and  true  religion  presently  professed,  so 
long  as  they  keep  themselves  so  divided  from  the  society 
of  Christ's  body.     And  the  subsequent  Act  69..  Pari.  6.  of 
King  James  VI.   declares  that  there  is  no  other   face   of 
kirk,  nor  other  face  of  religion,  than  was  presently  at  that 
time,  by  the  favour  of  God,  established  within  this  realm : 
"  Which,  therefore,  is    ever    styled    God's   true   religion, 
"  Christ's  true  religion,  the   true    and   Christian   religion, 
"  and  a  perfect  religion;"  which,  by  manifold  Acts  of  Par- 
liament, all  within  this  realm  are  bound  to  profess,  to  sub- 
scribe the  articles  thereof,  the  Confession  of  Faith,.to  recant 
all  doctrine  and  errors  repugnant  to  anv  of  the  said  arti- 
cles, Acts  4.  and  9..  Pari.  1.  Acts  45, .46,  47.  Pari.  3.  Act 
71.   Pari.  6.  Act  106.   Pari.  7.  Act  24.   Pari.  11.  Act  123. 
Pari.  12.  Acts  194.  and  197.  Pari.  14,  of  King  James  VL 
And  all  magistrates,  sheriffs,  &c.  on  the  one  part,  are  or. 


Or,  National  Covenant.  489 

dained  to  search,  apprehend,  and  punish  all  contraveners : 
For  instance,  Act  5.  Pari.  1,  Act  104.  Pari.  7.  Act  25. 
Pari.  11.  King  James  VI.;  and  that  notwithstanding  of 
the  King's  Majesty's  licenses  on  the  contrary,  which  are 
discharged,  and  declared  to  be  of  no  force,  in  so  far  as  they 
tend  in  any  wise  to  the  prejudice  and  hinder  of  the  execu- 
tion of  the  Acts  of  Parliament  against  Papists  and  adversa- 
ries of  (rue  religion,  Act  106.  Pari.  7.  King  James  VI. 
On  the  other  part,  in  the  47th  Act,  Pari.  3.  King  James  VI. 
it  is  declared  and  ordained,  Seeing  the  cause  of  God's 
true  religion  and  his  Highness's  authority  are  so  joined,  as 
the  hurt  of  the  one  is  common  to  both;  that  none  shall  be 
reputed  as  loyal  and  faithful  subjects  to  our  sovereign  Lord, 
or  his  authority,  but  be  punishable  as  rebellers  and  gain- 
standers  of  the  same,  who  shall  not  give  their  confession, 
and  make  their  profession  of  the  said  true  religion :  and  that 
they  who,  after  defection,  shall  give  the  confession  of  their 
faith  of  new,  they  shall  promise  to  continue  therein  in  time 
coming,  to  maintain  our  sovereign  Lord's  authority,  and  at 
the  uttermost  of  their  power  to  fortify,  assist,  and  maintain 
the  true  preachers  and  professors  of  Christ's  religion,  against 
whatsoever  enemies  and  gainstanders  of  the  same ;  and 
namely,  against  all  such,  of  whatsoever  nation,  estate,  or  de- 
gree they  be  of,  that  have  joined  or  bound  themselves,  or 
have  assisted,  or  assist,  to  set  forward  and  execute  the  cruel 
decrees  of  the  council  of  Trent,  contrary  to  the  true  preach- 
ers and  professors  of  the  word  of  God ;  which  is  repeated, 
word  by  word,  in  the  articles  of  pacification  at  Perth,  the 
23d  of  February,  1572,  approved  by  Parliament  the  last  of 
April,  1573,  ratified  in  Parliament,  1587,  and  related  Act 
123.  Pari.  12.  of  King  James  VI.;  with  this  addition, 
M  That  they  are  bound  to  resist  all  treasonable  uproars  and 
M  hostilities  raised  against  the  true  religion,  the  King's 
il  Majesty,  and  the  true  professors." 

Likeas,  all  lieges  are  bound  to  maintain  the  King's 
Majesty's  royal  person  and  authority,  the  authority  of  Parlia- 
ments, without  the  which  neither  any  laws  or  lawful  judi- 
catories can  be  established,  Acts  130.  and  131.  Pari.  8. 
King  James  VI.  and  the  subject's  liberties,  who  ought  only 
to  live  and  be  governed  by  the  King's  laws,  the  common 


490  The  Confession  of  Faith; 

laws  of  this  realm  alien arly,  Act  48,  Pari.  3.  King  James  I. 
Act  79.  Pari.  6.  King  James  IV. ;  repeated  in  the  Act  131. 
Pari.  8.  King  James  VI. ;  which  if  they  be  innovated  and 
prejudged,  "  the  commission  anent  the  union  of  the  two  king- 
"  doms  of  Scotland  and  England,  which  is  the  sole  act  of  the 
"  17th  Pari,  of  King  James  VI.  declares,"  such  confusion 
would  ensue  as  this  realm  could  be  no  more  a  free  monar- 
chy: because,  by  the  fundamental  laws,  ancient  privileges, 
offices,  and  liberties  of  this  kingdom,  not  only  the  princely 
authority  of  his  Majesty's  royal  descent  hath  been  these  many 
ages  maintained,  but  also  the   people's  security  of  their 
lands,  livings,  rights,  offices,  liberties,  and  dignities  pre- 
served.    And  therefore,  for  the  preservation  of  the  said  true 
religion,  laws,  and  liberties  of  this  kingdom,  it  is  statute  by 
the  8th  Act,  Pari.  1.  repeated   in  the  99th  Act,  Pari.  7. 
ratified  in  the  23d  Act,  Pari.  11.  and  114th  Act,  Pari.  12, 
of  King  James  VI.  and  4th  Act,  Pari.  1.  of  King  Charles  I. 
«  That  all  Kings  and  Princes  at  their  coronation,  and  re- 
ception of  their  princely  authority,  shall  make  their  faith- 
"  ful  promise  by  their  solemn  oath,  in  the  presence  of  the 
"eternal  God,  that,  enduring  the  whole  time  of  their  lives, 
"they  shall  serve  the  same  eternal  God,  to  the  uttermost  of 
"  their  power,  according  as  he  hath  required  in  his  most  holy 
"word,  contained  in  the  Old  and  New  Testament;  and  ac- 
cording to  the  same  word,  shall  maintain  the  true  religion 
"  of  Christ  Jesus,  the  preaching  of  his  holy  word,  the  due 
"  and  right  ministration  of  the  sacraments  now  received  and 
"  preached  within  this  realm,  (according  to  the  Confession  of 
"  Faith  immediately  preceding,)  and  shall  abolish  and  gain- 
"  stand  all  false  religion  contrary  to  the  same  ;  and  shall  rule 
"  the  people  committed  to  their  charge,  according  to  the  will 
"  and  command  of  God  revealed  in  his  foresaid  word,  and 
"  according  to  the  laudable  laws  and  constitutions  received 
"  in  this  realm,  nowise  repugnant  to  the  said  will  of  the 
"eternal  God  ;  and  shall  procure,  to  the  uttermost  of  their 
"  power,  to  the  kirk  of  God,  and  whole  Christian  people, 
"  true  and  perfect  peace  in  all  time  coming :  and  that  they 
"  shall  be  careful  to  root  out  of  their  empire  all  heretics  and 
"  enemies  to  the  true  worship  of  God,  who  shall  be  convicted 
"  by  the  true  kirk  of  God  of  the  foresaid  crimes."     Which 


Or,  National  Covenant.  491 

was  also  observed  by  his  Majesty,  at  his  coronation  in 
Edinburgh,  1633,  as  may  be  seen  in  the  order  of  the  coro- 
nation. 

In  obedience  to  the  commandment  of  God,  conform  to 
the  practice  of  the  godly  in  former  times,  and  according  to 
the  laudable  example  of  our  worthy  and  religious  proge- 
nitors, and  of  many  yet  living  amongst  us,  which  was  war- 
ranted also  by  act  of  council,  commanding  a  general  bond 
to  be  made  and  subscribed  by  his  Majesty's  subjects  of  all 
ranks ;  for  two  causes  :  one  was,  For  defending  the  true  re- 
ligion, as  it  w7as  then  reformed,  and  is  expressed  in  the  Con- 
fession of  Faith  above  written  and  a  former  large  Confes- 
sion established  by  sundry  acts  of  lawful  General  Assemblies 
and  of  Parliaments,  unto  which  it  hath  relation,  set  down 
in  public  Catechisms;  and  which  hath  been  for  many  years, 
with   a  blessing  from  Heaven,  preached  and  professed  in 
this  kirk  and  kingdom,  as  God's  undoubted  truth,  grounded 
only  upon  his  written  word.     The  other  cause  was,  For 
maintaining  the  King's  Majesty,  his  person  and  estate ;  the 
true  worship  of  God  and  the   King's  authority  being  so 
straitly  joined,  as  that  they  had  the  same  friends  and  com- 
mon enemies,  and  did  stand  and  fall  together.     And  finally, 
being  convinced  in  our  minds,  and   confessing  with   our 
mouths,  that  the  present  and  succeeding  generations  in  this 
land  are  bound  to  keep  the  foresaid  national  oath  and  sub- 
scription inviolable. 

We  Noblemen,  Barons,  Gentlemen,  Burgesses,  Ministers, 
and  Commons  under-subscribing,  considering  divers  times 
before,  and  especially  at  this  time,  the  danger  of  the  true 
reformed  religion,  of  the  King's  honour,  and  of  the  public 
peace  of  the  kingdom,  by  the  manifold  innovations  and 
evils,  generally  contained,  and  particularly  mentioned  in 
our  late  supplications,  complaints,  and  protestations;  do 
hereby  profess,  and  before  God,  his  angels,  and  the  world, 
solemnly  declare,  That  with  our  whole  heart  we  agree,  and 
resolve  all  the  days  of  our  life  constantly  to  adhere  unto 
and  to  defend  the  foresaid  true  religion,  and  (forbearing  the 
practice  of  all  novations  already  intruded  in  the  matters 
of  the  worship  of  God,  or  approbation  of  the  corruptions 
of  the  public    government  of  the  kirk,  or  civil  places  and 


492  The  Confession  of  Faith; 

power  of  kirkmen,  till  they  be  tried  and  allowed  in  free 
Assemblies  and  in  Parliament)  to  labour,  by  all  means  law- 
ful, to  recover  the  purity  and  liberty  of  the  Gospel,  as  it 
was  established  and  professed  before  the  foresaid  novations. 
And  because,  after  due  examination,  we  plainly  perceive, 
and  undoubtedly  believe,  that  the  innovations  and  evils  con- 
tained in  our  supplications,  complaints,  and  protestations, 
have  no  warrant  of  the  word  of  God,  are  contrary  to  the 
articles  of  the  foresaid  Confession,  to  the  intention  and 
meaning  of  the  blessed  reformers  of  religion  in  this  land,  to 
the  above-written  Acts  of  Parliament  j  and  do  sensibly  tend 
to  the  re-establishing  of  the  Popish  religion  and  tyranny, 
and  to  the  subversion  and  ruin  of  the  true  reformed  reli- 
gion, and  of  our  liberties,  laws,  and  estates ;  we  also  de- 
clare, That  the  foresaid  Confessions  are  to  be  interpreted, 
and  ought  to  be  understood  of  the  foresaid  novations  and 
evils,  no  less  than  if  every  one  of  them  had  been  expressed 
in  the  foresaid  Confessions;  and  that  we  are  obliged  to  de- 
test and  abhor  them,  amongst  other  particular  heads  of 
Papistry  adjured  therein.  And  therefore,  from  the  know- 
ledge and  conscience  of  our  duty  to  God,  to  our  King  and 
country,  without  any  worldly  respect  or  inducement,  so  far 
as  human  infirmity  will  suffer,  wishing  a  farther  measure 
of  the  grace  of  God  for  this  effect ;  we  promise  and  swear, 
by  the  GREAT  NAME  OF  THE  LORD  OUR  GOD, 
to  continue  in  the  profession  and  obedience  of  the  foresaid 
religion;  and  that  we  shall  defend  the  same,  and  resist  all 
these  contrary  errors  and  corruptions,  according  to  our  vo- 
cation, and  to  the  uttermost  of  that  power  that  God  hath 
put  in  our  hands,  all  the  days  of  our  life. 

And  in  like  manner,  with  the  same  heart,  we  declare  be- 
fore God  and  men,  That  we  have  no  intention  nor  desire  to 
attempt  any  thing  that  may  turn  to  the  dishonour  of  God, 
or  to  the  diminution  of  the  King's  greatness  and  authority; 
but,  on  the  contrary,  we  promise  and  swear,  That  we  shall, 
to  the  uttermost  of  our  power,  with  our  means  and  lives, 
stand  to  the  defence  of  our  dread  Sovereign  the  King's  Ma- 
jesty, his  person  and  authority,  in  the  defence  and  preserva- 
tion of  the  foresaid  true  religion,  liberties,  and  laws  of  the 
kingdom ;  as  also  to  the  mutual  defence  and  assistance  every 


Or>  National  Covenant,  493 

one  of  us  of  another,  in  the  same  cause  of  maintaining  the 
true  religion,  and  his  Majesty's  authority,  with  our  best 
counsel,  our  bodies,  means,  and  whole  power,  against  all 
sorts  of  persons  whatsoever ;  so  that  whatsoever  shall  be 
done  to  the  least  of  us  for  that  cause,  shall  be  taken  as  done 
to  us  all  in  general,  and  to  every  one  of  us  in  particular. 
And  that  we  shall  neither  directly  nor  indirectly  suffer  our- 
selves to  he.  divided  nr  withdrawn,  by  whatsoever  sugges- 
tion, combination,  allurement,  or  terror,  from  this  blessed 
and  loyal  conjunction ;  nor  shall  cast  in  any  let  or  impedi- 
ment that  may  stay  or  hinder  any  such  resolution  as  by  com- 
mon consent  shall  be  found  to  conduce  for  so  good  ends; 
but,  on  the  contrary,  shall  by  all  lawful  means  labour  to  far- 
ther and  promote  the  same  ;  and  if  any  such  dangerous  and 
divisive  motion  be  made  to  us  by  word  or  writ,  we,  and 
every  one  of  us,  shall  either  suppress  it,  or,  if  need  be,  shall 
incontinent  make  the  same  known,  that  it  maybe  timeously 
obviated.  Neither  do  we  fear  the  foul  aspersions  of  re- 
bellion, combination,  or  what  else  our  adversaries,  from 
their  craft  and  malice,  would  put  upon  us;  seeing  what  we 
do  is  so  well  warranted,  and  ariseth  from  an  unfeigned  de- 
sire to  maintain  the  true  worship  of  God,  the  majesty  of 
our  King,  and  the  peace  of  the  kingdom,  for  the  common 
happiness  of  ourselves  and  our  posterity. 

And  because  we  cannot  look  for  a  blessing  from  God 
upon  our  proceedings,  except  with  our  profession  and  sub- 
scription we  join  such  a  life  and  conversation  as  beseemeth 
Christians  who  have  renewed  their  covenant  with  God:  we 
therefore  faithfully  promise  for  ourselves,  our  followers,  and 
all  others  under  us,  both  in  public,  and  in  our  particular 
families,  and  personal  carriage,  to  endeavour  to  keep  our- 
selves within  the  bounds  of  Christian  liberty,  and  to  be  good 
examples  to  others  of  all  godliness,  soberness,  and  righteous- 
ness, and  of  every  duty  we  owe  to  God  and  man. 

And,  that  this  our  union  and  conjunction  may  be  ob- 
served without  violation,  we  call  the  LIVING  GOD,  THE 
SEARCHER  OF  OUR  HEARTS,  to  witness,  who  know- 
eth  this  to  be  our  sincere  desire  and  unfeigned  resolution, 
as  we  shall  answer  to  JESUS  CHRIST  in  the  great  day, 
and  under  the  pain  of  God's  everlasting  wrath,  and  of  in- 

42 


494  The  Confession  of  Faith,  fyc. 

famy  and  loss  of  all  honour  and  respect  in  this  world :  most 
humbly  beseeching  the  LORD  to  strengthen  us  by  his 
HOLY  SPIRIT  for  this  end,  and  to  bless  our  desires  and 
proceedings  with  a  happy  success ;  that  religion  and  righte- 
ousness may  flourish  in  the  land,  to  the  glory  of  GOD, 
the  honour  of  our  King,  and  peace  and  comfort  of  us  all. 
In  witness  whereof,  we  have  subscribed  with  our  hands  all 
the  premises. 

The  article  of  this  covenant,  which  was  at  the  first  sub- 
scription referred  to  the  determination  of  the  General 
Assembly,  being  now  determined ;  and  thereby  the  five  ar- 
ticles of  Perth,  the  government  of  the  kirlf  by  bishops,  and 
the  civil  places  and  power  of  kirkmen,  upon  the  reasons 
and  grounds  contained  in  the  Acts  of  the  General  Assembly, 
declared  to  be  unlawful  within  this  kirk,  we  subscribe  accord- 
ing to  the  determination  aforesaid. 


FINIS. 


THE 


SOLEMN  LEAGUE  AND  COVENANT 

FOR 

REFORMATION  AND  DEFENCE  OF  RELIGION, 

THE 

HONOUR  AND  HAPPINESS  OF  THE  KING, 

AND 

THE  PEACE  AND  SAFETY  OF  THE  THREE  KINGDOMS  OF 
SCOTLAND,  ENGLAND,  AND  IRELAND. 

TAKEN  AND  SUBSCRIBED  SEVERAL  TIMES  BY  KING  CHARLES  II. 
AND  BY  ALL  RANKS  IN  THE  SAID  THREE  KINGDOMS. 

WITH 

An  Act  of  the  General  Assembly  1643,  and  an  Act  of  Parliament  1644, 
ratifying  and  approving  the  said  League  and  Cotes a>t. 


Jer.  I.  5.  Come,  and  let  us  join  ourselves  to  the  Lord  in  a  perpetual  Covenant  that 
shall  not  be  forgotten. 

Prov.  xxv.  5.   Take  away  the  wicked  from  before  the  king,  and  his  throne  shall  be 
established  in  righteousness. 

2  Chroh.  xv.  15.  And  all  Judah  rejoiced  at  the  oath;  for  they  had  sworn  with  all  their 
heart. 

Gal.  iii.  15. Though  it  be  but  a  man's  covenant,  yet  if  it  be  confirmed  by  an  oath,  no 

man  disannulled  or  addeth  thereto. 


m 
C     497     ] 

Assembly  at  Edinburgh,  August  17,  1G43.   Sess.  14. 

The  General  Assembly's  Approbation  of  the  Solemn  League 
and  Covenant. 

The  Assembly  having  recommended  unto  a  Committee 
appointed  by  them  to  join  with  the  Committee  of  the 
Honourable  Convention  of  Estates,  and  the  Commissioners 
of  the  Honourable  Houses  of  the  Parliament  of  England, 
for  bringing  the  kingdoms  to  a  more  near  conjunction  and 
union,  received  from  the  foresaid  Committees  the  Cove- 
nant after  mentioned,  as  the  result  of  their  consultations: 
and  having  taken  the  same,  as  a  matter  of  so  public  con- 
cernment, and  so  deep  importance  doth  require,  unto  their 
gravest  consideration^  did,  with  all  their  hearts,  and  with 
the  beginnings  of  the  feelings  of  that  joy,  which  they  did 
find  in  so  great  measure  upon  the  renovation  of  the 
National  Covenant  of  this  kirk  and  kingdom,  All  with  one 
voice  approve  and  embrace  the  same,  as  the  most  power- 
ful mean,  by  the  blessing  of  GOD,  for  settling  and  pre- 
serving the  true  Protestant  religion  with  perfect  peace  in 
his  Majesty's  dominions,  and  propagating  the  same  to  other 
nations,  and  for  establishing  his  Majesty's  throne  to  all  ages 
and  generations.  And  therefore,  with  their  best  affections, 
recommend  the  same  to  the  Honourable  Convention  of 
Estates,  that,  being  examined  and  approved  by  them,  it 
may  be  sent  with  all  diligence  to  the  kingdom  of  England, 
that,  beino;  received  and  approven  there,  the  same  may  be. 
with  public  humiliation,  and  all  religious  and  answerable 
solemnity,  sworn  and  subscribed  by  all  true  professors  of 
the  reformed  religion,  and  all  his  Majesty's  good  subjects 
in  both  kingdoms. 

A.  JOHNSTOUN. 


4-2' 


[    498     ] 


Charles  I.  Pari.  3.   Sess.  1.  Act  5. 

Act  anent  the  Ratification  of  the  calling  of  the  Convention,  Ra- 
tification of  the  League  and  Covenant,  Articles  of  Treaty  be- 
twixt the  Kingdoms' of  Scotland  and  England,  and  femanent 
Acts  of  the  Convention  of  Estates,  and  Committee  thereof. 

At  Edinburgh,  July  15,  1644. 

The  Estates  of  Parliament,  presently  convened  by  vn> 
tue  of  the  last  act  of  the  last  Parliament,  holden  by  his  Ma- 
jesty, and  the  three  Estates,  in  anno  1641,  considering, 
that  the  Lords  of  his  Majesty's  Privy  Council,  and  Com- 
missioners for  conserving  the  articles  of  the  treaty,  having, 
according  to  their  interests  and  trust  committed  to  them  by 
his  Majesty  and  Estates  of  Parliament*  used  all  means,  by 
supplications,  remonstrances,  and  sending  of  Commissioners, 
for  securing  the  peace  of  this  kingdom,  and  removing  the 
unhappy  distractions  betwixt  his  Majesty  and  his  subjects 
in  England,  in  such  a  way  as  might  serve  most  for- his  Ma- 
jesty's honour,  and  good  of  both  kingdoms;  and  their 
humble  and  dutiful  endeavours  for  so  good  ends  having 
proven  ineffectual,  and  their  offer  of  mediation  and  inter-, 
cession  being  refused  by  his  Majesty;  and  thereby  finding 
the  weight  and  difficulty  of  affairs,  and  the  charge  lying  on 
them  to  be  greater  than  they  could  bear;  did  therefore,  in 
the  month  of  May,  1643,  meet  together  with  the  Commis- 
sioners, for  the  common  burdens,  that,  by  joint  advice,  some 
resolution  might  be  taken  therein ;  and  in.  respect  of  the 
danger  imminent  to  the  true  Protestant  religion,,  his  Ma- 
jesty's honour,  and  peace  of  their  kingdoms,  by  the  multi- 
tude of  Papists  and:  their  adherents  in  arms  in  England  and 
Ireland,  and  of  many  other  public  and  important  affairs, 
which  could  not  admit  delay,  and  did  require  the  advice  of 
the  representative  body  of  the  kingdom ;  appointed  and 
caused  indict  a  meeting  of  the  Convention  of  Estates  (his 
Majesty  having  formerly  refused  their  humble  desires  for  a 


[    499     ] 

Parliament)  to  be  on  the  22d  of  June  following ;  which 
diet  being  frequently  kept  by  the  Noblemen,  Commissioners 
of  shires  and  burghs,  and  they  finding  these  dangers  against 
this  kirk  and  state  still  increasing,  resolved,  after  serious  de- 
liberation and  advice  of  the  General  Assembly,  and  joint 
concurrence  of  the  Commissioners  authorized  by  the  Parlia- 
ment of  England,  that  one  of  the  chiefest  remedies  for  pre- 
venting of  these  and  the  like  dangers,  for  preservation  of 
religion,  and  both  kingdoms  from  ruin  and  destruction,  and 
for  procuring  of  peace,  That  both  kingdoms  should,  for 
these  ends,  enter  into  Covenant ;  which  was  accordingly 
drawn  up,  and  cheerfully  embraced  and  allowed. — And  at 
last  a  treaty  was  agreed  unto  by  both  kingdoms,  concern- 
ing the  said  Covenant,  and  assistance  craved  from  this  king- 
dom by  the  kingdom  of  England,  in  pursuance  of  the  ends 
expressed  therein: — and  the  Estates  being  still  desirous  to 
use  all  good  means,  that,  without  the  effusion  of  more  blood, 
there  may  be  such  a  blessed  pacification  betwixt  his  Majesty 
and  bis  subjects,  as  may  tend  to  the  good  of  religion,  his 
Majesty's  true  honour  and  safety,  and  happiness  of  his  peo- 
ple, did  therefore  give  commission  to  John  Earl  of  Loudoun, 
Lord  Chancellor,  Lord  Maitland,  Lord  Warristoun,  and 
Mr.  Robert  Barclay,  to  repair  to  England,  and  endeavour 
the  effectuating  of  ftiese  ends  contained  in  the  covenant 
of  treaties  conform  to  their  instructions  : — 

And  the  said  Estates  having  taken  the  proceedings  above 
written  to  their  consideration,  do  find  and  declare,  That  the 
Lords  of  council,  and  conservers  of  peace,  did  behave  them- 
selves as  faithful  counsellors,  loyal  subjects,  and  good  pa- 
triots, in  tendering  their  humble  endeavours  for  removing 
the  distractions  betwixt  his  Majesty  and  his  subjects,  and  in 
calling  the  Commissioners  for  the  common  burdens,  and, 
by  joint  advice,  appointing  the  late  meeting  of  Convention, 
wherein  they  have  approven  themselves  answerable  to  the 
duty  of  their  places,  and  that  trust  committed  to  them;  and 
therefore  ratifies  and  approves  their  whole  proceedings 
therein,  and  declares  the  said  Convention  was  lawfully 
called,  and  also  full  and  free  in  itself,  consisting  of  all  the 
members  thereof,  as  any  convention  hath  been  at  any  time 
bygone ;  and  ratifies  and  approves  the  several  acts  made  by 


[     500     ] 

them,  or  their  committee,  for  enjoining  the  Covenant. — And 
also,  the  said  Estates  of  Parliament  (but  prejudice  of  the 
premises,  and  of  the  general  ratification  above  mentioned) 
ratify,  approve,  and  confirm  the  foresaid  mutual  League 
and  Covenant,  concerning  the  reformation  and  defence  of 
religion,  the  honour  and  happiness  of  the  King,  and  the 
peace  and  safety  of  the  three  kingdoms  of  Scotland,  Eng- 
land and  Ireland ;  together  with  the  acts  of  the  Kirk  and 
Estate  authorizing  the  same  League  and  Covenant,  toge- 
ther also  with  the  foresaid  articles  of  treaty  agreed  upon 
betwixt  the  said  Commissioners  of  the  Convention  of  Estates 
of  Scotland  and  the  Commissioners  of  both  the  Houses  of 
Parliament  of  England,  concerning  the  said  Solemn  League 
and  Covenant. — And  the  said  Estates  ordain  the  same  acts, 
with  the  League  and  Covenant  above  specified,  acts  autho- 
rizing the  same,  and  the  articles  of  treaty  foresaid,  to  ha.ve 
the  full  force  and  strength  of  perfect  laws  and  acts  of  Par- 
liament, and  to  be  observed  by  all  his  Majesty's  lieges, 
conform  to  the  tenors  thereof  respective..  Of  the  which 
League  and  Covenant,  the  tenor  follows : 


C  501  ] 

THB 

SOLEMN  LEAGUE  AND  COVENANT 


Reformation  and  Defence  of  Religion,  the  Honour  and  Happi- 
ness of  the  King,  and  the  Peace  and  Safety  of  the  Three  King- 
doms of  Scotland,  England,  and  Ireland;  agreed  upon  by  Com- 
missioners from  the  Parliament  and  Assembly  of  Divines  in 
England,  with  Commissioners  of  the  Convention  of  Estates, 
and  General  Assembly  in  Scotland,-  approved  by  the  General 
Assembly  of  the  Church  of  Scotland,  and  by  both  Houses  of 
Parliament  and  Assembly  of  Divines  in  England,  and  taken 
and  subscribed  by  them,  Anno  1643:  and  thereafter,  by  the 
said  Authority,  taken  and  subscribed  by  all  Ranks  in  Scotland 
and  England  the  same  Year,-  and  ratified  by  Act  of  the  Par- 
liament of  Scotland*  Anno  1644:  And  again  renewed  in  Scot- 
land, ivith  an  Acknowledgment  of  Sins,  and  Engagement  to 
Duties,  by  all  Ranks,  Anno  1648,  and  by  Parliament  1649; 
and  taken  and  subscribed  by  Kins;  Charles  II.  at  Spey,  June 
23,  1650;  and  at  Scoon,  January  1,  1651. 

We  Noblemen,  Barons,  Knights,  Gentlemen,  Citizens, 
Burgesses,  Ministers  of  the  Gospel,  and  Commons  of  all 
sorts,  in  the  kingdoms  of  Scotland,  England,  and  Ireland, 
by  the  providence  of  GOD,  living  under  one  King,  and 
being  of  one  reformed  religion,  having  before  our  eyes  the 

flory  of  GOD,  and  the  advancement  of  the  kingdom  of  our 
■ord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ,  the  honour  and  happiness 
of  the  King's  Majesty,  and  his  posterity,  and  the  true  pub- 
lic liberty,  safety,  and  peace  of  the  kingdoms,  wherein  eve- 
ry one's  private  condition  is  included:  And  calling  to  mind 
the  treacherous  and  bloody  plots,  conspiracies,  attempts, 
and  practices  of  the  enemies  of  GOD,  against  the  true  reli- 
gion and  professors  thereof  in  all  places,  especially  in  these 
three  kingdoms,  ever  since  the  reformation  of  religion;  and 
how  much  their  rage,  power,  and  presumption  are  of  late, 
and  at  this  time,  increased  and  exercised,  whereof  the  de- 
plorable state  of  the  church  and  kingdom  of  Ireland,  the 


502  The  Solemn  League  and  Covenant. 

distressed  estate  of  the  church  and  kingdom  of  England, 
and  the  dangerous  estate  of  the  church  and  kingdom  of 
Scotland,  are  present  and  public  testimonies;  we  have  now 
at  last,  (after  other  means  of  supplication  and  remonstrance, 
protestation,  and  sufferings,)  for  the  preservation  of  ourselves 
and  our  religion  from  utter  ruin  and  destruction,  according 
to  the  commendable  practice  of  these  kingdoms  in  former 
times,  and  the  example  of  GOD's  people  in  other  nations, 
after  mature  deliberation,  resolved  and  determined  to  enter 
into  a  mutual  and  solemn  League  and  Covenant,  wherein 
we  all  subscribe,  and  each  one  of  us  for  himself,  with  our 
hands  lifted  up  to  the  most  High  GOP,  do  swear, 

I.  That  we  shall  sincerely,  really,  and  constantly,  through 
the  grace  of  GOD,  endeavour,  in  our  several  places  and 
callings,  the  preservation  of  the  reformed  religion  in  the 
Church  of  Scotland,  in  doctrine,  worship,  discipline,  and 
government,  against  our  common  enemies;  the  reformation 
of  religion  in  the  kingdoms  of  England  and  Ireland,  in  doc- 
trine, worship,  discipline,  and  government,  according  to 
the  word  of  GOD,  and  the  example  of  the  best  reformed 
Churches :  and  shall  endeavour  to  bring  the  Churches  of 
GOD  in  the  three  kingdoms  to  the  nearest  conjunction  and 
uniformity  in  religion,  confession  of  faith,  form  of  church- 
government,  directory  for  worship  and  catechising;  that 
we,  and  our  posterity  after  us,  may,  as  brethren,  live  in 
faith  and  love,  and  the  Lord  may  delight  to  dwell  in  the 
midst  of  us,, 

II.  That  we  shall,  in  like  manner,  without  respect  of  per- 
sons, endeavour  the  extirpation  of  Popery,  Prelacy,  (that  is, 
church-government  by  Archbishops,  Bishops,  their  Chan- 
cellors, and  Commissaries,  Deans,  Deans  and  Chapters, 
Archdeacons,  and  all  other  ecclesiastical  Officers  depending 
on  that  hierarchy,)  superstition,  heresy,,  schism,  profaneness, 
and  whatsoever  shall  be  found  to  be  contrary  to  sound  doc- 
trine and  the  power  of  godliness,  lest  we  partake  in  other 
men's  sins,  and  thereby  be  in  danger  to  receive  of  their 
plagues ;  and  that  the  Lord  may  be  one,  and  his  name  one, 
in  the  three  kingdoms, 


The  Solemn  League  and  Covenant.  501 


III.  We  shall,  with  the  same  sincerity,  reality,  and  con- 
stancy, in  our  several  vocations,  endeavour,  with  our  estates 
and  lives,  mutually  to  preserve  the  rights  and  privileges  of 
the  Parliaments,  and  the  liberties  of  The  kingdoms;  and  to 
preserve  and  defend  the  King's  Majesty's  person  and  autho- 
rity, in  the  preservation  and'  defence  of  the  true  religion, 
and  liberties  of  the  kingdoms ;  that  the  world  may  bear 
witness  with  our  consciences  of  our  loyalty,  and  that  we 
have  no  thoughts  or  intentions  to  diminish  his  Majesty's 
just  power  and  greatness. 

IV.  We  shalf  also,  with  all  faithfulness,  endeavour  the 
discovery  of  all  such  as  have  been  or  shall  be  incendiaries, 
malignants,  or  evil  instruments,  by  hindering  the  reforma- 
tion of  religion,  dividing  the  King  from  his  people,  or  one 
of  the  kingdoms  from  another,  or  making  any  faction  or 
parties  amongst  the  people,  contrary  to  this  League  and 
Covenant;  that  they  maybe  brought  to  public  trial,  and 
receive  condign  punishment,  as  the  degree  of  their  offences 
shall  require  or  deserve,  or  the  supreme  judicatories  of  both 
kingdoms  respectively,  or  others  having  power  from  them 
for  that  effect,  shall  judge  convenient. 

V.  And  whereas  the  happiness  of  a  blessed  peace  between 
these  kingdoms,  denied  in  former  times  to  our  progeni- 
tors, is,  by  the  good  providence  of  GOD,  granted  unto 
us,  and  hath  been  lately  concluded  and  settled  by  both 
Parliaments;  we  shall  each  one  of  us,  according  to  our 
place  and  interest,  endeavour  that  they  may  remain  con- 
joined in  a  firm  peace  and  union  to  all  posterity ;  and  that 
justice  may  be  done  upon  the  wilful  opposers  thereof,  in 
manner  expressed  in  the  precedent  article. 

VI.  We  shall  also,  according  to  our  places  and  callings, 
in  this  common  cause  of  religion,  liberty,  and  peace  of  the 
kingdoms,  assist  and  defend  all  those  that  enter  into  this 
League  and  Covenant,  in  the  maintaining  and  pursuing 
thereof;  and  shall  not  suffer  ourselves,  directly  or  indirectly, 
by  whatsoever  combination,  persuasion,  or  terror,  to  be  di- 
vided and  withdrawn  from  this  blessed  union  and  conjunc- 
tion, whether  to  make  defection  to  the  contrary  part,  or  to 
give  ourselves  to  a  detestable  indifferency  or  neutrality,  in 
this  cause  which  so  much  concerneth  the  glory  of  GOD,  the 


504  The  Solemn  League  and  Covenant, 

good  of  the  kingdom,  and  honour  of  the  King ;  but  shall,  all 
the  days  of  our  lives,  zealously  and  constantly  continue 
therein  against  all  opposition,  and  promote  the  same,  ac- 
cording to  our  power,  against  all  lets  and  impediments  what- 
soever; and,  what  we  are  not  able  ourselves  to  suppress 
or  overcome,  we  shall  reveal  and  make  known,  that  it  may 
be  timely  prevented  or  removed:  All  which  we  shall  do  as 
in  the  sight  of  God. 

And  because  these  kingdoms  are  guilty  of  many  sins  and 
provocations  against  GOD,  and  his  Son,  Jf.sus  Christ,  as 
is  too  manifest  by  our  present  distresses  and  dangers,  the 
fruits  thereof;   we  profess  and  declare,  before  God  and  the 
world,  our  unfeigned  desire  to  be  humbled  for  our  own  sins, 
and  for  the  sins  of  these  kingdoms  :  especially,  that  we  have 
not  as  we  ought  valued  the  inestimable  benefit  of  the  gos- 
pel; that  we  have  not  laboured  for  the  purity  and  power 
thereof;    and  that  we  have  not   endeavoured    to  receive 
Christ  in  our  hearts,  nor  to  walk  worthy  of  him  in  our 
lives ;  which  are  the  causes  of  other  sins  and  transgressions 
so  much  abounding  amongst  us:  and  our  true  and  unfeign- 
ed purpose,  desire,  and  endeavour  for  ourselves,  and  all 
others  under  our  power  and  charge,  both  in  public  and  in 
private,  in  all  duties  we  owe  to  GOD  and  man,  to  amend 
our  lives,  and  each  one  to  go  before  another  in  the  ex- 
ample of  a  real  reformation  ;  that  the  Lord  may  turn  away 
his  wrath  and  heavy  indignation,  and  establish  these  churches 
and  kingdoms  in    truth  and   peace.      And    this  Covenant 
we    make    in    the  presence    of  ALMIGHTY    GOD,   the 
Searcher  of  all  hearts,  with  a  true  intention  to  perform  the 
same,  as  we  shall  answrer  at  that  great  day,  when  the  secrets 
of  all  hearts  shall  be  disclosed  ;  most  humbly  beseeching  the 
Lord  to  strengthen  us  by  his  Holy   Spirit  for  this  end, 
and  to  bless  our  desires  and  proceedings  with  such  success, 
as  may  be  deliverance  and  safety  to  his  people,  and  en- 
couragement to  other  Christian  churches,  groaning  under, 
or  in  danger  of,  the  yoke  of  antichristian  tyranny,  to  join 
in  the  same  or  like  association  and  covenant,  to  the  glory  of 
GOD,  the  enlargement  of  the  kingdom  of  Jesus  Christ, 
and  the  peace  and  tranquillity  of  Christian  kingdoms  and 
commonwealths. 

FINIS. 


A 

SOLEMN  ACKNOWLEDGMENT 

OF 

PUBLIC     SINS 

AND 

BREACHES   OF   THE   COVENANT; 

AND 

A  SOLEMN  ENGAGEMENT 

TO 

ALL  THE  DUTIES  CONTAINED  THEREIN; 


THOSE  WHICH  DO  IN  A   MORE  SPECIAL  WAY  RELATE  UNTO  THE 
DANGERS  OF  THESE  TIMES: 

TOGETHER    WITH 

The  Act  of  the  Commission  of  the  General  Assembly  1648,  and  Act  of 
Parliament  1649,  for  renewing-  the  League  and  Covenant. 


C   507   ] 

The  Act  of  the  Commission  of  the  General  Assembly  for 
renewing  the  Solemn  League  and  Covenant. 

Edinburgh,  October  6,  164S. 

The  Commission  of  the  General  Assembly,  considering, 
that  a  great  part  of  this  land  have  involved  themselves  in 
many  and  gross  breaches  of  the  solemn  League  and  Cove- 
nant :  and  that  the  hands  of  many  are  grown  slack  in  fol- 
lowing and  pursuing  the  duties  contained  therein;  and  that 
many,  who  not  being  come  to  sufficient  age  when  it  was 
first  sworn  and  subscribed,  have  not  hitherto  been  received 
into  the  same :  do,  upon  these,  and  other  grave  and  impor- 
tant considerations,  appoint  and  ordain  the  Solemn  League 
and  Covenant  to  be  renewed  throughout  all  the  congrega- 
tions of  this  kingdom.  And,  because  it  is  a  duty  of  great 
weight  and  consequence,  ministers,  after  the  sight  hereof, 
would  be  careful  to  take  pains,  in  their  doctrine  and  other- 
wise, that  their  people  may  be  made  sensible  of  these  things, 
wherein  they  have  broken  the  Covenant,  and  be  prepared 
for  the  renewing  thereof  with  suitable  affections  and  dispo- 
sitions. And,  that  these  things  may  be  the  better  performed, 
we  have  thought  it  necessary  to  condescend  upon  a  Solemn 
Acknowledgment  of  Public  Sins  and  Breaches  of  the  Cove- 
nant, and  a  Solemn  Engagement  to  all  the  Duties  contained 
therein:  namely,  those  which  do  in  a  more  special  way  re- 
late unto  the  dangers  of  these  times :  And  this  Solemn  Ac- 
knowledgment and  Engagement,  sent  herewith,  shall  be 
made  use  of,  and  the  League  and  Covenant  shall  be  re- 
newed in  such  manner  as  follows :  First,  There  shall  be  an 
intimation  of  a  solemn  public  humiliation  and  fast  the  second 
Sabbath  of  December,  to  be  kept  upon  the  next  Thursday, 
and  the  Lord's  day  thereafter;  at  which  intimation,  the 
League  and  Covenant,  and  the  Public  Acknowledgment  of 
Sins  and  Engagement  unto  Duties,  are  to  be  publicly  read 
by  the  minister,  in  the  audience  of  all  the  people  ;  and  thev 
are  to  be  exhorted  to  get  copies  thereof,  that  they  may  be 
made  acquainted  therewith:  and  the  humiliation  and  fast  is 
to  be  kept  the  next  Thursday  thereafter,  in  reference  to  the 
breaches  of  the  Covenant,  contained  in  the  solemn  public 


[     508     ] 

acknowledgment,  as  the  causes  thereof;  and  the  next  Lord's 
day  thereafter,  which  is  also  to  be  spent  in  public  humilia- 
tion and  fasting,  immediately  after  the  sermon,  which  is  to  be 
applied  to  the  business  of  that  day,  the  Public  Acknowledg- 
ment and  Engagement  is  again  to  be  publicly  read ;  and 
thereafter  prayer  is  to  be  made,  containing  the  confession 
of  the  breaches  mentioned  therein,  and  begging  mercy  for 
these  sins,  and  strength  of  God  for  renewing  the  covenant  in 
sincerity  and  truth ;  after  which  prayer,  the  solemn  League 
and  Covenant  is  to  be  read  by  the  minister,  and  then  to  be 
sworn  by  him  and  all  the  people,  who  are  to  engage  them- 
selves for  performance  of  all  the  duties  contained  therein ; 
namely,  these  which  are  mentioned  in  the  Public  Acknowledg- 
ment and  Engagement,  and  are  opposite  unto  the  sins  there- 
in confessed :  and  the  action  is  to  be  closed  with  prayer  to 
God,  that  his  people  may  be  enabled,  in  the  power  of  his 
strength,  to  do  their  duty,  according  to  their  oath,  now  re- 
newed in  so  solemn  a  way.  It  is  also  hereby  provided,  That 
all  those  who  renew  the  League  and  Covenant,  shall  again 
subscribe  the  same ;  and  that  none  be  admitted  to  the  re- 
newing or  subscribing  thereof,  who  are  excluded  by  the 
other  act  and  direction  sent  herewith. 

A.  KER. 

The  Act  of  the  Committee  of  Estates  of  Parliament  for 
renewing  the  Solemn  League  and  Covenant. 

Edinburgh,  October  14,  1648* 

The  Committee  of  Estates  being  very  sensible  of  the 
grievous  backslidings  of  this  land,  in  the  manifold  breaches 
of  the  Solemn  League  and  Covenant,  made  and  sworn  to 
the  most  high  God ;  do  therefore  unanimously  and  heartily 
approve  the  seasonable  and  pious  resolution  of  the  Com- 
mission of  the  General  Assembly  for  a  solemn  Acknow- 
ledgment of  Public  Sins  and  Provocations,  especially  the 
breaches  of  the  Covenant,  and  a  solemn  engagement  to  a 
more  conscionable  performance  of  the  duties  therein  con- 
tained, and  for  renewing  the  Solemn  League  and  Covenant; 
and  do  require  and  ordain,  That  the  Directions  of  the  said 


[    509     ] 

Commission  of  Assembly,  in  their  act  of  the  6th  of  this 
month,  for  a  public  Acknowledgment  of  Sins,  and  Engage- 
ment to  Duties,  be  carefully  followed ;  that  the  fast  and  hu- 
miliation, appointed  by  them,  be  religiously  observed ;  and 
that  the  Solemn  League  and  Covenant  be  sincerely  and 
cordially  renewed  and  subscribed,  in  the  manner  they  have 
prescribed  in  their  said  Act. 

Ext  vac  turn, 

Mr.  THO,  HENDERSON. 


43 


[     510     ] 


Solemn  Acknowledgment  of  Public  Sins,  and 
Breaches  of  the  Covenant; 


A  Solemn  Engagement  to  all  the  Duties  contained  there- 
in; namely,  those  which  do  in  a  more  special  Way  relate 
unto  the  Dangers  of  these  Times. 


We  Noblemen,  Barons,  Gentlemen,  Burgesses,  Minis- 
ters of  the  Gospel,  and  Commons  of  all  sorts  within  this 
kingdom,  by  the  good  hand  of  God  upon  us,  taking  into 
serious  consideration  the  many  sad  afflictions  and  deep  dis- 
tresses wherewith  we  have  been  exercised  for  a  long  time 
past;  and  that  the  land,  after  it  hath  been  sore  wasted  with 
the  sword  and  the  pestilence,  and  threatened  with  famine; 
and  that  shame  and  contempt  have  been  poured  out  from 
the  Lord  against  many  thousands  of  our  naiion,  who  did  in 
a  sinful  way  make  war  upon  the  kingdom  of  England,  con- 
trary to  the  testimony  of  his  servants,  and  desires  of  his 
people ;  and  that  the  remnants  of  that  army,  returning  to 
this  land,  have  spoiled  and  oppressed  many  of  our  brethren; 
and  that  the  malignant  party  is  still  numerous,  and,  retain- 
ing their  former  principles,  wait  for  an  opportunity  to  raise 
a  new  and  dangerous  war,  not  only  unto  the  rending  of  the 
bowels  of  this  kingdom,  but  unto  the  dividing  us  from  Eng- 
land, and  overturning  of  the  work  of  God  in  all  the  three 
kingdoms ;  and  considering  also,  that  a  cloud  of  calamities 
doth  still  hang  over  our  heads,  and  threaten  us  with  sad 
things  to  come,  we  cannot  but  look  upon  these  things  as 
from  the  Lord,  who  is  righteous  in  all  his  ways,  feeding  us 
with  the  bread  of  tears,  and  making  us  to  drink  the  waters 
of  affliction,  until  we  be  taught  to  know  how  evil  and  bit- 
ter a.  thing  it  is  to  depart  away  from  him,  by  breaking  the 
Oath  and  Covenant  which  we  have  made  with  him ;  and 
that  we  may  be  humbled  before  him,  by  confessing  our 
sin,  and  forsaking  the  evil  of  our  way. 


An  Acknowledgment  of  Sins,  4*c.  511 

Therefore  being  pressed  with  so  great  necessities  and 
straits,  and  warranted  by  the  word  of  God,  and  having  the 
example  of  God's  people  of  old,  who  in  the  time  of  their 
troubles,  and  when  they  were  to  seek  delivery,  and  a  right 
way  for  themselves,  that  the  Lord  might  be  with  them  to 
prosper  them,  did  humble  themselves  before  him,  and  make 
a  free  and  particular  confession  of  the  sins  of  their  princes, 
their  rulers,  their  captains,  their  priests,  and  their  people : 
and  did  engage  themselves  to  do  no  more  so,  but  to  reform 
their  ways,  and  be  steadfast  in  this  covenant;  and  remem- 
bering the  practice  of  our  predecessors  in  the  year  1596, 
wherein  the  General  Assembly,  and  all  the  kirk-judicatories, 
with  the  concurrence  of  many  of  the  nobility,  gentry,  and 
burgesses,  did,  with  many  tears,  acknowledge  before  God  the 
breach  of  the  National  Covenant,  and  engaged  themselves 
to  a  reformation ;  even  as  our  predecessors  and  theirs  had 
before  done,  in  the  General  Assembly  and  Convention  of 
Estates,  in  the  year  1567;  and  perceiving  that  this  duty, 
when  gone  about  out  of  conscience  and  in  sincerity,  hath 
always  been  attended  with  a  reviving  out  of  troubles,  and 
with  a  blessing  and  success  from  Heaven ;  we  do  humbly 
and  sincerely,  as  in  his  sight,  who  is  the  Searcher  of  hearts, 
acknowledge  the  many  sins  and  great  transgressions  of  the 
land:  we  have  done  wickedly,  our  kings,  our  princes,  our 
nobles,  our  judges,  our  officers,  our  teachers,  and  our  people. 
Albeit  the  Lord  hath  long  and  clearly  spoken  unto  us,  we 
have  not  hearkened  to  his  voice:  albeit  he  hath  followed  us 
with  tender  mercies,  we  have  not  been  allured  to  wait  upon 
him,  and  walk  in  his  way;  and  though  he  hath  stricken  us, 
yet  we  have  not  grieved;  nay,  though  he  hath  consumed 
us,  we  have  refused  to  receive  correction:  we  have  not  re- 
membered to  render  unto  the  Lord  according  to  his  good- 
ness, and  according  to  our  own  vows  and  promises,  but  have 
gone  away  backward  by  a  continued  course  of  backsliding, 
and  have  broken  all  the'  articles  of  that  Solemn  League  and  ' 
Covenant,  which  we  swore  before  God,  angels,  and  men. 

Albeit  there  be  in  the  land  many  of  all  ranks,  who  be  for  a 
testimony  unto  the  truth,  and  for  a  name  of  joy  and  praise 
unto  the  Lord,  Driving  godly,  studying  to  kee'p  their  gar- 
ments pure,  and  being  steadfast  in  the  covenant  and  cause  of 


512  Jin  Acknowledgment  of  Sins, 

God;  yet  we  have  reason  to  acknowledge  that  most  of  us 
have  not  endeavoured,  with  that  reality,  sincerity,  and  con- 
stancy that  did  become  us,  to  preserve  the  work  of  reforma- 
tion in  the  kirk  of  Scotland :  many  have  satisfied  themselves 
with  the  purity  of  the  ordinances,  neglecting  the  power 
thereof;  yea,  some  have  turned  aside  to  crooked  ways,  de- 
structive to  both.  The  profane,  loose,  and  insolent  carriage 
of  many  in  our  armies,  who  went  to  the  assistance  of  our 
brethren  in  England,  and  the  tamperings  and  unstraight 
dealing  of  some  of  our  commissioners,  and  others  of  our  na- 
tion, in  London,  the  Isle  of  Wight,  and  other  places  of  that 
kingdom,  have  proved  great  lets  to  the  work  of  reformation 
and  settling  of  kirk-government  there,  whereby  error  and 
schism  in  that  land  have  been  increased,  and  sectaries  har- 
dened in  their  way.  We  have  been  so  far  from  endeavour- 
ing the  extirpation  of  profaneness,  and  what  is  contrary  to 
the  power  of  godliness,  that  profanity  hath  been  much 
winked  at,  and  profane  persons  much  countenanced,  and 
many  times  employed.,  until  iniquity  and  ungodliness  have 
gone  over  the  face  of  the  land  as  a  flood;  nay,  sufficient 
care  hath  not  been  had  to  separate  betwixt  the  precious 
and  the  vile,  by  debarring  from  the  sacrament  all  ignorant 
and  scandalous  persons,  according  to  the  ordinances  of  this 
kirk. 

Neither  have  the  privileges  of  the  Parliaments  and  liber- 
ties of  the  subject  been  duly  tendered ;  but  some  amongst 
ourselves  have  laboured  to  put  into  the  hands  of  our  King 
an  arbitrary  and  unlimited  power,  destructive  to  both;  and 
many  of  us  have  been  accessory  of  late  to  those  means  and 
ways,  whereby  the  freedom  and  privileges  of  Parliaments 
have  been  encroached  upon,  and  the  subjects  oppressed  in 
their  consciences,  persons,  and  estates;  neither  hath  it  been 
our  care  to  avoid  these  things  which  might  harden  the  King 
in  his  evil  way;  but,  upon  the  contrary,  he  hath  not  only 
been  permitted,  but  many  of  us  have  been  instrumental  to 
make  him  exercise  his  power,  in  many  things  tending  to  the 
prejudice  of  religion,  and  of  the  Covenant,  and  of  the  peace 
and  safety  of  these  kingdoms;  which  is  so  far  from  the 
right  way  of  preserving  his  Majesty's  perfon  and  authority, 
that  it  cannot  but  provoke  the  Lord  against  him,  unto  the 


and  Engagement  to  Duties.  513 

hazard  of  both ;  nay,  under  a  pretence  of  relieving  and 
doing  for  the  King,  whilst  he  refuses  to  do  what  was  ne- 
cessary for  the  house  of  God,  some  have  ranversed  and  vio- 
lated most  of  all  the  articles  of  the  Covenant. 

Our  own  conscience  within,  and  God's  judgments  upon 
us  without,  do  convince  us  of  the  manifold  wilful  renewed 
breaches  of  that  article  which  concerneth  the  discovery  and 
punishment  of  malignarrts,  whose  crimes  have  not  only  been 
connived  at,  but  dispensed  with  and  pardoned,  and  them- 
selves received  into  intimate  fellowship  with  ourselves,  and 
intrusted  with  our  counsels,  admitted  into  our  Parliaments, 
and  put  in  places  of  power  and  authority,  for  managing 
the  public  affairs  of  the  kingdom ;  whereby,  in  God's  jus- 
tice, they  got  at  last  into  their  hands  the  whole  power  and 
strength  of  the  kingdom,  both  in  judicatories  and  armies; 
and  did  employ  the  same  unto  the  enacting  and  prosecuting 
an  unlawful  engagement  in  war  against  the  kingdom  of 
England,  notwithstanding  of  the  dissent  of  many  considera- 
ble members  of  Parliament,  who  had  given  constant  proof 
of  their  integrity  in  the  cause  from  the  beginning;  of  many 
faithful  testimonies,  and  free  warnings  of  the  servants  of 
God;  of  the  supplications  of  many  synods,  presbyteries, 
and  shires;  and  of  the  declarations  of  the  General  As- 
sembly and  their  Commissioners  to  the  contrary ;  which 
engagement,  as  it  hath  been  the  cause  of  much  sin,  so  also 
of  much  misery  and  calamity  unto  this  land;  and  holds 
forth  to  us  the  grievousness  of  our  sin,  of  complying  with 
malignants  in  the  greatness  of  our  judgment,  that  we  may 
be  taught  never  to  split  again  upon  the  same  rock,  upon 
which  the  Lord  hath  set  so  remarkable  a  beacon.  And 
after  all  that  is  come  to  pass  unto  us  because  of  this  our 
trespass;  and  after  that  grace  hath  been  showed  unto  us 
from  the  Lord  our  God,  by  breaking  these  men's  yoke 
from  off  our  necks,  and  putting  us  again  into  a  capacity  to 
act  for  the  good  of  religion,  our  own  safety,  and  the  peace 
and  the  safety  of  this  kingdom,  should  we  again  break  this 
commandment  and  covenant,  by  joining  once  more  with 
the  people  of  these  abominations,  and  taking  into  our  bosom 
those  serpents,  which  had  formerly  stung  us  almost  unto 
death ;  this,  as  it  would  argue  great  madness  and  folly  upon 


514  An  Acknowledgment  of  Sins, 

our  part,  so,  no  doubt,  if  it  be  not  avoided,  will  provoke  the 
Lord  against  us,  to  consume  us,  until  there  be  no  remnant 
nor  escaping  in  the  land. 

And  albeit  the  peace  and  union  betwixt  the  kingdoms  be 
a  great  blessing  of  God  unto  both,  and  a  bond  which  we 
are  obliged  to  preserve  unviolated,  and  to  endeavour  that 
justice  may  be  done  upon  the  opposers  thereof;  yet  some 
in  this  land,  who  have  come  under  *the  bond  of  the  Cove- 
nant, have  made  it  their  great  study  how  to  dissolve  this 
union  ;  and  few  or  no  endeavours  have  been  used  by  any  of 
us  for  punishing  of  such. 

We  have  suffered  many  of  our  brethren,  in  several  parts 
of  the  land,  to  be  oppressed  by  the  common  enemy,  without 
compassion  or  relief.  There  hath  been  great  murmuring 
and  repining,  because  of  expense  of  means,  and  pains  in 
doing  of  our  duty.  Many,  by  persuasion  or  terror,  have 
suffered  themselves  to  be  divided  and  withdrawn,  to  make 
defection  to  the  contrary  part :  many  have  turned  off  to 
a  detestable  indifferency  and  neutrality  in  this  cause,  which 
so  much  concerneth  the  glory  of  God,  and  the  good  of  these 
kingdoms;  nay,  many  have  made  it  their  study  to  walk  so, 
as  they  might  comply  with  all  times,  and  all  the  revolutions 
thereof.  It  hath  not  been  our  care  to  countenance,  encou- 
rage, intrust,  and  employ  such  only,  as  from  their  hearts  did 
affect  and  mind  God's  work;  but  the  hearts  of  such  many 
times  have  been  discouraged,  and  their  hands  weakened, 
their  sufferings  neglected,  and  themselves  slighted;  and 
many,  who  were  once  open  enemies,  and  always  secret  un- 
derminers,  countenanced  and  employed :  nay,  even  those 
who  had  been  looked  upon  as  incendiaries,  and  upon  whom 
the  Lord  has  set  marks  of  desperate  malignancy,  falsehood, 
and  deceit,  were  brought  in,  as  fit  to  manage  public  affairs : 
many  have  been  the  lets  and  impediments  that  have  been 
cast  in  the  way,  to  retard  and  obstruct  the  Lord's  work;  and 
some  have  kept  secret,  what  of  themselves  they  were  not  able 
to  suppress  and  overcome. 

Besides  these,  and  many  other  breaches  of  the  articles  of 
the  Covenant  in  the  matter  thereof,  which  it  concerneth 
every  one  of  us  to  search  out  and  acknowledge  before  the 
Lord,  as  we  would  wish  his  wrath  to  be  turned  away  from 


and  Engagement  io  Duties.  515 

us)  so  have  many  of  us  failed  exceedingly  in  the  manner  of 
our  following  and  pursuing  the  duties  contained  therein ; 
not  only  seeking  great  things  for  ourselves,  and  mixing  of 
our  private  interests  and  ends  concerning  ourselves,  and 
friends,  and  followers,  with  those  things  which  concern  the 
public  good;  but  many  times  preferring  such  to  the  ho- 
nour of  God,  and  good  of  his  cause,  and  retarding  God's 
work,  until  we  might  carry  along  with  us  our  own  interests 
and  designs.  It  hath  been  our  way  to  trust  in  the  means, 
and  to  rely  upon  the  arm  of  flesh  for  success,  albeit  the  Lord 
hath  many  times  made  us  meet  with  disappointment  there- 
in, and  stained  the  pride  of  all  our  glory,  by  blasting  every 
carnal  confidence  unto  us:  we  have  followed,  for  the  most 
part,  the  counsels  of  flesh  and  blood,  and  walked  more  by 
the  rules  of  policy  than  piety,  and  have  hearkened  more 
unto  men  than  unto  God. 

Albeit  we  made  solemn  public  profession  before  the  world, 
of  our  unfeigned  desires  to  be  humbled  before  the  Lord  for 
our  own  sins,  and  the  sins  of  these  kingdoms,  especially  for 
our  undervaluing  of  the  inestimable  benefit  of  the  gospel, 
and  that  we  have  not  laboured  for  the  power  thereof,  and 
received  Christ  into  our  hearts,  and  walked  worthy  of  him 
in  our  lives;  and  of  our  true  and  unfeigned  purpose,  desire, 
and  endeavour,  for  ourselves,  and  all  others  under  our 
power  and  charge,  both  in  public  and  private,  in  all  the 
duties  which  we  owe  to  God  and  man,  to  amend  our  lives, 
and  each  one  to  go  before  another  in  the  example  of  a  real 
reformation,  that  the  Lord  might  turn  away  his  wrath  and 
heavy  indignation,  and  establish  these  kirks  and  kingdoms 
in  truth  and  peace ;  yet  we  have  refused  to  be  reformed, 
and  have  walked  proudly  and  obstinately  against  the  Lord, 
not  valuing  his  gospel,  nor  submitting  ourselves  unto  the 
obedience  thereof;  nor  seeking  after  Christ,  nor  studying 
to  honour  him  in  the  excellency  of  his  person,  nor  emplov 
him  in  the  virtue  of  his  offices ;  nor  making  conscience  of 
public  ordinances,  nor  private  nor  secret  duties  ;  nor  study- 
ing to  edify  one  another  in  love.  Ignorance  of  God,  and  of 
his  Son  Jesus  Christ,  prevails  exceedingly  in  the  land ;  the 
greatest  part  of  masters  of  families,  amongst  Noblemen, 
Barons,  Gentlemen,  Burgesses,  and  Commons,  neglect  to 


1 


516  An  Acknowledgment  of  Sins, 


seek  God  in  their  families,  and  to  endeavour  the  reforma- 
tion thereof;  and  albeit  it  hath  been  much  pressed,  yet  few 
of  our  nobles  and  great  ones,  ever  to  this  day,  could  be 
persuaded  to  perform  family-duties  themselves,  and  in  their 
own  persons ;  which  makes  so  necessary  and  useful  a  duty 
to  be  misregarded  by  others  of  inferior  rank;  nay,  many  of 
the  Nobility,  Gentry,  and  Burrows,  who  should  have  been 
examples  of  godliness  and  sober  walking  unto  others,  have 
been  ringleaders  of  excess  and  rioting.  Albeit  we  be  the 
Lord's  people,  engaged  to  him  in  a  solemn  way;  yet  to  this 
day  we  have  not  made  it  our  study,  that  judicatories  and 
armies  should  consist  of,  and  places  of  power  and  trust  be 
filled  with,  men  of  a  blameless  and  Christian  conversation, 
and  of  known  integrity,  and  approven  fidelity,  affection,  and 
zeal,  unto  the  cause  of  God;  but  not  only  those  who  have 
been  neutral  and  indifferent,  hut  disaffected  and  malignant, 
and  others  who  have  been  profane  and  scandalous,  have 
been  intrusted:  by  which  it  hath  come  to  pass,  that  judica- 
tories have  been  the  seats  of  injustice  and  iniquity;  and 
many  in  our  armies,  by  their  miscarriages,  have  become 
our  plague,  unto  the  great  prejudice  of  the  cause  of  God, 
the  great  scandal  of  the  gospel,  and  the  great  increase  of 
looseness  and-  profanity  throughout  all  the  land.  It  were 
impossible  to  reckon  up  all  the  abominations  that  are  in  the 
land ;  but  the  blaspheming  of  the  name  of  God,  swearing 
by  the  creatures,  profanation  of  the  Lord's  day,  unclean- 
ness,  drunkenness,  excess  and  rioting,  vanity  of  apparel, 
lying  and  deceit,  railing  and  cursing,  arbitrary  and  uncon- 
trolled oppression,  and  grinding  of  the  faces  of  the  poor  by 
landlords,  and  others  in  place  and  power,  are  become  ordi- 
nary and  common  sins ;  and  besides  all  these  things,  there 
be  many  other  transgressions,  whereof  the  lands  wherein 
we  live  are  guilty.  All  which  we  desire  to  acknowledge 
and  to  be  humbled  for,  that  the  world  may  bear  witness 
with  us,  that  righteousness  belongeth  unto  God,  and  shame 
and  confusion  of  face  unto  us,  as  appears  this  day. 

And  because  it  is  needful  for  those  who  find  mercy,  not 
only  to  confess,  but  also  to  forsake  their  sin;  therefore,  that 
the  reality  and  sincerity  of  our  repentance  may  appear,  we 
do  resolve  and  solemnly  engage  ourselves,  before  the  Lord, 


and  Engagement  to  Duties.  517 

carefully  to  avoid  for  the  time  to  come  all  these  offences, 
whereof  we  have  now  made  solemn  public  acknowledgment, 
and  all  the  snares  and  tentations  which  tend  thereunto  ;  and 
to  testify  the  integrity  of  our  resolution  herein,  and  that  we 
may  be  the  better  enabled  in  the  power  of  the  Lord's  strength 
to  perform  the  same,  we  do  again  renew  our  Solemn  League 
and  Covenant ;  promising  hereafter  to  make  conscience  of  all 
the  duties  whereunto  we  are  obliged,  in  all  the  heads  and 
articles  thereof,  particularly  of  these  that  follow. 

I.  Because  religion  is  of  all  things  the  most  excellent  and 
precious,  the  advancing  and  promoting  the  power  thereof 
against  all  ungodliness  and  profanity,  the  securing  and  pre- 
serving the  purity  thereof  against   all  error,  heresy,  and 
schism,  and  namely,  Independency,  Anabaptism,  Antino- 
mianism,  Arminianism,  and  Socinianism,  Familism,  Liber- 
tinism, Skepticism,  and  Erastianism,  and  the  carrying  on 
■  the  work  of  uniformity,  shall  be  studied  and  endeavoured 
by  us  before  all  worldly  interests,  whether  concerning  the 
King,  ourselves,  or  any  other  whatsomever.     2.  Because 
many  have  of  late  laboured  to  supplant  the  liberties  of  the 
kirk,  we  shall  maintain  and  defend  the  kirk  of  Scotland,  in 
all  her  liberties  and  privileges,  against  all  who  shall  oppose 
or  undermine  the  same,  or  encroach  thereupon,  under  any 
pretext  whatsomever.     3.  We  shall  vindicate  and  maintain 
the  liberties  of  the  subjects,  in  all  those  things  which  con- 
cern their  consciences,  persons,  and  estates.     4.  We  shall 
carefully  maintain  and  defend  the  union  betwixt  the  king- 
doms, and  avoid  every  thing  that  may  weaken  the  same,  or 
involve  us  in  any  measure  of  accession  unto  the  guilt  of 
those  who  have  invaded  the  kingdom  of  England.     5.  As 
we  have  been  always  loyal  to  our  King,  so  we  shall  still 
endeavour  to  give  unto  God  that  which  is  God's,  and  to 
Cesar  the  things  which  are  Cesar's.     6.    We  shall  be  so 
far  from  conniving  at,  complying  with,  or  countenancing  of, 
malignancy,  injustice,  iniquity,  profanity,  and  impiety,  that 
we  shall  not  only  avoid  and  discountenance  those  things, 
and  cherish  and  encourage  those  persons  who  are  zealous 
for  the  cause  of  God,  and  walk  according  to  the  gospel; 
but  also  shall  take  a  more  effectual  course  than  heretofore, 
in  our  respective  places   and  callings,  for  punishing  and 
44 


518  An  Acknowledgment  of  Sins,  #c. 

suppressing  these  evils ;  and  faithfully  endeavour,  that  the 
best  and  fittest  remedies  may  be  applied  for  taking  away 
the  causes  thereof,  and  advancing  the  knowledge  of  God, 
and  holiness  and  righteousness  in  the  land.  And  therefore, 
in  the  last  place,  as  we  shall  earnestly  pray  unto  God,  that 
he  would  give  us  able  men,  fearing  God,  men  of  truth,  and 
hating  covetousness,  to  judge  and  bear  charge  among  his 
people ;  so  we  shall,  according  to  our  places  and  callings, 
endeavour  that  judicatories,  and  all  places  of  power  and 
trust,  both  in  kirk  and  state,  may  consist  of,  and  be  filled 
with,  such  men  as  are  of  known  good  affection  to  the  cause 
of  God,  and  of  a  blameless  and  Christian  conversation. 

And,  because  there  be  many,  who  heretofore  have  not 
made  conscience  of  the  oath  of  God,  but  some  through  fear, 
others  by  persuasion,  and  upon  base  ends  and  human  in- 
terests, have  entered  thereinto,  who  have  afterwards  dis- 
covered themselves  to  have  dealt  deceitfully  with  the  Lord, 
in  swearing  falsely  by  his  name ;  therefore  we,  who  do  now 
renew  our  Covenant,  in  reference  to  these  duties,  and  all 
other  duties  contained  therein,  do,  in  the  sight  of  him  who 
is  the  Searcher  of  hearts,  solemnly  profess,  that  it  is  not 
upon  any  politic  advantage,  or  private  interest  or  by-end, 
or  because  of  any  terror  or  persuasion  from  men,  or  hypo- 
critically and  deceitfully,  that  we  do  again  take  upon  us 
the  oath  of  God,  but  honestly  and  sincerely,  and  from  the 
sense  of  our  duty :  and  that  therefore,  denying  ourselves, 
and  our  own  things,  and  laying  aside  all  self-interest  and 
ends,  we  shall  above  all  things  seek  the  honour  of  God,  the 
good  of  his  cause,  and  the  wealth  of  his  people ;  and  that 
forsaking  the  counsels  of  flesh  and  blood,  and  not  leaning 
upon  carnal  confidences,  we  shall  depend  upon  the  Lord, 
walk  by  the  rule  of  his  word,  and  hearken  to  the  voice  of 
his  servants.  In  all  which,  professing  our  own  weakness, 
we  do  earnestly  pray  to  God,  who  is  the  Father  of  mercies, 
through  his  Son  Jesus  Christ,  to  be  merciful  unto  us,  and 
to  enable  us,  by  the  power  of  his  might,  that  we  may  do 
our  duty,  unto  the  praise  of  his  grace  in  the  churches. 
Amen. 

FINIS. 


DIRECTORY 

FOR  THE 

PUBLIC    WORSHIP     OF     GOD. 

AGREED  CP03T  BY 

THE    ASSEMBLY    OF    DIVINES 
AT  WESTMINSTER, 

WITH  THE  ASSISTAXCB  OF 

COMMISSIONERS 

FROM  THE 

CHURCH   OF  SCOTLAND, 

AS 

A  part  of  the  Covenanted  Uniformity  in  Religion  betwixt  the  Churches  of 
Christ  in  the  Kingdoms  of  Scotland,  England,  and  Ireland: 

WITH 

An  Act  of  the  General  Assembly,  and  Act  of  Parliament,  both  in  Anno 
1645,  approving  and  establishing  the  said  Directory. 


1  Cor.  xiv.  40.  Let  all  things  be  done  decently,  and  in  order. 
Ver.  26.  Let  all  things  be  done  to  edifying. 


[    521     ] 


Charles  I.  Pari.  3.  Sess.  5. 

An  Act  of  the  Parliament  of  the  Kingdom  of  Scotland,  approving 
and  establishing  the  Directory  for  Public  Worship. 

At  Edinburgh,  February  6,  1645, 

The  Estates  of  Parliament  now  convened,  in  the  second 
session  of  this  first  triennial  Parliament,  by  virtue  of 
the  last  act  of  the  last  Parliament  holden  by  his  Majesty 
and  the  Three  Estates,  in  anno  1641;  after  the  public 
reading  and  serious  consideration  of  the  act  under-written 
of  the  General  Assembly,  approving  the  following  Direc- 
tory for  the  public  worship  of  God  in  the  three  kingdoms, 
lately  united  by  the  Solemn  League  and  Covenant,  toge- 
ther with  the  ordinance  of  the  Parliament  of  England  esta- 
blishing the  said  Directory,  and  the  Directory  itself;  do 
heartily  and  cheerfully  agree  to  the  said  Directory,  accord- 
ing to  the  act  of  the  General  Assembly  approving  the  same. 
Which  act,  together  with  the  Directory  itself,  the  Estates 
of  Parliament  do,  without  a  contrary  voice,  ratify  and  ap- 
prove in  all  the  Heads  and  Articles  thereof;  and  do  inter- 
pone  and  add  the  authority  of  Parliament  to  the  said  act  of 
the  General  Assembly.  And  do  ordain  the  same  to  have 
the  strength  and  force  of  a  law  and  act  of  Parliament,  and 
execution  to  pass  thereupon,  for  observing  the  said  Direc- 
tory, according  to  the  said  act  of  the  General  Assembly  in 
all  points. 

ALEX.  GIBSON,  Ckr.  Registri, 


*44 


[    522    ] 


Assembly  at  Edinburgh,  February  3,  1645.  Sess.  10. 

Act  of  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Kirk  of  Scotland,  for  the  es- 
tablishing and  putting  in  Execution  of  the  Directory  for  the 
Public  Worship  of  God, 

Whereas  a  happy  unity,  and  uniformity  in  religion 
amongst  the  kirks  of  Christ,  in  these  three  kingdoms, 
united  under  one  Sovereign,  having  been  long  and  earnestly 
wished  for  by  the  godly  and  well-affected  amongst  us,  was 
propounded  as  a  main  article  of  the  large  treaty,  without, 
which  band  and  bulwark,  no  safe,  well  grounded,  and  last- 
ing peace  could  be  expected ;  and  afterward,  with  greater 
strength  and  maturity,  revived  in  the  Solemn  League  and 
Covenant  of  the  three  kingdoms  -y  whereby  they  stand  strait- 
\y  obliged  to  endeavour  the  nearest  uniformity  in  one  form 
of  Church-government,  Directory  of  Worship,  Confession 
of  Faith,  and  Form  of  Catechising ;  which  hath  also  before, 
and  since  our  entering  into  that  Covenant,  been  the  matter 
of  many  supplications  and  remonstrances,  and  sending  Com- 
missioners to  the  King's  Majesty;  of  declarations  to  the 
Honourable  Houses  of  the  Parliament  of  England,  and  of 
letters  to  the  Reverend  Assembly  of  Divines,  and  others  of 
the  ministry  of  the  kirk  of  England ;  being  also  the  end  of 
our  sending  Commissioners,  as  was  desired,  from  this  kirk, 
with  Commission  to  treat  of  uniformity  in  the  four  par- 
ticulars afore-mentioned,  with  such  committees  as  should 
be  appointed  by  both  Houses  of  Parliament  of  England, 
and  by  the  Assembly  of  Divines  sitting  at  Westminister ; 
and  besides  all  this,  it  being,  in  point  of  conscience,  the 
chief  motive  and  end  of  our  adventuring  upon  manifold 
and  great  hazards,  for  quenching  the  devouring  flame  of 
the  present  unnatural  and  bloody  war  in  England,  though 
to  the  weakening  of  this  kingdom  within  itself,  and  the 
advantage  of  the  enemy  which  have  invaded  it;  accounting 
nothing  too  dear  to  us,  so  that  this  our  joy  be  fulfilled. 
And  now  this  great  work  being  so  far  advanced,  that  a 
Directory  for  the  Public  Worship  of  God  in  all  the  three 


[     523     ] 

kingdoms  being  agreed  upon  by  the  Honourable  Houses  of 
the  Parliament  of  England,  after  consultation  with  the 
Divines  of  both  kingdoms  there  assembled,  and  sent  to  us 
for  our  approbation,  that,  being  also  agreed  upon  by  this 
kirk  and  kingdom  of  Scotland,  it  may  be  in  the  name  of 
both  kingdoms  presented  to  the  King,  for  his  royal  con- 
sent and  ratification ;  the  General  Assembly,  having  most 
seriously  considered,  revised,  and  examined  the  Directory 
afore-mentioned,  after  several  public  readings  of  it,  after 
much  deliberation,  both  publicly  and  in  private  commit- 
tees, after  full  liberty  given  to  all  to  object  against  it,  and 
earnest  invitations  of  all  who  have  any  scruples  about  it,  to 
make  known  the  same,  that  they  might  be  satisfied ;  doth 
unanimously,  and  without  a  contrary  voice,  agree  to  and 
approve  the  following  Directory,  in  all  the  heads  thereof, 
together  with  the  Preface  set  before  it ;  and  doth  require, 
decern,  and  ordain,  That,  according  fo  the  plain  tenor  and 
meaning  thereof,  and  the  intent  of  the  Preface,  it  be  care- 
fully and  uniformly  observed  and  practised  by  all  the  minis- 
ters and  others  within  this  kingdom  whom  it  doth  con- 
cern ;  which  practice  shall  be  begun,  upon  intimation  given 
to  the  several  presbyteries  from  the  Commissioners  of  this 
General  Assembly,  who  shall  also  take  special  care  for  time- 
ous  printing  of  this  Directory,  that  a  printed  copy  of  it  be 
provided  and  kept  for  the  use  of  every  kirk  in  this  kingdom ; 
also  that  each  presbytery  have  a  printed  copy  thereof  for 
their  use,  and  take  special  notice  of  the  observation  or  ne- 
glect thereof  in  every  congregation  within  their  bounds, 
and  make  known  the  same  to  the  Provincial  or  General 
Assembly,  as  there  shall  be  cause.  Provided  always,  That 
the  clause  in  the  Directory,  of  the  administration  of  the 
Lord's  Supper,,  which  mentioneth  the  communicants  sitting 
about  the  table,  or  at  it,  be  not  interpreted,  as  if,  in  the 
judgment  of  this  kirk,  it  were  indifferent,  and  free  for  any 
of  the  communicants  not  to  come  to,  and  receive  at  the  ta- 
ble ;  or  as  if  we  did  approve  the  distributing  of  the  elements 
by  the  minister  to  each  communicant,  and  not  by  the 
communicants  among  themselves.  It  is  also  provided, 
That  this  shall  be  no  prejudice  to  the  order  and  practice  of 
this  kirk,  in  such  particulars  as  are  appointed  by  the  books 


[     524     3 

of  discipline,  and  acts  of  General  Assemblies,  and  are  not 
otherwise  ordered  and  appointed  in  the  Directory. 

Finally,  The  Assembly  doth,  with  much  joy  and  thank- 
fulness, acknowledge  the  rich  blessing  and  invaluable  mercy 
of  God,  in  bringing  the  so  much  wished  for  uniformity  in 
religion  to  such  a  happy  period,  that  these  kingdoms,  once 
at  so  great  a  distance  in  the  form  of  worship,  are  now,  by 
the  blessing  of  God,  brought  to  a  nearer  uniformity  than 
any  other  reformed  kirks ;  which  is  unto  us  the  return  of 
our  prayers,  and  a  lightening  of  our  eyes,  and  reviving  of 
our  hearts  in  the  midst  of  our  many  sorrows  and  sufferings : 
a  taking  away,  in  a  great  measure,  the  reproach  of  the 
people  of  God,  to  the  stopping  of  the  mouths  of  malignant 
and  disaffected  persons ;  and  an  opening  unto  us  a  door  of 
hope,  that  God  hath  yet  thoughts  of  peace  towards  us,  and 
not  of  evil,  to  give  us  an  expected  end ;  in  the  expectation 
and  confidence  whereof  we  do  rejoice  ;  beseeching  the  Lord 
to  preserve  these  kingdoms  from  heresies,  schisms,  offences, 
profaneness,  and  whatsoever  is  contrary  to  sound  doctrine, 
and  the  power  of  godliness ;  and  to  continue  with  us,  and 
the  generations  following,  these  his  pure  and  purged  ordi- 
nances, together  with  an  increase  of  the  power  and  life 
thereof,  to  the  glory  of  his  great  name,  the  enlargement  of 
the  kingdom  of  his  Son,  the  corroboration  of  peace  and  love 
betwreen  the  kingdoms,  the  unity  and  comfort  of  all  his  peo- 
ple, and  our  edifying  one  another  in  love. 


THE   CONTENTS. 


The  Preface. 

Of  the  Assembling  of  the  Congregation. 

Of  Public  Reading  of  the  Holy  Scriptures. 

Of  Public  Prayer  before  the  Sermon. 

Of  Preaching  of  the  Word. 

Of  Prayer  after  Sermon. 

Of  the  Sacrament  of  Baptism. 

Of  the  Sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper. 

Of  the  Sanctification  of  the  Lord's  Day. 


Of  the  Solemnization  of  Marriage. 

Of  the  Visitation  of  the  Sick. 

Of  the  Burial  of  the  Dead. 

Of  Public  solemn  Fasting. 

Of  the    Observation  of  Days  of   Public 

Thanksgiving. 
Of  Sinsing  of  Psalms. 
An  Appendix  touching  Days  and  Places 

of  Public  Worship. 


THE 

DIRECTORY 

FOR  THE 

PUBLIC    WORSHIP    OF    GOD. 


THE   PREFACE. 

Is  the  beginning  of  the  blessed  Reformation,  our  wise 
and  pious  ancestors  took  care  to  set  forth  an  order  for  re- 
dress of  many  things,  which  they  then,  by  the  word,  dis- 
covered to  be  vain,  erroneous,  superstitious,  and  idolatrous, 
in  the  public  worship  of  God.  This  occasioned  many  god- 
ly and  learned  men  to  rejoice  much  in  the  Book  of  Common 
Prayer,  at  that  time  set  forth ;  because  the  mass,  and  the 
rest  of  the  Latin  service  being  removed,  the  public  worship 
was  celebrated  in  our  own  tongue :  many  of  the  common 
people  also  received  benefit  by  hearing  the  scriptures  read 
in  their  own  language,  which  formerly  were  unto  them  as 
a  book  that  is  sealed. 

Howbeit,  long  and  sad  experience  hath  made  it  manifest,, 
that  the  Liturgy  used  in  the  Church  of  England,  (notwith- 
standing all  the  pains  and  religious  intentions  of  the  Compi- 


, 


526  The  Preface. 

lers  of  it,)  hath  proved  an  offence,  not  only  to  many  of  the 
godly  at  home,  but  also  to  the  reformed  Churches  abroad. 
For,  not  to  speak  of  urging  the  reading  of  all  the  prayers, 
■which  very  greatly  increased  the  burden  of  it,  the  many 
unprofitable  and  burdensome  ceremonies  contained  in  it  have 
occasioned  much  mischief,  as  well  by  disquieting  the  con- 
sciences of  many  godly  ministers  and  people,  who  could  not 
yield  unto  them,  as  by  depriving  them  of  the  ordinances  of 
God,  which  they  might  not  enjoy  without  conforming  or 
subscribing  to  those  ceremonies.  Sundry  good  Christians 
have  been,  by  means  thereof,  kept  from  the  Lord's  table ; 
and  divers  able  and  faithful  ministers  debarred  from  the  ex- 
ercise of  their  ministry,  (to  the  endangering  of  many  thou- 
sand souls,  in  a  time  of  such  scarcity  of  faithful  pastors,) 
and  spoiled  of  their  livelihood,  to  the  undoing  of  them  and 
their  families.  Prelates,  and  their  faction,  have  laboured 
to  raise  the  estimation  of  it  to  such  a  height,  as  if  there  were 
no  other  worship,  or  way  of  worship  of  God,  amongst  us, 
but  only  the  Service-book ;  to  the  great  hinderance  of  the 
preaching  of  the  word,  and  (in  some  places,  especially  of 
late)  to  the  justiing  of  it  out  as  unnecessary,  or  at  best,  as 
far  inferior  to  the  reading  of  common  prayer ;  which  was 
made  no  better  than  an  idol  by  many  ignorant  and  supersti- 
tious people,  who,  pleasing  themselves  in  their  presence  at 
that  service,  and  their  lip-labour  in  bearing  a  part  in  it,  have 
thereby  hardened  themselves  in  their  ignorance  and  care- 
lessness of  saving  knowledge  and  true  piety. 

In  the  mean  time,  Papists  boasted  that  the  book  was  a 
compliance  with  them  in  a  great  part  of  their  service ;  and 
so  were  not  a  little  confirmed  in  their  superstition  and  ido- 
latry, expecting  rather  our  return  to  them,  than  endeavour- 
ing the  reformation  of  themselves:  in  which  expectation 
they  were  of  late  very  much  encouraged,  when,  upon  the 
pretended  warrantableness  of  imposing  of  the  former  cere- 
monies, new  ones  were  daily  obtruded  upon  the  Church. 

Add  hereunto,  (which  was  not  foreseen,  but  since  hath  come 
to  pass,)  that  the  Liturgy  hath  been  a  great  means,  as  on  the 
one  hand  to  make  and  increase  an  idle  and  unedifying  minis- 
try, which  contented  itself  with  set  forms  made  to  their  hands 
by  others,  without  putting  forth  themselves  to  exercise  the 


The  Preface.  527 

gift  of  prayer,  with  which  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  pleaseth  to 
furnish  all  his  servants  whom  he  calls  to  that  office:  so,  on 
the  other  side,  it  hath  been  (and  ever  would  be,  if  continued) 
a  matter  of  endless  strife  and  contention  in  the  Church,  and 
a  snare  both  to  many  godly  and  faithful  ministers,  who  have 
been  persecuted  and  silenced  upon  that  occasion,  and  to  others 
of  hopeful  parts,  many  of  which  have  been,  and  more  still 
would  be,  diverted  from  all  thoughts  of  the  ministry  to  other 
studies ;  especially  in  these  latter  times,  wherein  God  vouch- 
safed to  his  people  more  and  better  means  for  the  discovery 
of  error  and  superstition,  and  for  attaining  of  knowledge  in 
the  mysteries  of  godliness,  and  gifts  in  preaching  and  prayer. 

Upon  these,  and  many  the  like  weighty  considerations  in 
reference  to  the  whole  book  in  general,  and  because  of  di- 
vers particulars  contained  in  it ;  not  from  any  love  to  novel- 
ty, or  intention  to  disparage  our  first  reformers,  (of  whom 
we  are  persuaded,  that,  were  they  now  alive,  they  would 
join  with  us  in  this  work,  and  whom  we  acknowledge  as 
excellent  instruments,  raised  by  God,  to  begin  the  purging 
and  building  of  his  house,  and  desire  they  may  be  had  of  us 
and  posterity  in  everlasting  remembrance,  with  thankfulness 
and  honour,)  but  that  we  may  in  some  measure  answer  the 
gracious  providence  of  God,  which  at  this  time  calleth  upon 
us  for  farther  reformation,  and  may  satisfy  our  own  con- 
sciences, and  answer  the  expectation  of  other  reformed 
churches,  and  the  desires  of  many  of  the  godly  among  our- 
selves, and  withal  give  some  public  testimony  for  our  endea- 
vours for  uniformity  in  divine  worship,  which  we  have  pro- 
mised in  our  Solemn  League  and  Covenant ;  we  have,  after 
earnest  and  frequent  calling  upon  the  name  of  God,  and  after 
much  consultation,  not  with  flesh  and  blood,  but  with  his 
holy  word,  resolved  to  lay  aside  the  former  Liturgy,  with 
the  many  rites  and  ceremonies  formerly  used  in  the  worship 
of  God  ;  and  have  agreed  upon  this  following  Directory  for 
all  the  parts  of  public  worship,  at  ordinary  and  extraordi- 
nary times. 

Wherein  our  care  hath  been  to  hold  forth  such  things  as 
are  of  divine  institution  in  every  ordinance  ;  and  other  thing? 
we  have  endeavoured  to  set  forth  according  to  the  rules  of 
Christian  prudence,  agreeable  to  the  general  rules  of  the 
word  of  God ;  our  meaning  therein  being  only,  that  the 


528         The  Directory  for  the  Public  Worship  of  God. 

general  heads,  the  sense  and  scope  of  the  prayers,  and  other 
parts  of  public  worship,  being  known  to  all,  there  may  be 
a  consent  of  all  the  churches  in  those  things  that  contain 
the  substance  of  the  service  and  worship  of  God :  and  the 
ministers  may  be  hereby  directed,  in  their  administrations,  to 
keep  like  soundness  in  doctrine  and  prayer,  and  may,  if  need 
be,  have  some  help  and  furniture,  and  yet  so  as  they  become 
not  hereby  slothful  and  negligent  in  stirring  up  the  gifts  of 
Christ  in  them ;  but  that  each  one,  by  meditation,  by  taking 
heed  to  himself,  and  the  flock  of  God,  committed  to  him, 
and  by  wise  observing  the  ways  of  divine  providence,  may 
be  careful  to  furnish  his  heart  and  tongue  with  farther  or 
other  materials  of  prayer  and  exhortation,  as  shall  be  need- 
ful upon  all  occasions. 

Of  the  Assembling  of  the  Congregation,  and  their  Behaviour  in 
the  Public  Worship  of  God. 

When  the  congregation  is  to  meet  for  public  worship,  the 
people  (having  before  prepared  their  hearts  thereunto) 
ought  all  to  come  and  join  therein;  not  absenting  themselves 
from  the  public  ordinances  through  negligence,  or  upon 
pretence  of  private  meetings. 

Let  all  enter  the  assembly,  not  irreverently,  but  in  a  grave 
and  seemly  manner,  taking  their  seats  and  places  without 
adoration,  or  bowing  themselves  towards  one  place  or  other. 

The  congregation  being  assembled,  the  minister,  after  so- 
lemn calling  on  them  to  the  worshipping  of  the  great  name 
of  God,  is  to  begin  with  prayer, 

u  In  all  reverence  and  humility  acknowledging  the  in- 
"  comprehensible  greatness  and  majesty  of  the  Lord,  (in 
"  whose  presence  they  do  then  in  a  special  manner  appear,) 
"  and  their  own  vileness  and  unworthiness  to  approach  so 
"  near  him,  with  their  utter  inability  of  themselves  to  so 
"  great  a  work ;  and  humbly  beseeching  him  for  pardon, 
"  assistance,  and  acceptance,  in  the  whole  service  then  to  be 
"  performed ;  and  for  a  blessing  on  that  particular  portion 
"  of  his  word  then  to  be  read :  And  all  in  the  name  and 
"  mediation  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ." 

The  public  worship  being  begun,  the  people  are  wholly 
to  attend  upon  it,  forbearing  to  read  any  thing,  except  what 


The  Directory  for  the  Public  Worship  of  God.         529 

the  minister  is  then  reading  or  citing ;  and  abstaining  much 
more  from  all  private  whisperings,  conferences,  salutations, 
or  doing  reverence  to  any  person  present,  or  coming  in ;  as 
also  from  all  gazing,  sleeping,  and  other  indecent  behaviour, 
which  may  disturb  the  minister  or  people,  or  hinder  them- 
selves or  others  in  the  service  of  God. 

If  any,  through  necessity,  be  hindered  from  being  present 
at  the  beginning,  they  ought  not,  when  they  come  into  the 
congregation,  to  betake  themselves  to  their  private  devo- 
tions, but  reverently  to  compose  themselves  to  join  with  the 
assembly  in  that  ordinance  of  God  which  is  then  in  hand. 

Of  Public  Reading  of  the  Holy  Scriptures. 

Reading  of  the  word  in  the  congregation,  being  part 
of  the  public  worship  of  God,  (wherein  we  acknowledge 
our  dependence  upon  him,  and  subjection  to  him,)  and  one 
mean  sanctified  by  him  for  the  edifying  of  his  people,  is  to 
be  performed  by  the  pastors  and  teachers. 

Howbeit,  such  as  intend  the  ministry,  may  occasionally 
both  read  the  word,  and  exercise  their  gift  in  preaching  in 
the  congregation,  if  allowed  by  the  presbytery  thereunto. 

All  the  canonical  books  of  the  Old  and  New  Testament 
(but  none  of  those  which  are  commonly  called  Apocrypha) 
shall  be  publicly  read  in  the  vulgar  tongue,  out  of  the  best 
allowed  translation,  distinctly,  that  all  may  hear  and  under- 
stand. 

How  large  a  portion  shall  be  read  at  once,  is  left  to  the 
wisdom  of  the  minister ;  but  it  is  convenient,  that  ordinarily 
one  chapter  of  each  Testament  be  read  at  every  meeting ; 
and  sometimes  more,  where  the  chapters  are  short,  or  the 
coherence  of  matter  requireth  it. 

It  is  requisite  that  all  the  canonical  books  be  read  over  in 
order,  that  the  people  may  be  better  acquainted  with  the 
whole  body  of  the  scriptures;  and  ordinarily,  where  the 
reading  in  either  Testament  endeth  on  one  Lord's  day,  it  is 
to  begin  the  next. 

We  commend  also  the  more  frequent  reading  of  such 
scriptures  as  he  that  readeth  shall  think  best  for  edification 
of  his  hearers,  as  the  book  of  Psalms,  and  such  like. 
45 


530         T7ie  Directory  for  the  Public  Worship  of  God. 

When  the  minister  who  readeth  shall  judge  it  necessary 
to  expound  any  part  of  what  is  read,  let  it  not  be  done  until 
the  whole  chapter  or  psalm  be  ended ;  and  regard  is  always 
to  be  had  unto  the  time,  that  neither  preaching,  nor  other 
ordinances  be  straitened,  or  rendered  tedious.  Which  rule 
is  to  be  observed  in  all  other  public  performances. 

Beside  public  reading  of  the  holy  scriptures,  every  per- 
son that  can  read,  is  to  be  exhorted  to  read  the  scriptures 
privately,  (and  all  others  that  cannot  read,  if  not  disabled 
by  age,  or  otherwise,  are  likewise  to  be  exhorted  to  learn 
to  read,)  and  to  have  a  Bible. 

Of  Public  Prayer  before  the  Sermon. 

After  reading  of  the  word,  (and  singing  of  the  psalm,) 
the  minister  who  is  to  preach,  is  to  endeavour  to  get  his 
own  and  his  hearers'  hearts  to  be  rightly  affected  with  their 
sins,  that  they  may  all  mourn  in  sense  thereof  before  the 
Lord,  and  hunger  and  thirst  after  the  grace  of  God  in  Jesus 
Christ,  by  proceeding  to  a  more  full  confession  of  sin,  with 
shame  and  holy  confusion  of  face,  and  to  call  upon  the  Lord 
to  this  effect : 

"  To  acknowledge  our  great  sinfulness,  First,  by  reason 
"  of  original  sin,  which  (beside  the  guilt  that  makes  us  liable 
"  to  everlasting  damnation)  is  the  seed  of  all  other  sins,  hath 
"  depraved  and  poisoned  all  the  faculties  and  pow7ers  of  soul 
"  and  body,  doth  defile  our  best  actions,  and  (were  it  not 
"  restrained,  or  our  hearts  ..renewed  by  grace)  would  break 
M  forth  into  innumerable  transgressions,  and  greatest  rebel- 
"  lions  against  the  Lord  that  ever  were  committed  by  the 
"  vilest  of  the  sons  of  men.  And  next,  by  reason  of  actual 
"  sins,  our  own  sins,  the  sins  of  magistrates,  of  ministers, 
"  and  of  the  whole  nation,  unto  which  we  are  many  ways 
"  accessory :  which  sins  of  ours  receive  many  fearful  aggra- 
"  vations,  we  having  broken  all  the  commandments  of  the 
"  holy,  just,  and  good  law  of  God,  doing  that  which  is  for- 
" bidden,  and  leaving  undone  what  is  enjoined;  and  that 
"  not  only  out  of  ignorance  and  infirmity,  but  also  more 
"  presumptuously,  against  the  light  of  our  minds,  checks  of 
"  our  consciences,  and  motions  of  his  own  Holy  Spirit  to  the 


The  Directory  for  the  Public  Worship  of  God.         531 

"  contrary,  so  that  we  have  no  cloak  for  our  sins ;  yea,  not 
"  only  despising  the  riches  of  God's  goodness,  forbearance, 
"  and  long-suffering,  but  standing  out  against  many  invita- 
"  tions  and  offers  of  grace  in  the  gospel ;  not  endeavouring, 

*  as  we  ought,  to  receive  Christ  into  our  hearts  by  faith,  or 

*  to  walk  worihy  of  him  in  our  lives. 

"To  bewail  our  blindness  of  mind,  hardness  of  heart, 
"  unbelief,  impenitency,  security,  lukewarmness,  barren- 
"ness;  our  not  endeavouring  after  mortification  and  new- 
"  ness  of  life,  nor  after  the  exercise  of  godliness  in  the 
"  power  thereof;  and  that  the  best  of  us  have  not  so  stead- 
"  fastly  walked  with  God,  kept  our  garments  so  unspotted, 
"  nor  been  so  zealous  of  his  glory,  and  the  good  of  others, 
"  as  we  ought :  and  to  mourn  over  such  other  sins  as  the 
"  congregation  is  particularly  guilty  of,  notwithstanding  the 
"  manifold  and  great  mercies  of  our  God,  the  love  of  Christ, 
"  the  light  of  the  gospel,  and  reformation  of  religion,  our 
"  own  purposes,  promises,  vows,  solemn  covenant,  and  other 
"  special  obligations,  to  the  contrary. 

"  To  acknowledge  and  confess,  that,  as  we  are  convinced 
"  of  our  guilt,  so,  out  of  a  deep  sense  thereof,  we  judge 
"  ourselves  unworthy  of  the  smallest  benefits,  most  worthy 
"  of  God's  fiercest  wrath,  and  of  all  the  curses  of  the  law, 
"  and  heaviest  judgments  inflicted  upon  the  most  rebellious 
"sinners;  and  that  he  might  most  justly  take  his  kingdom 
"  and  gospel  from  us,  plague  us  with  all  sorts  of  spiritual 
"  and  temporal  judgments  in  this  life,  and  afier  cast  us  into 
"  utter  darkness,  in  the  lake  that  burnetii  with  fire  and  brim- 
"  stone,  where  is  weeping  and  gnashing  of  teeth  for  evermore. 

"  Notwithstanding  all  which,  to  draw  near  to  the  throne 
"  of  grace,  encouraging  ourselves  with  hope  of  a  gracious 
"  answer  of  our  prayers,  in  the  riches  and  all-sufficiency  of 
"  that  only  one  oblation,  the  satisfaction  and  intercession  of 
"  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  at  the  right  hand  of  his  Father  and 
"  our  Father  ;  and  in  confidence  of  the  exceeding  great  and 
"  precious  promises  of  mercy  and  grace  in  the  new  covenant, 
"  through  the  same  Mediator  thereof,  to  deprecate  the  heavy 
"  wrath  and  curse  of  God,  which  we  are  not  able  to  avoid, 
'«  or  bear;  and  humbly  and  earnestly  to  supplicate  for  mercy, 
"  in  the  free  and  full  remission  of  all  our  sins,  and  that  only 


53L2         The  Directory  for  the  Public  Worship  of  God. 

"  for  the  bitter  sufferings  and  precious  merits  of  that  our 
'k  only  Saviour  Jesus  Christ. 

"  That  the  Lord  would  vouchsafe  to  shed  abroad  his  love 
(i  in  our  hearts  by  the  Holy  Ghost ;  seal  unto  us,  by  the 
»  u  same  Spirit  of  adoption,  the  full  assurance  of  our  pardon 
"  and  reconciliation  ;  comfort  all  that  mourn  in  Zioii,  speak 
"  peace  to  the  wounded  and  troubled  spirit,  and  bind  up 
"  the  broken-hearted:  and  as  for  secure  and  presumptuous 
"  sinners,  that  he  would  open  their  eyes,  convince  their 
"  consciences,  and  turn  them  from  darkness  unto  light,  and 
"  from  the  power  of  Satan  unlo  God,  that  they  also  may 
"  receive  forgiveness  of  sin,  and  an  inheritance  among  them 
"  that  are  sanctified  by  faith  in  Christ  Jesus. 

"  With  remission  of  sins  through  the  blood  of  Christ,  to 
"  pray  for  sanctification  by  his  Spirit ;  the  mortification  of 
"  sin  dwelling  in  and  many  times  tyrannizing  over  us;  the 
"  quickening  of  our  dead  spirits  with  the  life  of  God  in 
"  Christ ;  grace  to  fit  and  enable  us  for  all  duties  of  conver- 
"  sation  and  callings  towards  God  and  men ;  strength  against 
"temptations;  the  sanctified  use  of  blessings  and  crosses; 
"  and  perseverance  in  faith  and  obedience  unto  the  end. 

"  To  pray  for  the  propagation  of  the  gospel  and  kingdom 
"  of  Christ  to  all  nations ;  for  the  conversion  of  the  Jews, 
"  the  fulness  of  the  Gentiles,  the  fall  of  Antichrist,  and  the 
"  hastening  of  the  second  coming  of  our  Lord ;  for  the  de- 
"  liverance  of  the  distressed  churches  abroad  from  the  ty- 
"ranny  of  the  antichristian  faction,  and  from  the  cruel  op-  . 
'•'  pressions  and  blasphemies  of  the  Turk ;  for  the  blessing 
"  of  God  upon  the  reformed  churches,  especially  upon 
"'the  churches  and  kingdoms  of  Scotland,  England  and 
"  Ireland,  now  more  strictly  and  religiously  united  in  the 
"  Solemn  National  League  and  Covenant ;  and  for  our 
"  plantations  in  the  remote  parts  of  the  world :  more  par- 
"  ticularly  for  that  church  and  kingdom  whereof  we  are 
"  members,  that  therein  God  would  establish  peace  and 
"  truth,  the  purity  of  all  his  ordinances,  and  the  power  of 
•*  godliness ;  prevent  and  remove  heresy,  schism,  profane- 
"  ness,  superstition,  security,  and  unfruitfulness  under  the 
"  means  of  grace ;  heal  all  our  rents  and  divisions,  and 
'*  preserve  us  from  breach  of  our  Solemn  Covenant, 


The  Directory  for  the  Public  Worship  of  God.  533 

"  To  pray  for  all  in  authority,  especially  for  the  King's 
"  Majesty;  that  God  would  make  him  rich  in  blessings,  both 
"in  his  person  and  government;  establish  his  throne  in  re- 
"  ligion  and  righteousness,  save  him  from  evil  counsel,  and 
"  make  him  a  blessed  and  glorious  instrument  for  the  con- 
u  servation  and  propagation  of  the  gospel;  for  the  encourage- 
"  merit  and  protection  of  them  that  do  well,  the  terror  of 
"  all  that  do  evil,  and  the  great  good  of  the  whole  church, 
"and  of  all  his  kingdoms;  for  the  conversion  of  the  Queen, 
"  the  religious  education  of  the  Prince,  and  the  rest  of  the 
"  royal  seed;  for  the  comforting  the  afflicted  Queen  of  Bo- 
" hernia,  sister  to  our  sovereign:  and  for  the  restitution  and 
"  establishment  of  the  illustrious  Prince  Charles,  Elector  Pa- 
"  latine  of  the  Rhine,  to  all  his  dominions  and  dignities;  for 
"  a  blessing  upon  the  High  Court  of  Parliament,  (when  sit- 
"ting  in  any  of  these  kingdoms  respectively,)  the  nobility, 
"  the  subordinate  judges  and  magistrates,  the  gentry,  and  all 
"  the  commonalty;  for  all  pastors  and  teachers,  that  God 
"  would  fill  them  with  his  Spirit,  make  them  exemplarily 
"  holy,  sober,  just,  peaceable,  and  gracious  in  their  lives; 
"sound,  faithful  and  powerful  in  their  ministry;  and  fol- 
"  low  all  their  labours  with  abundance  of  success  and  bless- 
"ing;  and  give  unto  all  his  people  pastors  according  to  his 
"  own  heart  for  the  universities,  and  all  schools  and  reli- 
"  gious  seminaries  of  Church  and  commonwealth,  that  they 
"  may  flourish  more  and  more  in  learning  and  piety ;  for  the 
"  particular  city  or  congregation,  that  God  would  pour  out 
"  a  blessing  upon  the  ministry  of  the  word,  sacraments,  and 
"  discipline,  upon  the  civil  government,  and  all  the  several 
"  families  and  persons  therein ;  for  mercy  to  the  afflicted 
"under  any  inward  or  outward  distress;  for  seasonable 
"  weather,  and  fruitful  seasons,  as  the  time  may  require;  for 
"  averting  the  judgments  that  we  either  feel  or  fear,  or  are 
"  liable  unto,  as  famine,  pestilence,  the  sword,  and  such  like. 

"  And,  with  confidence  of  his  mercy  to  his  whole  church, 
"  and  the  acceptance  of  our  persons,  through  the  merits  and 
"  mediation  of  our  High  Priest,  the  Lord  Jesus,  to  profess 
"  that  it  is  the  desire  of  our  souls  to  have  fellowship  with 
"  God  in  the  reverend  and  conscionable  use  of  his  holy  ordi- 
"  nances ;  and,  to  that  purpose,  to  pray  earnestly  for  his 

45* 


534         The  Directory  for  the  Public  Worship  of  God. 

"  grace  and  effectual  assistance  to  the  sanctification  of  his 
"  holy  sabbath,  the  Lord's  day,  in  all  the  duties  thereof, 
"public  and  private,  both  to  ourselves,  and  to  all  other 
"  congregations  of  his  people,  according  to  the  riches  and 
"  excellency  of  the  gospel,  this  day  celebrated  and  enjoyed. 

"  And  because  we  have  been  unprofitable  hearers  in  times 
"  past,  and  now  cannot  of  ourselves  receive,  as  we  should, 
"  the  deep  things  of  God,  the  mysteries  of  Jesus  Christ, 
"  which  require  a  spiritual  discerning ;  to  pray,  that  the 
"  Lord,  who  teacheth  to  profit,  would  graciously  please  to 
"  pour  out  the  Spirit  of  grace,  together  with  the  outward 
"  means  thereof,  causing  us  to  attain  such  a  measure  of  the 
"  excellency  of  the  knowledge  of  Christ  Jesus  our  Lord,  and, 
"  in  him,  01  the  things  which  belong  to  our  peace,  that  we 
"  may  account  all  things  but  as  dross  in  comparison  of  him; 
1*  and  that  we,  tasting  the  first-fruits  of  the  glory  that  is  to  be 
"  revealed,  may  long  for  a  more  full  and  perfect  communion 
"  with  him,  that  where  he  is,  we  may  be  also,  and  enjoy 
"  the  fulness  of  those  joys  and  pleasures  which  are  at  his 
"  right  hand  for  evermore. 

"  More  particularly,  that  God  would  in  a  special  man-- 
"  ner  furnish  his  servant  (now  called  to  dispense  the  bread 
"  of  life  unto  his  household)  with  wisdom,  fidelity,  zeal,  and 
"  utterance,  that  he  may  divide  the  word  of  God  aright, 
"  to  every  one  his  portion,  in  evidence  and  demonstration 
"  of  the  Spirit  and  power ;  and  that  the  Lord  would  cir- 
"  cumcise  the  ears  and  hearts  of  the  hearers,  to  hear,  love, 
"  and  receive  with  meekness  the  ingrafted  word,  which  is 
"  able  to  save  their  souls;  make  them  as  good  ground  to 
"  receive  in  the  good  seed  of  the  word,  and  strengthen 
"  them  against  the  temptations  of  Satan,  the  cares  of  the 
"  world,  the  hardness  of  their  own  hearts,  and  whatsoever 
"else  may  hinder  their_profitable  and  saving  hearing;  that 
"  so  Christ  may  be  so  formed  in  them,  and  live  in  them, 
"  that  all  their  thoughts  may  be  brought  into  captivity  to  the 
"obedience  of  Christ,  and  their  hearts  established  in  every 
"  good  word  and  work  for  ever.'* 

We  judge  this  to  be  a  convenient  order,  in  the  ordinary 
public  prayer;  yet  so,  as  the  minister  may  defer  (as  in  pru- 
dence he  shall  think  meet)  some  part  of  these  petitions  till 


The  Directory  for  the  Public  Worship  of  God.         555 

after  his  sermon,  or  offer  up  to  God  some   of  the  thanks- 
givings hereafter  appointed,  in  his  prayer  before  his  sermon. 

Of  the  Preaching  of  the  Hard. 

Preaching  of  the  word,  being  the  power  of  God  unto 
salvation,  and  one  of  the  greatest  and  most  excellent  works 
belonging  to  the  ministry  of  the  gospel,  should  be  so  per- 
formed, that  the  workman  need  not  be  ashamed,  but  may 
save  himself,  and  those  that  hear  him. 

It  is  presupposed,  (according  to  the  rules  for  ordination,) 
that  the  minister  of  Christ  is  in  some  good  measure  gifted 
for  so  weighty  a  service,  by  his  skill  in  the  original  lan- 
guages, and  in  such  arts  and  sciences  as  are  handmaid  unto 
divinity:  by  his  knowledge  in  the  whole  body  of  theology, 
but  most  of  all  in  the  holy  scriptures,  having  his  senses  and 
heart  exercised  in  them  above  the  common  sort  of  believers; 
and  by  the  illumination  of  God's  Spirit,  and  other  gifts  of 
edification,  which  (together  with  reading  and  studying  of  the 
word)  he  ought  still  to  seek  by  prayer,  and  an  humble  heart, 
resolving  to  admit  and  receive  any  truth  not  yet  attained, 
whenever  God  shall  make  it  known  unto  him.  All  which 
he  is  to  make  use  of,  and  improve,  in  his  private  prepara- 
tions, before  he  deliver  in  public  what  he  hath  provided. 

Ordinarily,  the  subject  of  his  sermon  is  to  be  some  text 
of  scripture,  holding  forth  some  principle  or  head  of  reli- 
gion, or  suitable  to  some  special  occasion  emergent;  or  he 
may  go  on  in  some  chapter,  psalm,  or  book  of  the  holy 
scripture,  as  he  shall  see  fit. 

Let  the  introduction  to  his  text  be  brief  and  perspicuous, 
drawn  from  the  text  itself,  or  context,  or  some  parallel 
place,  or  general  sentence  of  scripture. 

If  the  text  be  long,  (as  in  histories  or  parables  it  some- 
times must  be,)  let  him  give  a  brief  sum  of  it;  if  short,  a 
paraphrase  thereof,  if  need  be:  in  both,  looking  diligently 
to  the  scope  of  the  text,  and  pointing  at  the  chief  heads  and 
grounds  of  doctrine  which  he  is  to  raise  from  it. 

In  analyzing  and  dividing  his  text,  he  is  to  regard  more 
the  order  of  matter  than  of  words;  and  neither  to  burden 
the  memory  of  the  hearers  in  the  beginning  with  too  many 


536  The  Directory  for  the  Public  Worship  of  God. 

members  of  division,  nor  to  trouble  their  minds  with  ob- 
scure terms  of  art. 

In  raising  doctrines  from  the  text,  his  care  ought  to  be, 
First,  That  the  matter  be  the  truth  of  God.  Secondly, 
That  it  be  a  truth  contained  in  or  grounded  on  that  text, 
that  the  hearers  may  discern  how  God  teacheth  it  from 
thence.  Thirdly,  That  he  chiefly  insist  upon  those  doc- 
trines which  are  principally  intended',  and  make  most  for 
the  edification  of  the  hearers. 

The  doctrine  is  to  be  expressed  in  plain  terms;  or,  if  any 
thing  in  it  need  explication,  it  is  to  be  opened,  and  the  con- 
sequence also  from  the  text  cleared.  The  parallel  places  of 
scripture,  confirming  the  doctrine,  are  rather  to  be  plain 
and  pertinent,  than  many,  and  (if  need  be)  somewhat  in- 
sisted upon,  and  applied  to  the  purpose  in  hand. 

The  arguments  or  reasons  are  to  be  solid,  and,  as  much 
as  may  be,  convincing.  The  illustrations,  of  what  kind 
soever,  ought  to  be  full  of  light,  and  such  as  may  convey 
the  truth  into  the  hearer's  heart  with  spiritual  delight. 

If  any  doubt  obvious  from  scripture,  reason,  or  prejudice 
of  the  hearers,  seem  to  arise,  it  is  very  requisite  to  remove 
it,  by  reconciling  the  seeming  differences,  answering  the 
reasons,  and  discovering  and  taking  away  the  causes  of  pre- 
judice and  mistake.  Otherwise  it  is  not  fit  to  detain  the 
hearers  with  propounding  or  answering  vain  or  wicked  ca- 
vils, which,  as  they  are  endless,  so  the  propounding  and  an- 
swering of  them  doth  more  hinder  than  promote  edification. 

He  is  not  to  rest  in  general  doctrine,  although  never  so 
much  cleared  and  confirmed,  but  to  bring  it  home  to  special 
use,  by  application  to  his  hearers:  which  albeit  it  prove  a 
work  of  great  difficulty  to  himself,  requiring  much  prudence, 
zeal,  and  meditation,  and  to  the  natural  and  corrupt  man 
will  be  very  unpleasant ;  yet  he  is  to  endeavour  to  perform 
it  in  such  manner,  that  his  auditors  may  feel  the  word  of 
God  to  be  quick  and  powerful,  and  a  discerner  of  the 
thoughts  and  intents  of  the  heart;  and  that,  if  any  unbe- 
liever or  ignorant  person  be  present,  he  may  have  the  se- 
crets of  his  heart  made  manifest,  and  give  glory  to  God. 

In  the  use  of  instruction  or  information  in  the  knowledge 
of  some  truth,  which  is  a  consequence  from  his  doctrine,  he 


The  Directory  for  the  Public  Worship  of  God. 

may  (when  convenient)  confirm  it  by  a  few  firm  arguments 
from  the  text  in  hand,  and  other  places  of  scripture,  or  from 
the  nature  of  that  common-place  in  divinity,  whereof  that 
truth  is  a  branch. 

In  confutation  of  false  doctrines,  he  is  neither  to  raise  an 
old  heresy  from  the-  grave,  nor  to  mention  a  blasphemous 
opinion  unnecessarily  :  but,  if  the  people  be  in  danger  of 
an  error,  he  is  to  confute  it  soundly,  and  endeavour  to  sa- 
tisfy their  judgments  and  consciences  against  all  objections. 

In  exhorting  to  duties,  he  is,  as  he  seem  cause,  to  teach 
also  the  means  that  help  to  the  performance  of  them. 

In  dehortation,  reprehension,  and  public  admonition, 
(which  require  special  wisdom,)  let  him,  as  there  shall  be 
cause,  not  only  discover  the  nature  and  greatness  of  the  sin, 
with  the  misery  attending  it,  but  also  show  the  danger  his 
hearers  are  in  to  be  overtaken  and  surprised- by  it,  together 
with  the  remedies  and  best  way  to  avoid  it. 

In  applying  comfort,  whether  general  against  all  tempta- 
tions, or  particular  against  some  special  troubles  or  terrors, 
he  is  carefully  to  answer  such  objections  as  a  troubled  heart 
and  afflicted  spirit  may  -  to  the  contrary. 

It  is  also  sometimes  requisite  to  give  some  notes  of  trial, 
(which  is  very  profitable,  especially  when  performed  by 
able  and  experienced  ministers,  with  circumspection  and  pru- 
dence, and  the  signs  clearly  grounded  on  the  holy  scripture.) 
whereby  the  hearers  may  be  able  to  examine  themselves 
whether  they  have  attained  those  graces,  and  performed 
those  duties,  to  which  he  exhorteth,  or  be  guilty  of  the  sin 
reprehended,  and  in  danger  of  the  judgments  threatened, 
or  are  such  to  whom  the  consolations  propounded  do  be- 
long;  that  accordingly  they  may  be  quickened  and  excited 
to  duty,  humbled  for  their  wants  and  sins,  affected  with 
their  danger,  and  strengthened  with  comfort,  as  their  con- 
dition, upon  examination,  shall  require. 

And,  as  he  needeth  not  always  to  prosecute  every  doc- 
trine which  lies  in  his  text,  so  is'he  wisely  to  make  a  choice 
of  such  uses,  as  by  his  residence  and  conversing  with  his 
flock,  he  findeth  most  needful  and  seasonable  ;  and  amongst 
these,  such  as  may  most  draw  their  souls  to  Christ,  the 
fountain  of  light,  holiness,  and  comfort. 


538         The  Directory  for  the  Public  Worship  of  God. 

This  method  is  not  prescribed  as  necessary  for  every  man, 
or  upon  every  text :  but  only  recommended,  as  being  found 
by  experience  to  be  very  much  blessed  of  God,  and  very 
helpful  for  the  people's  understandings  and  memories. 

But  the  servant  of  Christ,  whatever  his  method  be,  is  to 
perform  his  whole  ministry: 

1.  Painfully,  not  doing  the  work  of  the  Lord  negligently. 

2.  Plainly,  that  the  meanest  may  understand;  delivering 
the  truth  not  in  the  enticing  words  of  man's  wisdom,  but  in 
denaonstration  of  the  Spirit  and  of  power,  lest  the  cross  of 
Christ  should  be  made  of  none  effect ;  abstaining  also  from 
an  unprofitable  use  of  unknown  tongues,  strange  phrases, 
and  cadences  of  sounds  and  words ;  sparingly  citing  sen- 
tences of  ecclesiastical  or  other  human  writers,  ancient  or 
modern,  be  they  ever  so  elegant. 

3.  Faithfully,  looking  at  the  honour  of  Christ,  the  con- 
version, edification,  and  salvation  of  the  people,  not  at  his 
own  gain  or  glory ;  keeping  nothing  back  which  may  pro- 
mote those  holy  ends,  giving  to  every  one  his  own  portion, 
and  bearing  indifferent  respect  unto  all,  without  neglecting 
the  meanest,  or  sparing  the  greatest,  in  their  sins. 

4.  Wisely,  framing  all  his  doctrines,  exhortations,  and 
especially  his  reproofs,  in  such  a  manner  as  may  be  most 
likely  to  prevail;  showing  all  due  respect  to  each  man's  per- 
son and  place,  and  not  mixing  his  own  passion  or  bitterness. 

5.  Gravely,  as  becometh  the  word  of  God;  shunqing  all 
such  gesture,  voice,  and  expressions,  as  may  occasion  the 
corruptions  of  men  to  despise  him  and  his  ministry. 

6.  With  loving  affection,that  the  people  may  see  all  coming 
from  his  godly  zeal,  and  hearty  desire  to  do  them  good.  And, 

7.  As  taught  of  God,  and  persuaded  in  his  own  heart, 
that  all  that  he  teacheth  is  the  truth  of  Christ;  and  walking 
before  his  flock,  as  an  example  to  them  in  it ;  earnestly,  both 
in  private  and  public,  recommending  his  labours  to  the 
blessing  of  God,  and  watchfully  looking  to  himself,  and  the 
flock  whereof  the  Lord  hath  made  him  overseer:  So  shall 
the  doctrine  of  truth  be  preserved  uncorrupt,  many  souls 
converted  and  built  up,  and  himself  receive  manifold  com- 
forts of  his  labours  even  in  this  life,  and  afterward  the 
crown  of  glory  laid  up  for  him  in  the  world  to  come. 


The  Directory  for  the  Public  Worship  of  God.         539 

Where  there  are  more  ministers  in  a  congregation  than 
one,  and  they  of  different  gifts,  each  may  more  especially 
apply  himself  to  doctrine  or  exhortation,  according  to  the 
gift  wherein  he  most  excelleth,  and  as  they  shall  agree  be- 
tween themselves. 

Of  Prayer  after  Sermon. 

The  sermon  being  ended,  the  minister  is  "  To  give  thanks 
"  for  the  great  love  of  God,  in  sending  his  Son  Jesus  Christ 
"unto  us;  for  the  communication  of  his  Holy  Spirit;  for 
"  the  light  and  liberty  of  the  glorious  gospel,  and  the  rich 
"  and  heavenly  blessings  revealed  therein ;  as,  namely,  elec- 
"  tion,  vocation,  adoption,  justification,  sanctification,  and 
"  hope  of  glory;  for  the  admirable  goodness  of  God  in  free- 
"  ing  the  land  from  antichristian  darkness  and  tyranny,  and 
"  for  all  other  national  deliverances ;  for  the  reformation  of 
"religion;  for  the  covenant ;  and  for  many  temporal  bless- 
"  ings. 

"  To  pray  for  the  continuance  of  the  gospel,  and  all  or- 
"  dinances  thereof,  in  their  purity,  power,  and  liberty:  to 
"  turn  the  chief  and  most  useful  heads  of  the  sermon  into 
"  some  few  petitions:  and  to  pray  that  it  may  abide  in  the 
"  heart,  and  bring  forth  fruit. 

"  To  pray  for  preparation  for  death  and  judgment,  and 
"  a  watching  for  the  coming  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ :  to 
"  entreat  of  God  the  forgiveness  of  the  iniquities  of  our 
"  holy  things,  and  the  acceptation  of  our  spiritual  sacrifice, 
"  through  the  merit  and  mediation  of  our  great  High  Priest 
"  and  Saviour  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ." 

And  because  the  prayer  which  Christ  taught  his  disciples 
is  not  only  a  pattern  of  prayer,  but  itself  a  most  compre- 
hensive prayer,  we  recommend  it  also  to  be  used  in  the 
prayers  of  the  church. 

And  whereas,  at  the  administration  of  the  sacraments,  the 
holding  public  fasts  and  days  of  thanksgiving,  and  other 
special  occasions,  which  may  afford  matter  of  special  peti- 
tions and  thanksgivings,  it  is  requisite  to  express  somewhat 
in  our  public  prayers,  (as  at  this  time  it  is  our  duty  to  pray 
for  a  blessing  upon  the  Assembly  of  Divines,  the  armies  by 


540  The  Directory  for  the  Public  Worship  of  God. 

sea  and  land,  for  the  defence  of  the  King,  Parliament,  and 
Kingdom,)  every  minister  is  herein  to  apply  himself,  in  his 
prayer,  before  or  after  sermon,  to  those  occasions :  but,  for 
the  manner,  he  is  left  to  his  liberty  as  God  shall  direct  and 
enable  him,  in  piety  and  wisdom  to  discharge  his  duty. 

The  prayer  ended,  let  a  psalm  be  sung,  if  with  conveni- 
ency  it  may  be  done.  After  which  (unless  some  other  or- 
dinance of  Christ,  that  concerneth  the  congregation  at  that 
time,  be  to  follow)  let  the  minister  dismiss  the  congregation 
with  a  solemn  ^blessing. 

Of  the  Administration  of  the  Sacraments  : 

And  first,  of  Baptism, 

Baptism,  as  it  is  not  unnecessarily  to  be  delayed,  so  it  is 
not  to  be  administered  in  any  case  by  any  private  person, 
but  by  a  minister  of  Christ,  called  to  be  the  steward  of  the 
mysteries  of  God. 

Nor  is  it  to  be  administered  in  private  places,  or  private- 
ly, but  in  the  place  of  public  worship,  and  in  the  face  of 
the  congregation,  where  the  people  may  most  conveniently 
see  and  hear ;  and  not  in  the  places  where  fonts,  in  the 
time  of  Popery,  were  unfitly  and  superstitiously  placed. 

The  child  to  be  baptized,  after  notice  given  to  the  minis- 
ter the  day  before,  is  to  be  presented  by  the  Father,  or  (in 
case  of  his  necessary  absence)  by  some  Christian  friend  in  | 
his  place,  professing  his  earnest  desire  that  the  child  may 
be  baptized. 

Before  baptism,  the  minister  is  to  use  some  words  of  in 
struction,  touching  the  institution,  nature,  use,  and  ends  of 
this  sacrament,  showing, 

"  That  it  is  instituted  by  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ :  That  it 
"  is  a  seal  of  the  covenant  of  grace,  of  our  ingrafting  into 
"  Cnrist,  and  of  our  union  with  him,  of  remission  of  sins, 
"  regeneration,  adoption,  and  life  eternal :  That  the  water, 
"  in  baptism,  represented  and  signifieth  both  the  blood  of 
"  Christ,  which  taketh  away  all  guilt  of  sin,  original  and  ac- 
tual;  and  the  sanctifying  virtue  of  the  Spirit  of  Christ 
*  against  the  dominion  of  sin,  and  the  corruption  of  our 
"  sinful  nature  ;  That  baptizing,  or  sprinkling  and  washing 
"  with  water,  signifieth  the  cleansing  from  sin  by  the  blood 


The  Directory  for  the  Public  Worship  of  God.  541 

"  and  for  the  merit  of  Christ,  together  with  the  mortifica- 
"  tion  of  sin,  and  rising  from  sin  to  newness  of  life,  by  virtue 
"of  the  death  and  resurrection  of  Christ:  That  the  promise 
"is  made  to  believers  and  their  seed;  and  that  the  seed  and 
"  posterity  of  the  faithful,  born  within  the  church,  have,  by 
"  their  birth,  interest  in  the  covenant,  and  right  to  the  seal 
"  of  it,  and  to  the  outward  privileges  of  the  church,  under 
"  the  gospel,  no  less  than  the  children  of  Abraham  in  the 
"time  of  the  Old  Testament;  the  covenant  of  grace,  for 
"  substance,  being  the  same;  and  the  grace  of  God,  and  the 
"consolation  of  believers,  more  plentiful  than  before:  That 
"  the  Son  of  God  admitted  little  children  into  his  presence, 
"  embracing  and  blessing  them,  saying,  For  of  such  is  the 
"kingdom  of  God:  That  children,  by  baptism,  are  solemnly 
"  received  into  the  .bosom  of  the  visible  church,  distinguished 
"  from  the  world,  and  them  that  are  without,  and  united  with 
"believers;  and  that  all  who  are  baptized  in  tire  name  of 
"  Christ,  do  renounce,  and  by  their  baptism  are  boun'd  to 
"fight  against  the  devil,  the  world,  and  the  flesh:  That 
"  they  are  Christians,  and  federally  holy  before  baptism,  and 
"  therefore  are  they  baptized :  That  the  inward  grace  and 
"  virtue  of  baptism  is  not  tied  to  that  very  moment  of  time 
"wherein  it  is  administered;  and  that  the  fruit  and  power 
"thereof  reach  to  the  whole  course  of  our  life;  and  that 
"  outward  baptism  is  not  so  necessary,  that  through  the 
"  want  thereof,  the  infant  is  in  danger  of  damnation,  or  the 
"parents  guilty,  if  they  do  not  contemn  or  neglect  the  or- 
"  dinance  of  Christ,  when  and  where  it  may  be  had," 

In  these  or  the  like  instructions,  the  minister  is  to  use  his 
own  liberty  and  godly  wisdom,  as  the  ignorance  or  errors 
in  the  doctrine  of  baptism,  and  the  edification  of  the  people, 
shall  require. 

He  is  also  to  admonish  all  that  are  present,     • 

"To  look  back  to  their  baptism;  to  repent  of  their  sins 

"against  their  covenant  with  God;  to  stir  up  their  faith; 

"to   improve  and  make  right  use  of  their  baptism,  and  of 

"  the  covenant  sealed  thereby  betwixt  God  and  their  souls." 

He  is  to  exhort  the  parent, 
"  To  consider  the  great  mercy  of  God  to  him  and  his 
"  child ;   to  bring   up   the   child  in  the  knowledge  of  the 
46 


542         T7ie  Directory  for  the  Public  Worship  of  God. 

"  grounds  of  the  Christian  religion,  and  in  the  nurture  and 
"  admonition  of  the  Lord  ;  and  to  let  him  know  the  danger 
"  of  God's  wrath  to  himself  and  child,  if  he  be  negligent :  re- 
"  quiring  his  solemn  promise  for  the  performance  of  his 
"  duty." 

This  being  done,  prayer  is  also  to  be  joined  with  the  word 
of  institution,  for  sanctifying  the  water  to  this  spiritual  use; 
and  the  minister  is  to  pray  to  this  or  the  like  effect : 

"  That  the  Lord,  who  hath  not  left  us  as  strangers  with- 
"  out  the  covenant  of  promise,  but  called  us  to  the  privi- 
leges of  his  ordinances,  would  graciously  vouchsafe  to 
"  sanctify  and  bless  his  own  ordinance  of  baptism  at  this 
"  time :  That  he  would  join  the  inward  baptism  of  his  Spi- 
rit with  the  outward  baptism  of  water;  make  this  bap- 
"  tism  to  the  infant  a  seal  of  adoption,  remission  of  sin,  re- 
*•'  generation,  and  eternal  life,  and  all  other  promises  of  the 
"covenant  of  grace:  That  the  child  may  be  planted  into 
"the  likeness  of  the  death  and  resurrection  of  Christ;  and 
"  that,  the  body  of  sin  being  destroyed  in  him,  he  may  serve 
"  God  in  newness  of  life  all  his  days." 

Then  the  minister  is  to  demand  the  name  of  the  child; 
which  being  told  him,  he  is  to  say,  (calling  the  child  by  his 
name,) 

J  baptize  thee  in  the  name  of  the  Father,  and  of  the  Son,  and 
of  the  Holy  Ghost. 

\  As  he  pronounceth  these  words,  he  is  to  baptize  the  child 
with  water :  which,  for  the  manner  of  doing  of  it,  is  not  only 
lawful  but  sufficient,  and  most  expedient  to  be,  by  pouring 
or  sprinkling  of  the  water  on  the  face  of  the  child,  without 
adding  any  other  ceremony. 

This  done,  he  is  to  give  thanks  and  pray,  to  this  or  the 
like  purpose : 

"  Acknowledging  with  all  thankfulness,  that  the  Lord  is 
u  true  and  faithful  in  keeping  covenant  and  mercy :  That  he 
"  is  good  and  gracious,  not  only  in  that  he  numbereth  us 
"  among  his  saints,  but  is  pleased  also  to  bestow  upon  our 
"  children  this  singular  token  and  badge  of  his  love  in  Christ : 
"  That,  in  his  truth  and  special  providence,  he  daily  bringeth 
"  some  into  the  bosom  of  his  church,  to  be  partakers  of 
"  his  inestimable  benefits,  purchased  by  the  blood  of  his 
u  dear  Son,  for  the  continuance  and  increase  of  his  church. 


The  Directory  for  the  Public  Worship  of  God.  543 

"And  praying,  That  the  Lord  would  still  continue,  and 
"  daily  confirm  more  and  more  this  his  unspeakable  favour : 
"That  he  would  receive  the  infant  now  baptized,  and  so- 
"  lemnly  entered  into  the  household  of  faith,  into  his  father- 
ly tuition  and  defence,  and  remember  him  with  the  fa- 
"  vour  that  he  showeth  to  his  people;  that,  if  he  shall  be 
"  taken  out  of  this  life  in  his  infancy,  the  Lord,  who  is  rich 
"in  mercy,  would  be  pleased  to  receive  him  up  into  glory: 
"and  if  he  live,  and  attain  the  years  of  discretion,  that  the 
"Lord  would  so  teach  him  by  his  word  and  Spirit,  and 
"make  his  baptism  effectual  to  him,  and  so  uphold  him 
"by  his  divine  power  and  grace,  that  by  faith  he  may  pre- 
"  vail  against  the  devil,  the  world,  and  the  flesh,  till  in  the 
"  end  he  obtain  a  full  and  final  victory,  and  so  be  kept  by 
"the  power  of  God  through  faith  unto  salvation,  through 
"Jesus  Christ  our  Lord." 

Of  the   Celebration  of  the   Communion,  or   Sacrament  of 
Lord's  Supper. 

The  communion,  or  supper  of  the  Lord,  is  frequently  to 
be  celebrated;  but  how  often,  may  be  considered  and  de- 
termined by  the  ministers,  and  other  church-governors  of 
each  congregation,  as  they  shall  find  most  convenient' for  the 
comfort  and  edification  of  the  people  committed  to  then- 
charge.  And,  when  it  shall  be  administered,  we  judge  it 
convenient  to  be  done  after  the  morning  sermon. 

The  ignorant  and  the  scandalous  are  not  fit  to  receive 
this  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  supper. 

W  here  this  sacrament  cannot  with  convenience  be  fre- 
quently administered,  it  is  requisite  that  public  warning 
be  given  the  sabbath-day  before  the  administration  thereof: 
and  that  either  then,  or  on  some  day  of  that  week,  some- 
thing concerning  that  ordinance,  and'  the  due  preparation 
thereunto,  and  participation  thereof,  be  taught;  that,  by 
the  diligent  yse  of  all  means  sanctified  of  God  to  that  end. 
both  in  public  and  private,  all  may  come  better  prepared 
to  that  heavenly  feast. 

When  the  day  is  come  for  administration,  the  minister, 
having  ended  his  sermon  and  prayer,  shall  make  a  short 
exhortation: 


544  The  Directory  for  the  Public  Worship  of  God. 

"Expressing  the  inestimable  benefit  we  have  by  this  sa- 
"crament,  together  with  the  ends  and  use  thereof:  setting 
"forth  the  great  necessity  of  having  our  comforts  and 
"strength  renewed  thereby  in  this  our  pilgrimage  and 
"warfare:  how  necessary  it  is  that  we  come  unto  it  with 
"knowledge,  faith,  repentance,  love,  and  with  hungering 
"and  thirsting  souls  afier  Christ  and  his  benefits:  how 
"great  the  danger  to  eat  and  drink  unworthily. 

"Next,  he  is,  in  the  name  of  Christ,  on  the  one  part, 
"to  warn  all  such  as  are  ignorant,  scandalous,  profane,,  or 
"  that  live  in  any  sin  or  offence  against  their  knowledge  or 
"  conscience,  that  they  presume  not  to  come  to  that  holy 
"table;  showing  them,  that  he  that  eateth  and  drinketh 
"  unworthily,  eateth  and  drinketh  judgment  unto  himself: 
"and,  on  the  other  part,  he  is  in  an  especial  manner  to  in- 
"  vite  and  encourage  all  that  labour  under  the  sense  of  the 
"  burden  of  their  sins,  and  fear  of  wrath,  and  desire  to 
"  reach  out  unto  a  greater  progress  in  grace  than  yet  they 
"can  attain  unto,  to  come  to  the  Lord's  table;  assuring 
"them,  in  the  same  name,  of  ease,  refreshing,  and  strength 
"  to  their  weak  and  wearied  souls." 

After  this  exhortation,  warning,  and  invitation,  the  table, 
being  before  decently  covered,  and  so  conveniently  placed, 
that  the  communicants  may  orderly  sit  about  it,  or  at  it, 
the  minister  is  to  begin  the  action  with  sanctifying  and 
blessing  the  elements  of  bread  and  wine  set  before  him, 
(the  bread  in  comely  and  convenient  vessels,  so  prepared, 
that,  being  broken  by  him,  and  given,  it  may  be  distributed 
amongst  the  communicants;  the  wine  also  in  large  cups,) 
having  first,  in  a,  few  words,  showed  that  those  elements, 
otherwise  common,  are  now  set  apart  and  sanctified  to  this 
holy  use,  by  the  word  of  institution  and  prayer. 

Let  the  words  of  institution  be  read  out  of  the  Evange- 
lists, or  out  of  the  first  Epistle  of  the  Apostle  Paul  to  the 
Corinthians,  Chap.  xi.  23.  /  have  received  of  the  Lord,  &c. 
to  the  27th  Verse,  which  the  minister  may,  when  he  seeth 
requisite,  explain,  and  apply. 

Let  the  prayer,  thanksgiving,  or  blessing  of  the  bread  and 
wine,  be  to  this  effect: 

"With  humble  and  hearty  acknowledgment  of  the  great- 
"aess  of  our  misery,  from  which  neither  man  nor  angel  was 


'The  Directory  for  the  Public  Worship  of  God.  545 

"able  to  deliver  us,  and  of  our  great  unworthiness  of  the 
"least  of  all  God's  mercies;  to  give  thanks  to  God  for  all 
"his  benefits,  and  especially  for  that  great  benefit  of  our 
"redemption,  the  love  of  God  the  Father,  the  sufferings 
"and  merits  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  the  Son  of  God,  by 
"which  we  are  delivered;  and  for  all  means  of  grace,  the 
"word  and  sacraments;  and  for  this  sacrament  in  particu- 
lar, by  which  Christ,  and  all  his  benefits,  are  applied  and 
"sealed  up  unto  us,  which,  notwithstanding  the  denial  of 
"  them  unto  others,  arc  in  great  mercy  continued  unto  us, 
"after  so  much  and  long  abuse  of  them  all. 

"To  profess,  that  there  is  no  other  name  under  heaven 
"by  which  we  can  be  saved,  but  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ, 
"  by  whom  alone  we  receive  liberty  and  life,  have  access 
"to  the  throne  of  grace,  are  admitted  to  eat  and  drink  at 
"his  own  table,  and  are  sealed  up  by  his  Spirit  to  an  assu- 
"  ranee  of  happiness  and  everlasting  life.' 

"Earnestly  to  pray  to  God,  the  Father  of  all  mercies, 
"and  God  of  all  consolation,  to  vouchsafe  his  gracious  pre- 
sence, and  the  effectual  working  of  his  Spirit  in  us;  and 
"so  to  sanctify  the^e  elements  both  of  bread  and  wine, 
"and  to  bless  his  own  ordinance,  that  we  may  receive  by 
u  faith  the  body  and  blood  of  Jesus  Christ,  crucified  for  us, 
"and  so  to  feed  upon  him,  that  he  may  be  one  with  us,  and 
"we  one  with  him;  that  he  may  live  in  us,  and  we  in  him, 
"and  to  him  who  hath  loved  us,  and  given  himself  for  us. 

All  which  he  is  to  endeavour  to  perform  with  suitable 
auctions,  answerable  to  such  a  holy  action,  and  to  stir 
up  the  like  in  the  people, 

The  elements  being  now  sanctified  by  the  word  and 
prayer,  the  minister,  being  at  the  table,  is  to  take  the  bread 
in  his  hand,  and  say,  in  these  expressions,  (or  other  the  like, 
used  by  Christ  or  his  apostle  upon  this  occasion  :) 

"According  to  the  holy  insiitution,  command,  and  ex- 
"  ample  of  our  blessed  Saviour  Jesus  Christ,  I  lake  this  bread 
"and,  having  given  thanks  break  it,  and  give  it  unto  you, 
"(there  the  minister,  who  is  also  himself  to  communicate, 
"is  to  break  the  bread,  and  give  it  to  the  communicants ;)- 
"  Take  ije,  eal  ye;  this  is  (he  body  cf  Christ  zchich  is  broken  fui\. 
you  :  do  this  in  remembrance  of  him" 

46* 


546  The  Directory  for  the  Public  Worship  of  God. 

In  like  manner  the  minister  is  to  take  the  cup,  and  say, 
in  these  expressions,  (or  other  the  like,  used  by  Christ  or 
the  apostle  upon  the  same  occasion:) 

"According  to  the  institution,  command,  and  example 
"of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  I  take  this  cup,  and  give  it  unto 
"you;  (here  he  giveth  it  to  the  communicants;)  This  cup, 
"  is  the  new  testament  in  the  blood  of  Christ,  7vhich  is  shed  for 
"the  remission  of  the  sins  of  many  :  drink  ye  oil  of  it." 

After  all  have  communicated,. the  minister  may,  in  a  few 
words,  put  them  in  mind, 

"-Of  the  grace  of  God  in  Jesus  Christ,  held  forth  in  this 
"sacrament;  and  exhort  them  to  walk  worthy  of  it" 

The  minister  is  to  give  solemn  thanks  to  God, 

'•'For  his  rich  mercy,  and  invaluable  goodness,  vouch- 
safed to  them  in  that  sacrament;  and  to  entreat  for  par- 
"  don  for  the  defects  of  the  whole  service,  and  for  the 
"gracious  assistance  of  his  good  Spirit,  whereby  they  may 
"be  enabled  to  walk  in  the  strength  of  that  grace,  as  be- 
"comeih  those  who  have  received  so  great  pledges  of  sal- 
*  vation." 

The  collection  for  the  poor  is  so  to  be  ordered,  that  no 
part  of  the  public  worship  be  thereby  hindered. 

Of  the  Sanctif  cation  of  the  Lord's. Day. 

The  Lord's  day  ought  to  be  so  remembered  before-hand, 
as  that  all  worldly  business  of  our  ordinary  callings  may  be 
so  ordered,  and  so  timely  and  seasonably  laid  aside,  as  they 
miy  not  be  impediments  to,  the  due  sanctifying  of  the  day 
when  it  comes. 

The  whole  day  is  to  be  celebrated  as  holy  to  the  Lord, 
both  in  public  and  private,  as  being  the  Christian  sabbath. 
To  which  end,  it  is  requisite,  that  there  be  a  holy  cessation 
or  resting  all  that  day  from  all  unnecessary  labours;  and  an 
abstaining,  not  only  from  all  sports  and  pastimes,  but  also 
from  all  worldly  words  and  thoughts. 

That  the  diet  on  that  day  be  so  ordered,  as  that  neither 
servants  be  unnecessarily  detained  from  the  public  worship 
of  God,  nor  any  other  person  hindered  from  the  sanctifying 
\hat  da  v. 


The  Directory  for  the  Public  Worship  of  God.  547 

That  there  be  private  preparations  of  every  person  and 
family,  by  prayer  for  themselves,  and  for  God's  assistance 
of  the  minister,  and  for  a  blessing  upon  his  ministry;  and 
by  such  other  holy  exercise?,  as  may  farther  dispose  them 
to  a  more  comfortable  communion  with  God  in  his  public 
ordinances. 

That  all  the  people  meet  so  timely  for  public  worship, 
that  the  whole  congregation  may  be  present  at  the  begin- 
ning, and  with  one  heart  solemnly  join  together  in  all  parts 
of  the  public  worship,  and  not  depart  (ill  after  t\\e  blessing. 

That  what  time  is  vacant,  between  or  after  the  solemn 
meetings  of  ihe  congregation  in  public,  be  spent  in  read- 
ing, meditation,  repetition  of  sermons;  especially  by  calling 
their  families  to  an  account  of  what  they  have  heard,  and 
catechising  of  them,  holy  conferences,  prayer  for  a  blessing 
upon  the  public  ordinances,  singing  of  psalms,  visiting  the 
sick,  relieving  the  poor,  and  such  like  duties  of  piety,  cha- 
rity, and  mercy,  accounting  the  sabbath  a  delight. 


The  Solemnization  of  Marriage. 

Axthough  marriage  be  no  sacrament,  nor-  peculiar  to 
the  church  of  God,  but  common  to  mankind,  and  of  public 
interest  in  every  commonwealth;  yet,  because  such  as 
marry  are  to  marry  in  the  Lord,  and  have  special  need  of 
instruction,  direction,  and  exhortation,  from  the  word  of 
God,  at  their  entering  into  such  a  new  condition,  and  of  the 
blessing  of  Gcd  upon  them  therein,  we  judge  it  expedient 
that  marriage  be  solemnized  by  a  lawful  minister  of  the 
word,  that  he  may  accordingly  counsel  them,  and  pray  for 
a  blessing  upon  them. 

Marriage  is  to  be  betwixt  one  man  and  one  woman  only; 
and  they,  such  as  are  not  within  the  degrees  of  consangui- 
nity or  affinity  prohibited  by  the  word  of  God;  and  the  par- 
ties are  to  be  of  years  of  discretion,  fit  to  make  their  own 
choice,  or,  upon  good  grounds,  to  give  their  mutual  consent. 

Before  the  solemnizing  of  marriage  between  any  persons, 
their  purpose  of  marriage  shall  be  published  by  the  minister 
three  several  sabbath-days,  in  the  congregation, at  the  place  or 
places  of  their  most  usual  and  constant  abode,  respectively. 


548  The  Directory  for  the  Public  Worship  of  God, 

And  of  this  publication  the  minister  who  is  to  join  them  in 
marriage  shall  have  sufficient  testimony,  before  he  proceed 
to  solemnize  the  marriage. 

Before  that  publication  of  such  their  purpose,  (if  the  par- 
ties be  under  age,)  the  consent  of  the  parents,  or  others  un- 
der whose  power  they  are,  (in  case  the  parents  be  dead,)  is 
to  be  made  known  to  the  church  officers  of  that  congrega- 
tion to  be  recorded. 

The  like  is  (o  observed  in  the  proceedings  of  all  others, 
although  of  age,  whose  parents  are  living,  for  their  first 
marriage. 

And,  in  after  marriages  of  either  of  those  parties,  they 
shall  be  exhorted  not  to  contract  marriage  without  first 
acquainting  their  parents  with  it,  (if  with  conveniency  it 
may  be  done,)  endeavouring  to  obtain  their  consent. 

Parents  ought  not  to  force  their  children  to  marry  with- 
out their  free  consent,  nor  deny  their  own  consent  without 
just  cause. 

After  the  purpose  or  contract  of  marriage  hath  been  thus 
published,  the  marriage  is  not  to  be  long  deferred.  There- 
fore the  minister,  having  had  convenient  warning,  and  no- 
thing been  obiectcd  to  hinder  it,  is  publicly  to  solemnize  it 
in  the  place  appointed  by  authority  for  public  worship,  be- 
fore a  competent  number  of  credible  witnesses,  at  some  con- 
venient hour  of  the  day,  at  any  lime  of  the  year,  except  on 
a  day  of  public  humiliation.  And  we  advise  that  it  be  not 
on  the  Lord's  day. 

And  because  all  relations  are  sanctified  by  the  word  and 
prayer,  the  minister  is  to  pray  for  a  blessing  upon  them,  to 
this  effect : 

"Acknowledging  our  sins,  whereby  we  have  made  our- 
"  selves  less  than  the  least  of  all  the  mercies  of  God,  and 
"provoked  him  lo  imbitter  all  our  comforts;  earnestly,  in 
l(  the  name  of  Christ,  to  entreat  the  Lord  (whose  presence 
"and  favour  is  the  happiness  of  every  condition,  and 
"  sweetens  every  relation)  to  be  their  portion,  and  to  own 
"and  accept  them  in  Christ,  who  arc  now  lo  he  joined  in 
"  the  honourable  estate  of  marriage,  the  covenant  of  their, 
"God:  and  that,  as  he  hath  brought  them  together  by  his 
"providence,  he   would   sanctify  them  by  his   Spirit,  giving 


The  Directory  for  the  Public  Worship  of  God.         549 

"them  a  new  frame  of  heart  fit  for  their  new  estate;  en- 
"riching  them  with  all  graces  whereby  they  may  perform 
"the  duties,  enjoy  the  comforts,  undergo  the  cares,  and  re- 
'<sist  the  temptations  which  accompany  that  condition,  as 
"becometh  Christians." 

The  prayer  being  ended,  it  is  convenient  that  the  minis- 
ter do  briefly  declare  unto  them,  out  of^he  scripture, 

"  The  institution,  use,  and  ends  of  marriage,  with  the 
"conjugal  duties,  which,  in  all  faithfulness,  they  are  to  per- 
"  form  each  to  [the]  other;  exhorting  them  to  study  the  holy 
"  word  of  God,  that  they  may  learn  to  live  by  faith,  and  to 
"be  content  in  the  midst  of  all  marriage  cares  and  troubles, 
"sanctifying  God's  name,  in  a  thankful,  sober,  and  holy 
"use  of  all  conjugal  comforts;  praying  much  with  and  for 
"one  another;  watching  over,  and  provoking  each  other 
"  to  love  and  good  works ;  and  to  live  together  as  the  heirs 
u  of  the  grace  of  life." 

After  solemn  charging  of  the  persons  to  be  married,  be- 
fore the  great  God,  who  searcheth  all  hearts,  and  to  whom 
they  must  give  a  strict  account  at  the  last  day,  that  if  either 
of  them  know  any  cause,  by  precontract  or  otherwise,  why 
they  may  not  lawfully  proceed  to  marriage,  that  they  now 
discover  it ;  the  minister  (if  no  impediment  be  acknowledged) 
shall  cause  first  (he  man  to  take  the  woman  by  the  right 
hand,  saying  these  words: 

/  N.  do  take  thee  N.  to  be  my  married  wife,  and  do,  in  the 
presence  of  God,  and  before  this  congregation,  promise  and 
covenant  to  be  a  loving  and  faithful  husband  unto  thee,  until 
God  shall  separate  us  by  death. 

Then  the  woman  shall  take  the  man  by  the  right  hand, 
and  say  these  words: 

1  N.  do  take  thee  N.  to  be  my  married  husband,  and  I  do,  in 
the  presence  of  God,  and  before  this  congregation,  promise  and 
covenant  to  be  a  loving,  faithful  and  obedient  wife  unto  thee, 
until  God  shall  separate  us  by  death. 

Then,  without  any  farther  ceremony,  the  minister  shall, 
in  the  face  of  the  congregation,  pronounce  them  to  be  hus- 
band and  wife,  according  to  God's  ordinance;  and  so  con- 
clude the  action  with  prayer  to  this  effect: 


550         The  Directory  for  the  Public  Worship  of  God. 

"That  the  Lord  would  be  pleased  to  accompany  his 
"own  ordinance  with  his  blessing,  beseeching  him  to  en- 
"  rich  the  persons  now  married,  as  with  other  pledges  of 
"his  love,  so  particularly  with  the  comforts  and  fruits  of 
"  marriage,  to  the  praise  of  his  abundant  mercy,  in  and 
"  through  Christ  Jesus." 

A  register  is  to  be  carefully  kept,  wherein  the  names  of 
the  parties  so  married,  with  the  time  of  their  marriage,  are 
forthwith  to  be  fairly  recorded  in  a  book,  provided  for  that 
purpose,  for  the  perusal  of  all  whom  it  may  concern. 

Concerning  Visitation  of  the  Sick. 

It  is  the  duty  of  the  minister  not  only  to  teach  the  people 
committed  to  his  charge  in  public,  but  privately ;  and  par- 
ticularly to  admonish,  exhort,  reprove,  and  comfort  them, 
upon  all  seasonable  occasions,  so  far  as  his  time,  strength, 
and  personal  safety  will  permit. 

He  is  to  admonish  them,  in  time  of  health,  to  prepare  for 
death ;  and,  for  that  purpose,  they  are  often  to  confer  with 
their  minister  about  the  estate  of  their  souls ;  and,  in  times 
of  sickness,  to  desire  his  advice  and  help,  timelv  and  season- 
ably, hefore  their  strength  and  understanding  fail  them. 

Times  of  sickness  and  affliction  arc  special  opportunities 
put  into  his  hand  by  God  to  minister  a  word  in  season  to 
weary  souls:  because  then  the  consciences  of  men  are  or 
should  be  more  awakened  to  bethink  themselves  of  their  spi- 
ritual estate  for  eternity;  and  Satan  also  takes  advantage 
then  to  load  them  more  with  sore  and  heavy  temptations: 
therefore  the  minister,  being  sent  for,  and  repairing  to  the 
sick,  is  to  apply  himself,  with  all  tenderness  and  love,  to 
administer  some  spiritual  good  to  his  soul,  to  this  effect. 

He  may,  from  the  consideration  of  the  present  sickness,  in- 
struct him  out  of  scripture,  that  diseases  come  not  by  chance, 
or  by  distempers  of  body  only,  but  by  the  wise  and  orderly 
guidance  of  I  he  good  hand  of  God  to  every  particular  per- 
son smitten  by  them.  And  that,  whether  it  be  laid  upon  him 
out  of  displeasure  for  sin,  for  his  correction  and  amendment, 
or  for  trial  and  exercise  of  his  graces,  or  for  other  special  and 
excellent  ends,  all  his  sufferings  shall  turn  to  his  profit,  and 


Tlie  Directory  for  the  Public  Worship  of  God,         551 

work  together  for  his  good,  if  he  sincerely  labour  to  make 
a  sanctified  use  of  God's  visitation,  neither  despising  his 
chastening,  nor  waxing  weary  of  his  correction. 

If  he  suspect  him  of  ignorance,  he  shall  examine  him  in 
the  principles  of  religion,  especially  touching  repentance 
and  faith ;  and  as  he  seeth  cause,  instruct  him  in  the  nature, 
use,  excellency,  and  necessity  of  those  graces ;  as  also  touch- 
ing the  covenant  of  grace;  and  Christ  the  Son  of  God,  the 
Mediator  of  it;  and  concerning  remission  of  sins  by  faith 
in  him. 

He  shall  exhort  the  sick  person  to  examine  himself,  to 
search  and  try  his  former  ways,  and  his  estate  towards  God. 

And  if  the  sick  person  shall  declare  any  scruple,  doubt,  or 
temptation  that  are  upon  him,  instructions  and  resolutions 
shall  be  given  to  satisfy  and  settle  him. 

If  it  appear  that  he  hath  not  a  due  sense  of  his  sins,  endea- 
vours ought  to  be  used  to  convince  him  of  his  sins,  of  the 
guilt  and  desert  of  them;  of  the  filth  and  pollution  which 
the  soul  contracts  by  them;  and  of  the  curse  of  the  law, 
and  wrath  of  God,  due  to  them;  that  he  may  be  truly  af- 
fected with,  and  humbled  for  them:  and  withal  make  known 
the  danger  of  deferring  repentance,  and  of  neglecting  salva- 
tion at  any  time  offered;  to  awaken  his  conscience,  and  rouse 
him  up  out  of  a  stupid  and  secure  condition,  to  apprehend 
the  justice  and  wrath  of  God,  before  whom  none  can  stand, 
but  he  that,  lost  in  himself,  layeth  hold  upon  Christ  by  faith. 

If  he  hath  endeavoured  to  walk  in  the  ways  of  holiness, 
and  to  serve  God  in  uprightness,  although  not  without  many 
failings  and  infirmities;  or  if  his  spirit  be  broken  with  the 
sense  of  sin,  or  cast  down  through  want  of  the  sense  of  God's 
favour;  then  it  will  be  fit  to  raise  him  up,  by  setting  before 
him  the  freeness  and  fulness  of  God's  grace,  the  sufficiency 
of  righteousness  in  Christ,  the  gracious  offers  in  the  gospel, 
that  all  who  repent,  and  believe  with  all  their  heart  in  God's 
mercy  through  Christ,  renouncing  their  own  righteousness, 
shall  have  life  and  salvation  in  him.  It  may  be  also  useful  to 
show  him,  that  death  hath  in  it  no  spiritual  evil  to  be  feared 
by  those  that  are  in  Christ,  because  sin,  the  sting  of  death,  is 
taken  away  by  Christ,  who  hath  delivered  all  that  are  his  from 
the  bondage  of  the  fear  of  death,  triumphed  over  the  grave, 


559.  The  Directory  for  the  Public  Worship  of  God. 

given  us  victory,  is  himself  entered  into  glory  to  prepare  a 
place  for  his  people :  so  that  neither  life  nor  death  shall  be 
able  to  separate  them  from  God's  love  in  Christ,  in  whom 
such  are  sure,  though  now  they  must  be  laid  in  the  dust,  to 
obtain  a  joyful  and  glorious  resurrection  to  eternal  life. 

Advice  also  may  be  given,  as  to  beware  of  an  ill-grounded 
persuasion  on  mercy,  or  on  the  goodness  of  his  condition 
for  heaven,  so  to  disclaim  all  merit  in  himself,  and  to  cast 
himself  wholly  upon  God  for  mercy,  in  the  sole  merits  and 
mediation  of  Jesus  Christ,  who  hath  engaged  himself  never 
to  cast  off  them  who  in  truth  and  sincerity  come  unto  him. 
Care  also  must  be  taken,  that  the  sick  person  be  not  cast 
down  into  despair,  by  such  a  severe  representation  of  the 
wrath  of  God  due  to  him  for  his  sins,  as  is  not  mollified  by 
a  sensible  propounding  of  Christ  and  his  merit  for  a  door  of 
hope  to  every  penitent  believer* 

When  the  sick  person  is  best  composed,  may  be  least  dis- 
turbed, and  other  necessary  offices  about  him  least  hindered, 
the  minister,  if  desired,  shall  pray  with  him,  and  for  him,  to 
this  effect : 

"Confessing  and  bewailing  of  sin  original  and  actual; 
11  the  miserable  condition  of  all  by  nature,  as  being  children 
"of  wrath,  and  under  the  curse;  acknowledging  that  all 
"  diseases,  sicknesses,  death,  and  hell  itself,  are  the  proper 
"issues  and  effects  thereof;  imploring  God's  mercy  for  the 
"sick  person,  through  the  blood  of  Christ;  beseeching  that 
"God  would  open  his  eyes,  discover  unto  him  his  sins, 
"cause  him  to  see  himself  lost  in  himself,  make  known  to 
"him  the  cause  why  God  smiteth  him,  reveal  Jesus  Christ 
"  to  his  soul  for  righteousness  and  life,  give  unto  him  his 
"Holy  Spirit,  to  create  and  strengthen  faith  to  lay  hold 
"  upon  Christ,  to  work  in  him  comfortable  evidences  of  his 
"love,  to  arm  him  against  temptations,  to  take  off  his  heart 
"  from  the  world,  to  sanctify  his  present  visitation,  to  fur- 
"nish  him  with  patience  and  strength  to  bear  it,  and  to 
"give  him  perseverance  in  faith  to  the  end. 

"That,  if  God  shall  please  to  add  to  his  days,  he  would 
"  vouchsafe  to  bless  and  sanctify  all  means  of  his  recovery; 
"  to  remove  the  disease,  renew  his  strength,  and  enable  him 
"  to  walk  worthy  of  God,  by  a  faithful  remembrance,  and 


The  Directory  for  the  Public  Worship  of  God.  553 

tl  diligent  observing  of  such  vows  and  promises  of  holiness 
"and  obedience,  as  men  are  apt  to  make  in  times  of  sick- 
"ness,  that  he  may  glorify  God  in  the  remaining  part  of  his 
"  life." 

"And,  if  God  have  determined  to  finish  his  days  by  the 
"  present  visitation,  he  may  find  such  evidence  of  the  pardon 
"  of  all  his  sins,  of  his  interest  in  Christ,  and  eternal  life  by 
"  Christ,  as  may  cause  his  inward  man  to  be  renewed,  while 
"  his  outward  man  decayeth ;  that  he  may  behold  death 
"  without  fear,  cast  himself  wholly  upon  Christ  without 
"  doubting,  desire  to  be  dissolved  and  to  be  with  Christ,  and 
"  so  receive  the  end  of  his  faith,  the  salvation  of  his  soul, 
"  through  the  only  merits  and  intercession  of  the  Lord  Jesus 
"  Christ,  our  alone  Saviour  and  all-sufficient  Redeemer." 

The  minister  shall  admonish  him  also  (as  there  shall  be 
cause)  to  set  his  house  in  order,  thereby  to  prevent  incon- 
veniencies;  to  take  care  for  payment  of  his  debts,  and  to 
make  restitution  or  satisfaction  where  he  hath  done  any 
wrong;  to  be  reconciled  to  those  with  whom  he  hath  been 
at  variance,  and  fully  to  forgive  all  men  their  trespasses 
against  him,  as  he  expects  forgiveness  at  the  hand  of  God. 

Lastly,  The  minister  may  improve  the  present  occasion  to 
exhort  those  about  the  sick  person  to  consider  their  own 
mortality,  to  return  to  the  Lord,  and  make  peace  with  him: 
in  health  to  prepare  for  sickness,  death,  and  judgment;  and 
all  the  days  of  their  appointed  time  so  to  wait  until  their 
change  come,  that  when  Christ,  who  is  our  life,  shall  appear, 
they  may  appear  with  him  in  glory. 

Concerning  Burial  of  the  Dead. 

When  any  person  departeth  this  life,  let  the  dead  body, 
upon  the  day  of  burial,  be  decently  attended  from  the  house 
to  the  place  appointed  for  public  burial,  and  there  immedi- 
ately interred,  without  any  ceremony. 

And  because  the  custom  of  kneeling  down,  and  praying 
by  or  towards  the  dead  corpse,  and  other  such  usages,  in  the 
place  where  it  lies  before  it  be  carried  to  burial,  are  super- 
stitious; and  for  that  praying,  reading,  and  singing,  both  in 
going  to  and  at  the  grave,  have  been  grossly  abused,  are  no 

47 


554  The  Directory  for  the  Public  Worship  of  God. 

way  beneficial  to  the  dead,  and  have  proved  many  ways 
hurtful  to  the  living;  therefore  let  all  such  things  be  laid 
aside. 

Howbeit,  we  judge  it  very  convenient,  that  the  Christian 
friends,  which  accompany  the  dead  body  to  the  place  ap- 
pointed for  public  burial,  do  apply  themselves  to  medita- 
tions and  conferences  suitable  to  the  occasion ;  and  that  the 
minister,  as  upon  other  occasions,  so  at  this  time,  if  he  be 
present,  may  put  them  in  remembrance  of  their  duty. 

That  this  shall  not  extend  to  deny  any  civil  respects  or 
deferences  at  the  burial,  suitable  to  the  rank  and  condition 
of  the  party  deceased,  while  he  was  living. 

Concerning  Public  solemn  Fasting. 

When  some  great  and  notable  judgments  are  either  in- 
flicted upon  a  people,  or  apparently  imminent,  or  by  some 
extraordinary  provocations  notoriously  deserved ;  as  also 
when  some  special  blessing  is  to  be  sought  and  obtained,  pub- 
lic solemn  fasting  (which  is  to  continue  the  whole  day)  is 
a  duty  that  God  expecteth  from  that  nation  or  people. 

A  religious  fast  requires  total  abstinence,  not  only  from  all 
food,  (unless  bodily  weakness  do  manifestly  disable  from 
holding  out  till  the  fast  be  ended,  in  which  case  somewhat 
may  be  taken,  yet  very  sparingly,  to  support  nature,  when 
ready  to  faint,)  but  also  from  all  worldly  labour,  discourses, 
and  thoughts,  and  from  all  bodily  delights,  and  such  like, 
(although  at  other  times  lawful,)  rich  apparel,  ornaments, 
and  such  like,  during  the  fast ;  and  much  more  from  what- 
ever is  in  the  nature  or  use  scandalous  and  offensive,  as 
gaudish  attire,  lascivious  habits  and  gestures,  and  other 
vanities  of  either  sex;  which  we  recommend  to  all  minis- 
ters, in  their  places,  diligently  and  zealously  to  reprove,  as 
at  other  times,  so  especially  at  a  fast,  without  respect  of 
persons,  as  there  shall  be  occasion. 

Before  the  public  meeting,  each  family  and  person  apart 
are  privately  to  use  all  religious  care  to  prepare  their  hearts 
to  such  a  solemn  work,  and  to  be  early  at  the  congregation. 

So  large  a  portion  of  the  day  as  conveniently  may  be,  is 
to  be  spent  in  public  reading  and  preaching  of  the  word, 
with  singing  of  psalms,  fit  to  quicken  affections  suitable  to 


The  Directory  for  the  Public  Worship  of  God.  555 

such  a  duty :  but  especially  in  prayer,  (o  this  or  the  like 
effect : 

11  Giving  glory  to  the  great  Majesty  of  God,  the  Creator, 
"  Preserver,  and  supreme  Ruler  of  all  the  world,  the  better 
"  to  affect  us  thereby  with  a  holy  reverence  and  awe  of  him  ; 
"  acknowledging  his  manifold,  great,  and  tender  mercies, 
"especially  to  the  church  and  nation,  the  more  effectually 
11  to  soften  and  abase  our  hearts  before  him  ;  humbly  confess- 
"  ing  of  sins  of  all  sorts,  with  their  several  aggravations  ; 
"justifying  God's  righteous  judgments,  as  being  far  less  than 
"  our  sins  do  deserve;  yet  humbly  and  earnestly  imploring 
"  his  mercy  and  grace  for  ourselves,  the  church  and  nation, 
"  for  our  king,  and  all  in  authority,  and  for  all  others  for 
"  whom  we  are  bound  to  pray,  (according  as  the  present 
"exigent  requireth,)  with  more  special  importunity  and  en- 
largement than  at  other  times;  applying  by  faith  the  pro- 
"  mises  and  goodness  of  God  for  pardon,  help,  and  deliverance 
"from  the  evils  felt,  feared,  or  deserved;  and  for  obtaining 
"  the  blessings  which  we  need  and  expect ;  together  with  a 
"giving  up  of  ourselves  wholly  and  for  ever  unto  the  Lord." 

In  all  these,  the  ministers,  who  are  the  mouths  of  the  people 
unto  God,  ought  so  to  speak  from  their  hearts,  upon  serious 
and  thorough  premeditation  of  them,  that  both  themselves 
and  their  people  may  be  much  affected,  and  even  melted 
thereby,  especially  with  sorrow  for  their  sins ;  that  it  may  be 
indeed  a  day  of  deep  humiliation  and  afflicting  of  the  soul. 

Special  choice  is  to  be  made  of  such  scriptures  to  be  read, 
and  of  such  texts  for  preaching,  as  may  best  work  the  hearts 
of  the  hearers  to  the  special  business  of  the  day,  and  most  dis- 
pose them  to  humiliation  and  repentance ;  insisting  most  on 
those  particulars  which  each  minister's  observation  and  expe- 
rience tells  him  are  most  conducing  to  the  edification  and 
reformation  of  that  congregation  to  which  he  preacheth. 

Before  the  close  of  the  public  duties,  the  minister  is,  in 
his  own  and  the  people's  names,  to  engage  his  and  their  hearts 
to  be  the  Lord's,  with  professed  purpose  and  resolution  to  re- 
form whatever  is  amiss  among  them,  and  more  particularly 
such  sins  as  they  have  been  more  remarkably  guilty  of;  and 
to  draw  near  unto  God,  and  to  walk  more  closely  and  faith- 
fully  with  him  in  new  obedience,  than  ever  before. 


556  The  Directory  for  the  Public  Worship  of  God. 

He  is  also  to  admonish  the  people,  with  all  importunity, 
that  the  work  of  that  day  doth  not  end  with  the  public  du- 
ties of  it,  but  (hat  they  are  so  to  improve  the  remainder  of 
the  day,  and  of  their  whole  life,  in  re-enforcing  ispon  them- 
selves and  their  families  in  private  all  those  godly  affections 
and  resolutions  which  they  professed  in  public,  as  that  they 
may  be  settled  in  their  hearts  for  ever,  and  themselves  may 
more  sensibly  find  that  God  hath  smelt  a  sweet  savour  in 
Christ  from  their  performances,  and  is  pacified  towards 
them,  by  answers  of  grace,  in  pardoning  of  sin,  in  removing 
of  judgments,  in  averting  or  preventing  of  plagues,  and  in 
conferring  of  blessings,  suitable  to  the  conditions  and  pray- 
ers of  his  people,  by  Jesus  Christ. 

Besides  solemn  and  general  fasts  enjoined  by  authority, 
we  judge  that,  at  other  times,  congregations  may  keep  days 
of  fasting,  as  divine  Providence  shall  administer  unto  them 
special  occasion ;  and  also  that  families  may  do  the  same, 
so  it  be  not  on  days  wherein  the  congregation  to  which 
they  do  belong  is  to  meet  for  fasting,  or  other  public  duties 
of  worship. 

Concerning  the  Observation  of  Days  of  Public  Thanksgiving. 

When  any  such  day  is  to  be  kept,  let  notice  be  given 
of  it,  and  of  the  occasion  thereof,  some  convenient  time  be- 
fore, that  the  people  may  the  better  prepare  themselves 
thereunto. 

The  day  being  come,  and  the  congregation  (after  private 
preparations)  being  assembled,  the  minister  is  to  begin  with 
a  word  of  exhortation,  to  stir  up  the  people  to  the  duty  for 
which  they  are  met,  and  with  a  short  prayer  for  God's  assist- 
ance and  blessing,  (as  at  other  conventions  for  public  wor- 
ship,) according  to  the  particular  occasion  of  their  meeting. 

Let  him  then  make  some  pithy  narration  of  the  deliverance 
obtained,  or  mercy  received,  or  of  whatever  hath  occasioned 
that  assembling  of  the  congregation,  that  all  may  better  un- 
derstand it,  or  be  minded  of  it,  and  more  affected  with  it. 

And,  because  singing  of  psalms  is  of  all  other  the  most 
proper  ordinance  for  expressing  of  joy  and  thanksgiving,  let 
some  pertinent  psalm  or  psalms  be  sung  for  that  purpose,  be- 


The  Directory  for  the  Public  Worship  of  God.  557 

fore  or  after  the  reading  of  some  portion  of  the  word  suit- 
able to  the  present  business. 

Then  let  the  minister,  who  is  to  preach,  proceed  to  far- 
ther exhortation  and  prayer  before  his  sermon,  with  special 
reference  to  the  present  work :  after  which,  let  him  preach 
upon  some  text  of  scripture  pertinent  to  the  occasion. 

The  sermon  ended,  let  him  not  only  pray,  as  at  other  times 
after  preaching  is  directed,  with  remembrance  of  the  ne- 
cessities of  the  Church,  King,  and  State,  (if  before  the  ser- 
mon they  were  omitted,)  but  enlarge  himself  in  due  and  so- 
lemn thanksgiving  for  former  mercies  and  deliverances ;  but 
more  especially  for  that  which  at  the  present  calls  them  to- 
gether to  give  thanks:  with  humble  petition  for  the  conti- 
nuance and  renewing  of  God's  wonted  mercies,  as  need  shall 
be,  and  for  sanctifying  grace  to  make  a  right  use  thereof. 
And  so,  having  sung  another  psalm,  suitable  to  the  mercy, 
let  him  dismiss  the  congregation  with  a  blessing,  that  they 
may  have  seme  convenient  time  for  their  repast  and  refreshing. 

But  the  minister  (before  their  dismission)  is  solemnly  to 
admonish  them  to  beware  of  all  excess  and  riot,  tending  to 
gluttony  or  drunkenness,  and  much  more  of  these  sins  them- 
selves, in  their  eating  and  refreshing;  and  to  take  care  that 
their  mirth  and  rejoicing  be  not  carnal,  but  spiritual,  which 
may  make  God's  praise  to  be  glorious,  and  themselves 
humble  and  sober;  and  that  both  their  feeding  and  rejoicing 
may  render  them  more  cheerful  and  enlarged,  farther  to 
celebrate  his  praises  in  the  midst  of  the  congregation,  when 
they  return  unto  it  in  the  remaining  part  of  that  day. 

When  the  congregation  shall  be  again  assembled,  the  like 
course  in  praying,  reading,  preaching,  singing  of  psalms, 
and  offering  up  of  more  praise  and  thanksgiving,  that  is  be- 
fore directed  for  the  morning,  is  to  be  renewed  and  conti- 
nued,, so  far  as  the  time  will  give  leave. 

At  one  or  both  of  the  public  meetings  that  day,  a  collec- 
tion is  to  be  made  for  the  poor,  (and  in  the  like  manner  upon 
the  day  of  public  humiliation,)  that  their  loins  may  bless 
us,  and  rejoice  the  more  with  us.  And  the  people  are  to 
be  exhorted,  at  the  end  of  the  latter  meeting,  to  spend  the 
residue  of  that  day  in  holy  duties,  and  testifications  of  Chris- 
tian love  and  charity  one  towards  another,  and  of  rejoicing 
47* 


358  The  Directory  for  the  Public  Worship  of  God. 

more  and  more  in  the  Lord ;  as  becometh  those  who  make 
the  joy  of  the  Lord  their  strength. 

Of  Singing  of  Psalms. 

It  is  the  duty  of  Christians  to  praise  God  publicly,  by 
singing  of  psalms  together  in  the  congregation,  and  also 
privately  in  the  family. 

In  singing  of  psalms,  the  voice  is  to  be  tunably  and  grave- 
ly ordered;  but  the  chief  care  must  be  to  sing  with  understand- 
ing, and  with  grace  in.  the  heart,  making  melody  unto  the 
Lord. 

That  the  whole  congregation  may  join  herein,  every  one 
that  can  read  is  to  have  a  psalm  book ;  and  all  others,  not 
disabled  by  age  or  otherwise,  are  to  be  exhorted  to  learn  to 
read.  But  for  the  present,  where  many  in  the  congregation 
cannot  read,  it  is  convenient  that  the  minister,  or  some  other 
fit  person  appointed  by  him  and  the  other  ruling  officers, 
do  read  the  psalm,  line  by  line,  before  the  singing  thereof. 


AKf 

APPENDIX, 

Touching  Days  and  Places  for  Public  Worship. 

There  is  no  day  commanded  in  scripture  to  be  kept  holy  under  the 
gospel  but  the  Lord's  day,  which  is  the  Christian  Sabbath. 

Festival-days,  vulgarly  called  Holy-days,  having  no  warrant  in  the 
word  of  God,  are  not  to  be  continued. 

Nevertheless,  it  is  lawful  and  necessary,  upon  special  emergent  oc- 
casions, to  separate  a  day  or  days  for  public  fasting  or  thanksgiving, 
as  the  several  eminent  and  extraordinary  dispensations  of  God's  provi- 
dence shall  administer  cause  and  opportunity  to  his  people. 

As  no  place  is  capable  of  any  holiness,  under  pretence  of  whatsoever 
dedication  or  consecration ;  so  neither  is  it  subject  to  such  pollution  by 
any  superstition  formerly  used,  and  now  laid  aside,  as  may  render  it  un- 
lawful or  inconvenient  for  Christians  to  meet  together  therein  for  the 
public  worship  of  God.  And  therefore  we  hold  it  requisite,  that  the 
places  of  public  assembling  for  worship  among  us  should  be  continued 
and  employed  to  that  use. 


FORM 


PRESBYTERIAL   CHURCH-GOVERNMENT, 

AND   OF 

ORDINATION    OF    MINISTERS, 

AGREED  UPON  BY 

THE    ASSEMBLY    OF    DIVINES 
AT  WESTMINSTER, 

WITH  THE 

ASSISTANCE    OF    COMMISSIONERS 

FROM  THB 

CHURCH    OF  SCOTLAND, 

AS 

A  part  of  the  Covenanted  Uniformity  in  Religion  betwixt  the  Churches  of 
Christ  in  the  Kingdoms  of  Scotland,  England,  and  Ireland: 

WITH 

An  Act  of  the  General  Assembly,  Anno  1645,  approving  the  same. 


Kzbk.  xliii.  11.  And  if  they  be  ashamed  of  all  that  they  have  done,  show  them  the  form 
of  the  house,  and  the  fashion  thereof,  and  the  goings  out  thereof,  and  the  comings  in 
thereof,  and  all  the  forms  thereof, — and  all  the  Jaws  thereof;  and  write  it  in  their 
sight,  that  they  may  keep  the  whole  form  thereof,  and  all  the  ordinances  thereof,  and 
tlo  them. 


C     561     ] 


Assembly  at  Edinburgh,  February  10,  1645.  Sess.  16. 

Act  of  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Kirk  of  Scotland,  approving 
the  Propositions  concerning  Kirk- government,  and  Ordina- 
tion of  Ministers. 

The  General  Assembly  being  most  desirous  and  soli- 
citous, not  only  of  the  establishment  and  preservation  of 
the  Form  of  Kirk-government  in  this  kingdom,  according 
to  the  word  of  God,  books  of  Discipline,  acts  of  General 
Assemblies,  and  National  Covenant,  but  also  of  a  unifor- 
mity in  Kirk-government  betwixt  these  kingdoms,  now  more 
straitly  and  strongly  united  by  the  late  Solemn  League  and 
Covenant ;  and  considering,  that  as  in  former  times  there 
did,  so  hereafter  there  may  arise,  through  the  nearness  of 
contagion,  manifold  mischiefs  to  this  kirk  from  a  corrupt 
form  of  government  in  the  kirk  of  England:  likeas  the  pre- 
cious opportunity  of  bringing  the  kirks  of  Christ  in  all  the 
three  kingdoms  to  a  uniformity  in  Kirk-government  being 
the  happiness  of  the  present  times  above  the  former ;  which 
may  also,  by  the  blessing  of  God,  prove  an  effectual  mean, 
and  a  good  foundation  to  prepare  for  a  safe  and  well-ground- 
ed pacification,  by  removing  the  cause  from  which  the  pre- 
sent pressures  and  bloody  wars  did  originally  proceed :  and 
now  the  Assembly  having  thrice  read,  and  "diligently  exa- 
mined,  the  propositions  (hereunto  annexed)  concerning  the 
officers,  assemblies,  and  government  of  the  kirk,  and  con- 
cerning the  ordination  of  ministers,  brought  unto  us,  as  the 
results  of  the  long  and  learned  debates  of  the  Assembly  of 
Divines  sitting  at  Westminister,  and  of  the  treaty  of  unifor- 
mity with  the  Commissioners  of  this  kirk  there  residing; 
after  mature  deliberation,  and  after  timeous  calling  upon, 
and  warning  of  all,  who  have  any  exceptions  against  the 
same,  to  make  them  known,  that  they  might  receive  satis- 
faction; doth  agree  to  and  approve  me  propositions  afore- 
mentioned, touching  Kirk-government  and  Ordination;  and 
doth  hereby  authorize  the  Commissioners  of  this  Assembly, 
who  are  to  meet  at  Edinburgh,  to  agree  to  and  conclude  in 


C   562   ] 

the  name  of  this  Assembly,  a  uniformity  betwixt  the  kirks 
in  both  kingdoms,  in  the  afore-mentioned  particulars,  so 
soon  as  the  same  shall  be  ratified,  without  any  substantial 
alteration,  by  an  ordinance  of  the  honourable  Houses  of  the 
Parliament  of  England ;  which  ratification  shall  be  timely 
intimate  and  made  known  by  the  Commissioners  of  this 
kirk  residing  at  London.  Provided  always,  That  this  act 
be  no  ways  prejudicial  to  the  farther  discussion  and  exami- 
nation of  that  article  which  holds  forth,  That  the  doctor  or 
teacher  hath  power  of  the  administration  of  the  sacraments, 
as  well  as  the  pastor ;  as  also  of  the  distinct  rights  and  in- 
terests of  presbyteries  and  people  in  the  calling  of  ministers  ; 
but  that  it  shall  be  free  to  debate  and  discuss  these  points, 
as  God  shall  be  pleased  to  give  farther  light. 


THE  CONTENTS. 


THE  Preface. 

Of  the  Church. 

Df  the  Officers  of  the  Church. 

Pastors. 

Other  Church-governors. 

Deacons. 

Of  particular  Con^reeations. 

Of  the  Officersofa  particular  Congregation. 

Of  the  Ordinances  in  a  particular  Con- 
gregation. 

Of  Church-government,  and  the  several 
sorts  of  Assemblies  for  the  same. 

Of  the  power  in  common  of  all  these  As- 
semblies. 


Of  Congregational  Ass-mblies:  that  is,  the 
Meeting  of  the  ruling  Officers  of  a  parti- 
cular Congregation,  for  the  government 
thereof. 

Of  Classical  Assemblies. 

Of  Synodical  Assemblies. 

Of  Ordination  of  Ministers. 

Touching  the  Doctrine  of  Ordination. 

Touching  the  Power  of  Ordination. 

Concerning  the  Doctrinal  Part  of  the  Or- 
dination of  Ministers. 

Tt.e  Directory  for  the  Ordination  of  Minis- 
ters. 


THE 

fORM  OF  PRESBYTERIAL  CHURCH-GOVERNMENT, 
THE  PREFACE. 

Jesus  Christ,  upon  whose  shoulders  the  government  is,  whose  name 
is  called  Wonderful,  Counsellor,  The  mighty  God,  The  everlasting  Fa- 
ther, the  Prince  of  peace;  a  of  the  increase  of  whose  government  and 
peace  there  shall  be  no  end  ;  who  sits  upon  the  throne  of  David,  and  upon 
his  kingdom,  to  order  it,  and  to  establish  it  with  judgment  and  justice, 
from  henceforth,  even  for  ever ;  having  all  power  given  unto  him  in  hea- 
ven and  in  earth  by  the  Father,  who  raised  him  from  the  dead,  and  set 
him  at  his  own  right  hand,  far  above  all  principalities  and  power,  and 
might,  and  dominion,  and  every  name  that  is  named,  not  only  in  this 
world,  but  also  in  that  which  is  to  come,  and  put  all  things  under  his 
feet,  and  gave  him  to  be  the  head  over  all  things  to  the  church,  which 
is  his  body,  the  fulness  of  him  that  filleth  all  in  all :  he  being  ascended 
up  far  above  all  heavens,  that  he  might  fill  all  things,  received  gifts  for 
his  church,  and  gave  officers  necessary  for  the  edification  of  his  church, 
and  perfecting  of  his  saints.b 

a Isa.ix.fi. 7.        b  Matth.  xxviii.  IS,  19,  20.        Eph.  i.  20,  21,  22,  23.        Comparedwilh 
Fph.  iv.  8, 11,  and  Psal.  lxviii.  18.  * 

Of  the  Church. 

There  is  one  general  church  visible,  held  forth  in  the 
New  Testament/ 

a  1  Cor.  xii.  12.  For  as  the  body  body,  being  many,  are  one  body; 
is  one,  and  hath  many  members,  so  also  is  Christ.  Ver.  13.  For  by 
and  all  the  members  of  that  one     one  Spirit  are  we  all  baptized  into 


564 


The  Form  of  Clair ch- Government. 


The  ministry,  oracles,  and  ordinances  of  the  New  Testa- 
ment, are  given  by  Jesus  Christ  to  the  general  church  vi- 
sible, for  the  gathering  and  perfecting  of  it  in  this  life  until 
his  second  coming.b 

Particular  visible  churches,  members  of  the  general 
church,  are  also  held  forth  in  the  New  Testament.0  Par- 
ticular churches  in  the  primitive  times  were  made  up  of 
visible  saints,  xiz.  of  such  as,  being  of  age,  professed  faith 
in  Christ,  and  obedience  unto  Christ,  according  to  the  rules 
of  faith  and  life  taught  by  Christ  and  his  apostles;  and  of 
their  children/ 


one  body,  whether  we  be  Jews 
or  Gentiles,  whether  we  be  bond 
or  free;  and  have  been  all  made 
to  drink  into  one  Spirit.  Ver.  28. 
And  God  hath  set  some  in  the 
church;  first,  apostles;  secondari- 
ly, prophets;  thirdly,  teachers; 
after  that  miracles;  then  gifts  of 
healings,  helps,  governments,  di- 
versities of  tongues.  [Together 
with  the  rest  of  the  chapter.] 

b  1  Cor.  xii.  23.  [See  before  ] 
Eph.  iv.  4.  There  is  one  body  and 
one  Spirit,  even  as  ye  are  called  in 
one  hope  of  your  calling:  Ver.  5. 
One  Lord,  one  faith,  one  baptism, 
Compared  with  Ver.  10.  He  that 
descended  is  the  same  also  that  as- 
cended up  far  above  all  heavens, 
that  he  might  fill  all  things.  Ver. 
11.  And  he  gave  some  apostles,  and 
some  prophets,  and  some  evange- 
lists, and  some  pastors  and  teach- 
ers; Ver.  12.  For  the  perfecting  of 
the  saints,  for  the  work  of  the  mi- 
nistry, for  the  edifying  of  the  body 
of  Christ:  Ver.  13.  Till  we  all  come 
in  the  unity  of  the  faith,  and  of  the 
knowledge  of  the  Son  of  God,  unto 
a  perfect  man,  unto  the  measure 
of  the  stature  of  the  fulness  of 
Christ.  Ver.  15.  But  speaking  the 
truth  in  love,  may  grow  up  unto 
him  in  all  things,  which  is  the  head, 
even  Christ :  Ver.  16.  From  whom 


the  whole  body  fitly  joined  toge- 
ther, and  compacted  by  that  which 
every  joint  supplieth,  according  to 
the  effectual  working,  in  the  mea- 
sure of  every  part,  maketh  increase 
of  the  body,  unto  the  edifying  of 
itself  in  love. 

c  Gal.  i.  21.  Afterwards  I  came 
into  the  regions  of  Syria  and  Ci- 
licia;  Ver.  22.  And  was  unknown 
by  face  unto  the  churches  of  Judea 
which  were  in  Christ.  Rev.  i.  4. 
John  to  the  seven  churches  which 
are  in  Asia:  Grace  be  unto  you, 
and  peace,  from  him  which  is, 
and  which  was,  and  which  is  to 
come ;  and  from  the  seven  Spi- 
rits which  are  before  his  throne. 
Ver.  20.  The  mystery  of  the  seven 
stars  which  thou  sawest  in  my 
right  hand,  and  the  seven  golden 
candlesticks.  The  seven  stars  are 
the  angels  of  the  seven  churches; 
and  the  seven  candlesticks  which 
thou  sawest  are  the  seven  churches. 
Rev.  ii.  1.  Unto  the  angel  of  the 
church  of  Ephesus  write;  These 
things  saith  he  that  holdeth  the 
seven  stars  in  his  right  hand,  who 
walketh  in  the  midst  of  the  seven 
golden  candlesticks. 

d  Acts  ii.  38.  Then  Peter  said 
unto  them,  Repent,  and  be  bap- 
tized every  one  of  you  in  the 
name  of  Jesus  Christ,  for  the  re- 


The  Form  of  Church- Government, 


565 


Of  the  Officers  of  the  Church. 

The  officers  which  Christ  hath  appointed  for  the  edifica- 
tion of  his  church,  and  the  perfecting  of  the  saints,  are,  some 
extraordinary,  as  apostles,  evangelists,  and  prophets,  which 
are  ceased. 

Others  ordinary  and  perpetual,  as  pastors,  teachers,  and 
other  church-governors,  and  deacons. 

Pastors. 

The  pastor  is  an  ordinary  and  perpetual  officer  in  the 
church,6  prophesying  of  the  time  of  the  gospel/ 


mission  of  sins,  and  ye  shall  receive 
the  gift  of  the  holy  Ghost.  Ver.  41. 
Then  they  that  gladly  received 
his  word  were  baptized  :  and  the 
same  day  there  were  added  unto 
them  about  three  thousand  souls. 
Ver.  47.  Praising- God,  and  having 
favour  with  all  the  people.  And 
the  Lord  added  to  the  church 
daily  such  as  should  be  saved. 
Compared  with  Acts-  v.  14.  And 
believers  were  the  more  added  to 
the  Lord,  multitudes  both  of  men 
and  women.  1  Cor.  i.  2.  Unto 
the  church  of  God  which  is  at 
Corinth,  to  them  that  are  sancti- 
fied in  Christ  Jesus,  called  to  be 
saints,  with  all  that  in  every  place 
call  upon  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ 
our  Lord,  both  theirs  and  ours. 
Compared  icith  2  Cor.  ix.  13. 
Whiles  by  the  experiment  of  this 
ministration  they  glorify  God  for 
your  professed  subjection  unto  the 
gospel  of  Christ,  and  for  your  libe- 
ral distribution  unto  them,  and 
unto  all  men.  Acts  ii.  39.  For  the 
promise  is  unto  you.  and  to  your 
children,  and  to  all  that  are  afar 
off,  even  as  many  as  the  Lord  our 
God  shall  call.  1  Cor.  vii.  14. 
For  the  unbelieving  husband  is 
sanctified  by  the  wife,  and  the  un- 
48 


believing  wife  is  sanctified  by  the 
husband ;  else  were  your  children 
unclean,  but  now  are  they  holy. 
Rom.  xi.  16.  For  if  the  first-fruit 
be  holy,  the  lump  is  also  holy; 
and  if  the  root  be  holy,  so  are  the 
branches.  Mark  x.  14.  But  when 
Jesus  saw  it,  he  was  much  dis- 
pleased, and  said  unto  them,  Suffer 
the  little  children  to  come  unto  me, 
and  forbid  them  not :  for  of  such 
is  the  kingdom  of  God.  Compared 
with  Match,  xix.  13.  Then  were 
there  brought  unto  him  little 
children,  that  he  should  put  his 
hands  on  them,  and  pray:  and  the 
disciples  rebuked  them.  Ver.  14. 
But  Jesus  said,  Suffer  little  chil- 
dren, and  forbid  them  not,  to 
come  unto  me  :  for  of  such  is  the 
kingdom  of  heaven.  Luke  xviii, 
15-  And  they  brought  unto  hirn 
also  infants,  that  he  would  touch 
them :  but  when  his  disciples  saw 
it,  they  rebuked  them.  Ver.  16.  But 
Jesus  called  them  unto  him,  and 
said,  Suffer  little  children  to  come 
unto  me,  and  forbid  them  not: 
for  of  such  is  the  kingdom  of  God. 
e  Jer.  iii.  15.  And  I  will  give 
you  pastors  according  to  mine 
heart,  which  shall  feed  you  with 
knowledge     and    understanding. 


566 


The  Form  of  Church- Government, 


First,  it  belongs  to  his  office, 

To  pray  for  and  with  his  flock,  as  the  mouth  of  the  peo- 
ple unto  God,g  Acts  vi.  2,  3,  4,  and  xx.  36,  where  preaching 
and  prayer  are  joined  as  several  parts  of  the  same  office.h 
The  office  of  the  elder  (that  is,  the  pastor)  is  to  pray  for  the 
sick,  even  in  private,  to  which  a  blessing  is  especially  pro- 
mised ;  much  more  therefore  ought  he  to  perform  this  in 
the  public  execution  of  his  office,  as  a  part  thereof.1 


Ver.  16.  And  it  shall  come  to  pass, 
when  ye  be  multiplied  and  in- 
creased in  the  land,  in  those  days, 
saith  the  Lord,  they  shall  say  no 
more,  The  ark  of  the  covenant  of 
the  Lord;  neither  shall  it  come  to 
mind,  neither  shall  they  remember 
it,  neither  shall  they  visit  it,  neither 
shall  that  be  done  any  more.  Ver. 
17.  At  that  time  they  shall  call  Je- 
rusalem the  throne  of  the  Lord, 
and  all  the  nations  shall  be  gather- 
ed unto  it,  to  the  name  of  the  Lord, 
to  Jerusalem:  neither  shall  they 
walk  any  more  after  the  imagina- 
tion of  their  evil  heart. 

f  1  Pet.  v.  2.  Feed  the  flock  of 
God  which  is  among  you,  taking 
the  oversight  thereof,  not  by  con- 
straint, but  willingly;  not  for  filthy 
lucre,  but  of  a  ready  mind.  Ver. 
3.  Neither  as  being  lords  over  God's 
heritage,  but  being  ensamples  to 
the  flock.  Ver.  4.  And  when  the 
chief  Shepherd  shall  appear,  ye 
shall  receive  a  crown  of  glory  that 
fadeth  not  away.  Eph.  iv.  11. 
And  he  gave  some  apostles,  and 
some  prophets,  and  soi.'.e  evange- 
lists, and  some  pastors  and  teach- 
ers ;  Ver.  12.  For  the  perfecting  of 
the  saints,  for  the  work  of  the  mi- 
nistry, for  the  edifying  of  the  body 
of  Christ ;  Ver.  13.  Till  we  all  come 
in  the  unity  of  the  faith,  and  of  the 
knowledge  of  the  Son  of  God,  unto 
a  perfect  man,  unto  the  measure 


of  the  stature  of  the  fulness  of 
Christ. 

e  Acts  vi.  2.  Then  the  twelve 
called  the  multitude  of  the  disci- 
ples unto  them,  and  said,  It  is  not 
reason  that  we  should  leave  the 
word  of  God,  and  serve  tables.  Ver. 
3.  Wherefore,  brethren,  look  ye  out 
among  you  seven  men  of  honest 
report,  full  of  the  Holy  Ghost  and 
wisdom,  whom  we  may  appoint 
over  this  business.  Ver.  4.  But  we 
will  give  ourselves  continually  to 
prayer,  and  to  the  ministry  of  the 
word.  Acts  xx.  36.  And  when  he 
had  thus  spoken,  he  kneeled  down, 
and  prayed  with  them  all. 

h  James  v.  14.  Is  any  man  sick 
among  you?  let  him  call  for  the 
elders  of  the  church,  and  let  them 
pray  over  him,  anointing  him  with 
oil  in  the  name  of  the  Lord: 
Ver.  15.  And  the  prayer  of  faith 
shall  save  the  sick,  and  the  Lord 
shall  raise  him  up;  and  if  he  have 
committed  sins,  they  shall  be  for- 
given him. 

'l  1  Cor.  xiv.  15.  What  is  it  then  ? 
I  will  pray  with  the  spirit,  and  I 
will  pray  with  the  understanding 
also:  I  will  sing  with  the  spirit, 
and  I  will  sing  with  the  under- 
standing also.  Ver.  16.  Else,  when 
thou  shalt  bless  with  the  spirit, 
how  shall  he  that  occupieth  the 
room  of  the  unlearned  say  Amen 
at  thy  giving  of  thanks,  seeing 


The  Form  of  Church- Gov  eminent. 


567 


To  read  the  scriptures  publicly;  for  the  proof  of  which, 

1.  That  the  priests  and  Levites  in  the  Jewish  church  were 
trusted  with  the  public  reading  of  the  word,  is  proved.k 

2.  That  the  ministers  of  the  gospel  have  as  ample  a  charge 
and  commission  to  dispense  the  word,  as  well  as  other 
ordinances,  as  the  priests  and  Levites  had  under  the  law,, 
proved,  Isa.  lxvi.  21.  Mat.  xxiii.  34;  where  our  Saviour 
entitleth  the  officers  of  the  New  Testament,  whom  he 
will  send  forth,  by  the  same  names  of  the  teachers  of  the 
Old.1 

Which  propositions  prove,  that  therefore  (the  duty  be- 
ing of  a  moral  nature)  it  followeth  by  just  consequence, 
that  the  public  reading  of  the  scriptures  belongeth  to  the 
pastor's  office. 

To  feed  the  flock,  by  preaching  of  the  word,  according 
to  which  he  is  to  teach,  convince,  reprove,  exhort,  and 
comfort.m 


he   understandeth   not  what  thou 
sayest  ? 

k  Deut.  xxxi.  9.  And  Moses 
wrote  this  law,  and  delivered  it 
unto  the  priests,  the  sons  of  Levi, 
which  bare  the  ark  of  the  cove- 
nant of  the  Lord,  and  unto  all  the 
elders  of  Israel.  Ver.  10-  And  Moses 
commanded  them,  saying,  At  the 
end  of  every  seven  years  is  the 
solemnity  of  the  year  of  release,  in 
the  feast  of  tabernacles.  Ver.  11. 
When  all  Israel  is  come  to  appear 
before  the  Lord  thy  God  in  the 
place  which  he  shall  choose,  thou 
shalt  read  this  law  before  all  Israel 
in  their  hearing.  Neh.  viii.  1.  And 
all  the  people  gathered  themselves 
together  as  one  man,  into  the  street 
that  was  before  the  water-gate, 
and  they  spake  unto  Ezra  the 
scribe  to  bring  the  book  of  the  law 
of  Moses,  which  the  Lord  had 
commanded  to  Israel.  Ver.  2. 
And  Ezra  the  priest  brought  the 
law  before  the  congregation,  both 
of  men  and  women,  and  all  that 


could  hear  with  understanding, 
upon  the  first  day  of  the  seventh 
month.  Ver.  3.  And  he  read  there- 
in— Ver.  13.  And  on  the  second  day 
were  gathered  together  the  chief 
of  the  fathers  of  all  the  people,  the 
priests  and  the  Levites,  unto  Ezra 
the  scribe,  even  to  understand  the 
words  of  the  law. 

1  Isa.  lxvi.  21.  And  I  will  also 
take  of  them  for  priests,  and  for 
Levites,  saith  the  Lord.  Mat. 
xxiii.  34.  Wherefore,  behold,  I 
send  unto  you  prophets,  and  wise 
men,  and  scribes;  and  some  of 
them  ye  shall  kill  and  crucify,  and 
some  of  them  shall  ye  scourge  in 
your  synagogues,  and  persecute 
them  from  city  to  city. 

m  1  Tim.  iii.  2.  A  bishop  then 
must  be  blameless,  the  husband  of 
one  wife,  vigilant,  sober,  of  good 
behaviour,  given  to  hospitalitv, 
apt  to  teach.  2  Tim.  iii.  16.  All 
scripture  is  given  by  inspiration  of 
God,  and  is  profitable  for  doctrine, 
for  reproof,  for  correction,  for  in^ 


j68 


The  Form  of  Church- Government. 


To  catechise,  which  is  a  plain  laying  down  the  first  prin- 
ciples oi  the  oracles  of  GooV  or  of  the  doctrine  of  Christ, 
and  is  a  part  of  preaching. 

To  dispense  other  divine  mysterk 
To  administer  the  sacraments.* 

To  bless  the  people  from  God.  Numb.  vi.  23,  24,  25,  26. 

-pared  with  Rev.  xiv.  5,  (where  the  same  blessings,  and 

>ns  from  whom  they  come,  are  expressly  mentioned,*1) 


iction  in  righteousness:  Ver.  17. 

Tiiat  the  man  of  God  may  be  per- 

thoroughly  furnished  unto  all 

good  works.     Tit.   i.   9.    Holding 

'he  faithful  word,  as  he  hath 

been  taught,  that  he  may  be  able, 

ine,  both  to  c: 
ind  to  convince  the  gainsaycrs. 
"  Heb.  v.  12.    For  when 
:   ye  ought  to  be  teachers,  ye 
have  need  that  one  teach  you  again 
which  be  the  first  principles  of  the 
oracles  of  God:   and  are  become 
such  as  have  need  of  milk,  and  not 
of  strong  meat. 

1  Cor.  iv.  1.  Let  a  man  so  ac- 
count of  us  as  of  the  ministers  of 
Christ,  and  stewards  of  the  mys- 
teries of  God.  Ver.  2.  Moreover, 
it  is  required  in  stewards  that  a 
man  be  found  faithful. 

L  xxviii.  19.  Go  ye  there- 
rbre,  and  teach  all  nations,  bap- 
tizing them  in  the  name  of  the  Fa- 
ther, and  of  the  Son,  and  of  the 
Holy  Ghost:  Ver.  20.  Teaching 
them  to  observe  all  things  what- 
soever I  have  commanded  you  : 
and,  lo,  I  am  with  you  alway, 
oven  unto  the  end  of  the  world. 
Amen.  Mark  xvi.  15.  And  he 
.-aid  unto  them,  Go  ye  into  all  the 
world,  and  preach  the  gospel  to 
wery  creature.  Ver.  16.  He  that 
:>elieveth  and  is  baptized  shall  be 
saved;  but  he  that  believelh  not 
shall  be  damned.  1  Cor.  xi.  23. 
For  I  have  received  of  the  Lord 
that  which  also  I  delivered  unto 


you,  That  the  Lord  Jesus,  the 
same  night  in  which  he  was  be- 
trayed, took  bread.  Ver.  24.  And, 
when  he  had  given  thanks,  he  brake 
it,  and  said,  Take,  eat;  this  is  my 
body,  which  is  broken  for  you  :  this 
do  in  remembrance  of  me.     Ver. 

25.  After  the  same  manner  also  he 
took  the  cup,  when  he  had  supped, 
saying,  This  cup  is  the  new  testa- 
ment in  my  blood :  this  do  ye.  as 
oft  as  ye  drink  it,  in  remembrance 
of  me.  Compared  with  1  Cor.  x. 
16.  The  cup  of  blessing  which  we 
bless,  is  it  not  the  communion  of 
the  blood  of  Christ?  The  bread 
which  we  break,  is  it  not  the  com- 
munion of  the  body  of  Christ? 

G-  Numb.  vi.  23.  Speak  unto 
Aaron,  and  unto  his  sons,  saying, 
On  this  wise  ye  shall  bless  the  chil- 
dren of  Israel,  saying  unto  them, 
Ver.  24.  The  Lord  bless  thee,  and 
keep  thee.  Ver.  25.  The  Lord  make 
his  face  to  shine  upon  thee.     Ver. 

26.  The  Lord  lift  up  his  counte- 
nance upon  thee,  and  give  thee 
peace.  Compared  with  Rev.  i.  4. 
John  to  the  seven  churches  which 
are  in  Asia:  Grace  be  unto  you, 
and  peace,  from  him  which  is,  and 
which  was,  and  which  is  to  come : 
and  from  the  seven  Spirits  which 
are  before  his  throne:  Ver.  5.  And 
from  Jesus  Christ,  who  is  the  faith- 
ful witness,  and  the  first-begotten 
of  the  dead,  and  the  Prince  of  the 
kings  of  the  earth.  Isa.  Ixvi.  21. 
And  I  will  also  take  of  them  for 


The  Form  of  Church-  Government. 


569 


Isa.  lxvi.  21,  where,  under  the  names  of  Priests  and  Le- 
vites  to  be  continued  under  the  gospel,  are  meant  evan- 
gelical pastors,  who  therefore  are  by  office  to  bless  the 
people/ 

To  take  care  of  the  poor.3 

And  he  hath  also  a  ruling  power  over  the  flock  as  a 
pastor.1 


priests,  and  for  Levites,  saith  the 
Lord. 

r  Deut.  x.  8.  At  that  time  the 
Lord  separated  the  tribe  of  Levi, 
to  bear  the  ark  of  the  covenant  of 
the  Lord,  to  stand  before  the  Lord 
to  minister  unto  him,  and  to  bless 
in  his  name,  unto  this  day.  2  Cor. 
xiii.  14.  The  grace  of  the  Lord  Je- 
sus Christ,  and  the  love  of  God, 
and  the  communion  of  the  Holy- 
Ghost,  be  with  you  all.  Amen. 
Eph.  i.  2.  Grace  be  to  you,  and 
peace,  from  God  our  Father,  and 
from  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

s  Acts  xi.  30.  Which  also  they 
did,  and  sent  it  to  the  elders  by 
the  hands  of  Barnabas  and  Saul. 
Acts  iv.  3-1.  Neither  was  there 
any  among  them  that  lacked : 
for  as  many  as  were  possessors  of 
lands  or  houses  sold  them,  and 
brought  the  prices  of  the  things 
that  were  sold,  Ver.  35.  And  laid 
them  down  at  the  apostle's  feet; 
and  distribution  was  made  unto 
every  man,  according  as  he  had 
need.  Ver.  36.  And  Joses,  who  by 
the  apostles  was  surnamed  Bar- 
nabas, (which  is,  being  interpret- 
ed, The  son  of  consolation,)  a 
Levite,  and  of  the  country  of 
Cyprus,  Ver.  37.  Having  land,  sold 
it,  and  brought  the  money,  and 
laid  it  at  the  apostles'  feet.  Act3 
vi.  2.  Then  the  twelve  called 
the  multitude  of  the  disciples 
unto  them,  and  said,  It  is  not 
reason  that  we  should  leave  the 
word  of  God,  and  serve  tables, 
48* 


Ver.  3.  Wherefore,  brethren,  look 
ye  out  among  you  seven  men  of 
honest  report,  full  of  the  Holy 
Ghost  and  wisdom,  whom  we  may 
appoint  over  this  business.  Ver.  4. 
But  we  will  give  ourselves  conti- 
nually to  prayer,  and  to  the  minis- 
try of  the  word.  1  Cor.  xvi.  1. 
Now  concerning  the  collection  for 
the  saints,  as  I  have  given  order 
to  the  churches  of  Galatia,  even 
so  do  ye.  Ver.  2.  Upon  the  first 
day  of  the  week,  let  every  one  of 
you  lay  by  him  in  store,  as  God 
hath  prospered  him,  that  there  be 
no  gatherings  when  I  come.  Ver. 
3.  And  when  I  come,  whomsoever 
ye  shall  approve  by  your  letters, 
them  will  I  send  to  bring  your 
liberality  unto  Jerusalem.  Ver.  4. 
And  if  it  be  meet  that  I  go  also, 
they  shall  go  with  me.  Gal.  ii.  9. 
And  when  James,  Cephas,  and 
John,  who  seemed  to  be  pillars, 
perceived  the  grace  that  was  given 
unto  me,  they  gave  to  me  and 
Barnabas  the  right  hands  of  fel- 
lowship; that  we  should  go  unto 
the  heathen,  and  they  unto  the 
circumcision.  Ver.  10.  Only  they 
would  that  we  should  remember 
the  poor:  the  same  which  I  also 
was  forward  to  do. 

1 1  Tim.  v.  17.  Let  the  elders 
that  rule  well  be  counted  worthy 
of  double  honour,  especially  they 
who  labour  in  the  word  and  doc- 
trine. Acts  xx.  17.  And  from 
Miletus  he  sent  to  Ephesus,  and- 
called  the  elders  of  the  church, 


:>ro 


The  Form  of  Church- Government. 


Teacher  or  Doctor. 

The  scripture  doth  hold  out  the  name  and  title  of  teacher, 
as  well  as  of  the  pastor.v 

Who  is  also  a  minister  of  the  word,  as  well  as  the  pastor, 
and  hath  power  of  administration  of  the  sacraments. 

The  Lord  having  given  different  gifts,  and  divers  exer- 
cises according  to  these  gifts,  in  the  ministry  of  the  word;* 
though  these  different  gifts  may  meet  in,  and  accordingly 
be  exercised  by,  one  and  the  same  minister ; x  yet,  where  be 
several  ministers  in  the  same  congregation,  they  may  be  de- 
signed to  several  employments,  according  to  the  different 


Ver.  28.  Take  heed  therefore  unto 
yourselves,  and  to  all  the  flock 
over  the  which  the  Holy  Ghost 
hath  made  you  overseers,  to  feed 
the  church  of  God,  which  he  hath 
purchased  with  his  own  blood. 
1  Thess.  v.  12.  And  we  beseech 
you,  brethren,  to  know  them 
which  labour  among  you,  and  are 
over  you  in  the  Lord,  and  ad- 
monish you.  Heb.  xiii.  7.  Re- 
member them  which  have  the  rule 
over  you,  who  have  spoken  unto 
you  the  word  of  God  ;  whose  faith 
follow,  considering  the  end  of 
their  conversation.  Ver.  17.  Obey 
them  that  have  the  rule  over  you, 
and  submit  yourselves:  for  they 
watch  for  your  souls,  as  they  that 
must  give  account :  that  they  may 
do  it  with  joy,  and  not  with 
grief;  for  that  is  unprofitable  for 
you. 

v  1  Cor.  xii.  28.  And  God  hath 
set  some  in  the  church :  first, 
apostles;  secondarily,  prophets; 
thirdly,  teachers;  after  that  mi- 
ricles;  then  gifts  of  healings, 
helps,  governments,  diversities  of 
tongues.  Eph-  iv.  11.  And  he 
gave  some  apostles,  and  some  pro- 
phets, and  some  evangelists,  and 
some  pastors  and  teachers. 


w  Rom.  xii.  6.  Having  then 
gifts,  differing  according  to  the 
grace  that  is  given  to  us,  whe- 
ther prophecy,  let  us  prophesy 
according  to  the  proportion  of 
faith  ;  Ver.  7.  Or  ministry,  let  us 
wait  on  our  ministering;  or  he 
that  teacheth,  on  teaching;  Ver.  8. 
Or  he  that  exhorteth,  on  exhor- 
tation: he  that  giveth,  let  him 
do  it  with  simplicity;  he  that 
ruleth,  with  diligence ;.  he  that 
shovveth  mercy,  with  cheerful- 
ness. 1  Cor.  xii.  1.  Now  con- 
cerning spiritual  gifts,  brethren, 
I  would  not  have  you  ignorant. 
Ver.  4.  Now  there  are  diversities 
of  gifts,  but  the  same  Spirit.  Ver. 
5.  And  there  are  differences  of  ad- 
ministrations, but  the  same  Lord. 
Ver.  6.  And  there  are  diversities 
of  operations,  but  it  is  the  same 
God  which  worketh  all  in  all. 
Ver.  7.  But  the  manifestation  of 
the  Spirit  is  given  to  every  man 
to  profit  withal. 

x  1  Cor.  xiv.  3.  But  he  that 
prophesieth,  speaketh  unto  men  to 
edification,  and  exhortation,  and 
comfort.  2  Tim.  iv.  2.  Preach 
the  word,  be  instant  in  season,  out 
of  season;  reprove,  rebuke,  ex- 
hort, with  all   long-suffering  and 


The  Form  of  Church-  Government . 


571 


gifts  in  which  each  of  them  doth  most  excel. y  And  he  that 
doth  more  excel  in  exposition  of  scripture,  in  teaching  sound 
doctrine,  and  in  convincing  gainsayers,  than  he  doth  in  ap- 
plication, and  is  accordingly  employed  therein,  may  be  call- 
ed a  teacher,  or  doctor,  (the  places  alleged  by  the  notation 
of  the  word  do  prove  the  proposition,)  Nevertheless,  where 
is  but  one  minister  in  a  particular  congregation,  he  is  to  per- 
form, as  far  as  he  is  able,  the  whole  work  of  the  ministry.7 
A  teacher,  or  doctor,  is  of  most  excellent  use  in  schools 
and  universities;  as  of  old  in  the  schools  of  the  prophets,  and 
at  Jerusalem,  where  Gamaliel  and  others  taught  as  doctors. 

Other  Church- Governors. 

As  there  were  in  the  Jewish  Church  elders  of  the  people 
joined  with  the  priests  and  Levites  in  the  government  of 
the  church  ;a  so  Christ,  who   hath  instituted  government, 


doctrine.  Tit.  i.  9.  Holding  fast 
the  faithful  word,  as  he  hath 
been  taught,  that  he  may  be  able 
by  sound  doctrine  both  to  exhort 
and  to  convince  the  gainsayers. 

*  [See  in  letter  w  immediately 
jjreceding.]  1  Pet.  iv.  10.  As  every 
man  hath  received  the  gift,  even 
so  minister  the  same  one  to  ano- 
ther, as  good  stewards  of  the 
manifold  grace  of  God.  Ver.  11. 
If  any  man  speak,  let  him  speak 
as  the  oracles  of  God ;  if  any 
man  minister,  let  him  do  it  as  of 
the  ability  which  God  giveth ; 
that  God  in  all  things  may  be 
glorified  through  Jesus  Christ ;  to 
whom  be  praise  and  dominion  for 
ever  and  ever.     Amen. 

2  2  Tim.  iv.  2.  Preach  the 
word,  be  instant  in  season,  out  of 
season ;  reprove,  rebuke,  exhort, 
with  all  long-suffering  and  doc- 
trine. Tit.  i.  9.  Holding  fast  the 
faithful  word,  as  lie  hath  been 
taught,  that  he  may  be  able  by 
sound  doctrine  both  to  exhort 
and   to  convince   the  gainsayers. 


1  Tim.  vi.  2.  And  they  that  have 
believing  masters,  let  them  not  de- 
spise them,  because  they  are  bre- 
thren: but  rather  do  them  service, 
because  they  are  faithful  and  be- 
loved, partakers  of  the  benefit. 
These  things  teach  and  exhort. 

a  2  Chron.  xix.  8.  Moreover 
in  Jerusalem  did  Jehoshaphat  set 
of  the  Levites,  and  of  the  priests, 
and  of  the  chief  of  the  fathers  of 
Israel,  for  the  judgment  of  the 
Lord,  and  for  controversies,  when 
they  returned  to  Jerusalem.  Ver, 
9.  And  he  charged  thorn,  saying, 
Thus  shall  ye  do  in  the  fear  of 
the  Lord,  faithfully,  and  with  a 
perfect  heart.  Ver.  10.  And  what 
cause  soever  shall  come  to  you  of 
your  brethren  that  dwell  in  their 
cities,  between  blood  and  blood, 
between  law  and  commandment, 
and  statutes  and  judgments,  ye 
shall  even  warn  them,  that  thev 
trespass  not  against  the  Lord,  and 
so  wrath  come  upon  you,  and  upon 
your  brethren :  this  do,  and 
shall  not  trespass.. 


5?2 


The  Form  of  Church- Government. 


and  governors  ecclesiastical  in  the  church,  hath  furnished 
some  in  his  church,  beside  the  ministers  of  the  word,  with 
gifts  for  government,  and  with  commission  to  execute  the 
same  when  called  thereunto,  who  are  to  join  with  the  mi- 
nister in  the  government  of  the  church.b  Which  officers 
reformed  churches  commonly  call  Elders. 

Deacons. 

The  scripture  doth  hold  out  deacons  as  distinct  officers 
in  the  church.0 

Whose  office  is  perpetual.J  To  whose  office  it  belongs 
not  to  preach  the  word,  or  administer  the  sacraments,  but 
to  take  special  care  in  distributing  to  the  necessities,  of  the 
poor.6 

Of  particular  Congregations. 

It  is  lawful  and  expedient  that  there  be  fixed  congrega- 
tions, that  is,  a  certain  company  of  Christians  to  meet 
in  one   assembly  ordinarily  for   public    worship.      When 


b  Rom.  xii.  7.  Or  ministry,  let 
us  wait  on  our  ministering;  or  he 
that  teacheth,  on  teaching ;  Ver.  8. 
Or  he  that  exhorteth,  on  exhorta- 
tion :  he  that  giveth,  let  him  do 
it  with  simplicity;  he  that  ruleth, 
with  diligence;  he  that  showeth 
mercy,  with  cheerfulness.  1  Cor. 
xii.  28.  And  God  hath  set  some  in 
the  church  ;  first,  apostles;,  second- 
arily, prophets;  thirdly,  teachers; 
after  that  miracles;  then  gifts  of 
healings,  helps,  governments,  di- 
versities of  tongues. 

c  Phil.  i.  1.  Paul  and  Tiinotheus, 
the  servants  of  Jesus  Christ,  to  all 
the  saints  in  Christ  Jesus  which  are 
at  Philippi,  with  the  bishops  and 
deacons.  1  Tim.  iii.  8.  Likewise 
must  the  deacons  he  grave,  not 
double-tongued,  not  civen  to  much 
wine,  not  greedy  of  filthy  lucre. 

d  1  Tim  iii.  8.  Likewise  must 
the  deacons  be  grave,  not  double- 


tongued,  not  given  to  much  wine, 
not  greedy  of  filthy  lucre.  [See. 
in  the  Bible  to  Ver.  15.]  Acts  vi.  1. 
And  in  those  days,  when  the  num- 
ber of  the  disciples  was  multi- 
plied, there  arose  a  murmuring 
of  the  Grecians  against  the  He- 
brews, because  their  widows  were 
neglected  in  the  daily  ministra- 
tion. Ver.  2.  Then  the  twelve 
called  the  multitude  of  the  dis- 
ciples unto  them,  and  said,  It  is 
not  reason  that  we  should  leave 
the  word  of  God,  and  serve  tables. 
Ver.  3.  Wherefore,  brethren,  look 
ye  out  among  you  seven  men  of 
honest  report,  full  of  the  Holy 
Ghost  and  wisdom,  whom  we  may 
appoint  over  this  business.  Ver.  4. 
But  we  will  give  ourselves  contif 
Dually  to  prayer,  and  to  the  minis- 
try of  the  word. 

e  Acts  vi.  1 — 4.     [See  before  in 
letter*.] 


The  Form  of  Church- Government. 


57i 


believers  multiply  to  such  a  number,  that  they  cannot  con- 
veniently meet  in  one  place,  it  is  lawful  and  expedient  that 
they  should  be  divided  into  distinct  and  fixed  congregations, 
for  the  better  administration  of  such  ordinances  as  belong 
unto  them,  and  the  discharge  of  mutual  duties/ 

The  ordinary  way  of  dividing  Christians  into  distinct 
congregations,  and  most  expedient  for  edification,  is  by  the 
respective  bounds  of  their  dwellings. 

First,  Because  they  who  dwell  together,  being  bound  to 
all  kind  of  moral  duties  one  to  another,  have  the  better 
opportunity  thereby  to  discharge  them;  which  moral  tie 
is  perpetual;  for  Christ  came  not  to  destroy  the  law,  but  to 
fulfil  it.s 

Secondly,  The  communion  of  saints  must  be  so  order- 
ed, as  may  stand  with  the  most  convenient  use  of  the  ordi- 
nances, and  discharge  of  moral  duties,  without  respect  of 
persons.11 

Thirdly,  The  pastor  and  people  must  so  nearly  cohabit 
together,  as  that  they  may  mutually  perform  their  duties 
each  to  other  with  most  conveniency. 

In  this  company  some  must  be  set  apart  to  bear  office. 


f  1  Cor.  xiv.  26.— Let  ail  things 
be  done  to  edifying.  Ver.  33.  For 
God  is  not  the  author  of  confu- 
sion, but  of  peace,  as  in  all 
churches  of  the  saints.  Ver.  40. 
Let  all  things  be  done  decently, 
and  in  order. 

g  Deut.  xv.  7.  If  there  be  among 
you  a  poor  man  of  one  of  thy  bre- 
thren within  any  of  thy  gates,  in 
the  land  which  the  Lord  thy  God 
giveth  thee,  thou  shalt  not  harden 
thy  heart,  nor  shut  thine  hand 
from  thy  poor  brother.  Ver.  11. 
For  the  poor  shall  never  cease  out 
of  the  land  :  therefore  I  command 
thee,  saying,  Thou  shalt  open 
thine  hand  wide  unto  thy  brother, 
to  thy  poor  and  to  thy  needy  in 
thy  land.  Mat.  xxii.  39.  And  the 
second  is  like  unto  it,  Thou  shalt 
love    thy    neighbour    as    thyself. 


Mat.  v.  17.  Think  not  that  I  am 
come  to  destroy  the  law  or  the 
prophets:  I  am  not  come  to  de- 
stroy, but  to  fulfil. 

h  1  Cor.  xiv.  26. — Let  all  things 
be  done  to  edifying.  Heb.  x.  24. 
And  let  us  consider  one  another, 
to  provoke  unto  love,  and  to  good 
works:  Ver.  25.  Not  forsaking 
the  assembling  of  ourselves  to- 
gether, as  the  manner  of  some  is; 
but  exhorting  one  another;  and 
so  much  the  more,  as  ye  see  the 
day  approaching.  James  ii.  1. 
My  brethren,  have  not  the  faith 
of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  the 
Lord  of  glory,  with  respect  of  per- 
sons. Ver.  2.  For  if  there  come 
into  your  assembly  a  man  with  a 
gold  ring,  in  goodly  apparel,  and 
there  come  in  also  a  poor  man  in 
vile  raiment. — 


574 


The  Form  of  Church-  Government. 


Of  the  Officers  of  a  particular  Congregation. 

For  officers  in  a  single  congregation,  there  ought  to  be 
one  at  the  least,  both  to  labour  in  the  word  and  doctrine, 
and  to  rule.1 

It  is  also  requisite  that  there  should  be  others  to  join  in 
government.11 

And  likewise  it  is  requisite  that  there  be  others  to  take 
special  care  for  the  relief  of  the  poor.1 

The  number  of  each  of  which  is  to  be  proportioned  ac- 
cording to  the  condition  of  the  congregation. 

These  officers  are  to  meet  together  at  convenient  and  set 
times,  for  the  well  ordering  of  the  affairs  of  that  congrega- 
tion, each  according  to  his  office. 

It  is  most  expedient  that,  in  these  meetings,  one  whose 
office  is  to  labour  in  the  word  and  doctrine,  do  moderate 
in  their  proceedings."1 

Of  the  Ordinances  in  a  particular  Congregation. 

The  ordinances  in  a  single  congregation  are,  prayer, 
thanksgiving,  and  singing  of  psalms,n  the  word  read,  (al- 
though there  follow  no  immediate  explication  of  what  is 
read,)  the  word  expounded  and  applied,  catechising,  the 
sacraments  administered,  collection  made  for  the  poor,  dis- 
missing the  people  with  a  blessing. 


1  Prov.  xxix.  18.  Where  there  is 
no  vision,  the  people  perish :  but 
he  that  keepeth  the  law,  happy  is 
he.  1  Tim.  v.  17.  Let  the  elders 
that  rule  well  be  counted  worthy 
of  double  honour,  especially  they 
who  labour  in  the  word  and  doc- 
trine. Heb.  xiii.  7.  Remember 
them  which  have  the  rule  over 
you,  who  have  spoken  unto  you 
the  word  of  God ;  whose  faith  fol- 
low, considering  the  end  of  their 
conversation. 

k  1  Cor.  xii,  28.  And  God  hath 
set  some  in  the  church;  first, 
apostles;  secondarily,  prophets; 
thirdly,  teachers;  after  that  mi- 
racles;   then    gifts    of  healings, 


helps,  governments,  diversities  of 
tongues. 

1  Acts  vi.  2.  Then  the  twelve 
called  the  multitude  of  the  dis- 
ciples unto  them,  and  said,  It  is 
not  reason,  that  we  should  leave 
the  word  of  God,  and  serve  tables. 
Ver.  3.  Wherefore,  brethren,  look 
ye  out  among  you  seven  men  of 
honest  report,  full  of  the  Holy 
Ghost  and  wisdom,  whom  we  may 
appoint  over  this  business. 

ml  Tim.  v.  17.  Let  the  elders  that 
rule  well  be  counted  worthy  of 
double  honour,  especially  they  who 
labour  in  the  word  and  doctrine. 

n  1  Tim.  ii.  1.  I  exhort  there- 
fore, that,  first  of  all,   supplica- 


The  Form  of  Church- Government. 


575 


Of  Church- Government,  and  the  several  sorts  of  Assemblies  fo? 

the  same. 

Christ  hath  instituted  a  government,  and  governors  eccle- 
siastical in  the  church :  to  that  purpose,  the  apostles  did 
immediately  receive  the  keys  from  the  hand  of  Jesus  Christ, 
and  did  use  and  exercise  them  in  all  the  Churches  of  the 
world  upon  all  occasions. 

And  Christ  hath  since  continually  furnished  some  in  his 
church  with  gifts  of  government,  and  with  commission  to 
execute  the  same,  when  called  thereunto. 

It  is  lawful,  and  agreeable  to  the  word  of  God,  that  the 
church  be  governed  by  several  sorts  of  assemblies,  which  are 
congregational,  classical,  and  synodical. 

Of  the  Pozcer  in  common  of  all  these  Assemblies. 

It  is  lawful,  and  agreeable  to  the  word  of  God,  that  the 
several  assemblies  before  mentioned  have  power  to  convent, 
and  call  before  them,  any  person  within  their  several 
bounds,  whom  the  ecclesiastical  business  which  is  before 
them  doth  concern.0 


tions,  prayers,  intercessions,  and 
giving  of  thanks,  he  made  for  all 
men.  1  Cor.  xiv.  15.  What  is 
it  then  1  I  will  pray  with  the  spi- 
rit, and  I  will  pray  with  the  under- 
standing also;  I  will  sing  with  the 
spirit,  and  I  will  sing  with  the  un- 
derstanding also:  Ver.  16.  Else, 
when  thou  shalt  bless  with  the  spi- 
rit, how  shall  he  that  occupieth 
the  room  of  the  unlearned  say 
Amen  at  thy  giving  of  thanks,  see- 
ing he  understandeth  not  what 
thou  sayest? 

0  Mat.  xviii.  15.  Moreover,  if 
thy  brother  shall  trespass  against 
thee,  go  and  tell  him  his  fault 
between  thee  and  him  alone:  if 
he  shall  hear  thee,  thou  hast  Grain- 
ed thy  brother.  Ver.  16.  But  if  he 
will  not  hear  thee,  then  take  with 


thee  one  or  two  more,  that  in  the 
mouth  of  two  or  three  witnesses 
every  word  may  be  established. 
Ver.  17.  And  if  he  shall  neglect  to 
hear  them,  tell  it  unto  the  church: 
but  if  he  neglect  to  hear  the 
church,  let  him  be  unto  thee  as 
a  heathen  man,  and  a  publican. 
Ver.  13.  Verily  I  say  unto  you, 
Whatsoever  ye  shall  bind  on  earth, 
shall  be  bound  in  heaven;  and 
whatsoever  ye  shall  loose  on  earth, 
shall  ye  loosed  in  heaven.  Ver.  19. 
Again,  I  say  unto  you,  That  if 
two  of  you  shall  agree  on  earth, 
as  touching  any  thing  that  they 
shall  a^k,  it  shall  be  done  for  them 
of  my  Father  which  is  in  heaven. 
Ver.  20.  For  where  two  or  three 
are  gathered  together  in  my  name, 
there  am  I  in  the  midst  of  them. 


576  The  Form  of  Church-  Government. 

They  have  power  to  hear  and  determine  such  causes  and 
differences  as  do  orderly  come  before  them. 

It  is  lawful  and  agreeable  to  the  word  of  God,  that  all  the 
said  assemblies  have  some  power  to  dispense  church-cen- 
sures. 

Of  Congregational  Assemblies,  that  is,  the  meeting  of  the  ruling 
Officers  of  a  particular  Congregation,  for  the  Government 
thereof. 

The  ruling  officers  of  a  particular  congregation  have 
power,  authoritatively,  to  call  before  them  any  member  of 
the  congregation,  as  they  shall  see  just  occasion. 

To  inquire  into  the  knowledge  and  spiritual  estate  of  the 
several  members  of  the  congregation. 

To  admonish  and  rebuke. 

Which  three  branches  are  proved  by  Heb.  xiii.  17.  1 
Thess.  v.  12,  13.  Ezek.  xxxiv.  4.* 

Authoritative  suspension  from  the  Lord's  table,  of  a  person 
not  yet  cast  out  of  the  church,  is  agreeable  to  the  scripture : 

First,  Because  the  ordinance  itself  must  not  be  profaned. 

Secondly,  Because  we  are  charged  to  withdraw  from  those 
that  walk  disorderly. 

Thirdly,  Because  of  the  great  sin  and  danger,  both  to  him 
that  comes  unworthily,  and  also  to  the  whole  church.q   And 

p  Heb.  xiii.  17.  Obey  them  that  bound  up  that  which  was  broken, 
have  the  rule  over  you,  and  sub-  neither  have  ye  brought  again  that 
rnit  yourselves:  for  they  watch  which  was  driven  away,  neither 
for  your  souls  as  they  that  must  have  ye  sought  that  which  was 
give  account,  that  they  may  do  lost;  but  with  force  and  with  em- 
it with  joy,  and  not  with  grief:  elty  have  ye  ruled  them, 
for  that  is  unprofitable  for  you.  *  Mat.  vii.  6.  Give  not  that 
1  Thess.  v.  12.  And  we  beseech  which  is  holy  unto  the  dogs,  nei- 
you,  brethren,  to  know  them  ther  cast  ye  your  pearls  before 
which  labour  among  you,  and  are  swine,  lest  they  trample  them  un- 
over  you  in  the  Lord,  and  admo-  der  their  feet,  and  turn  again  and 
nishyou;  Ver.  13.  And  to  esteem  rend  you.  2  Thess.  iii.  6.  Now 
them  very  highly  in  love  for  their  we  command  you,  brethren,  in  the 
work's  sake.  And  be  at  peace  name  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
among  yourselves.  Ezek.  xxxiv.  4.  that  ye  withdraw  yourselves  from 
The  diseased  have  ye  not  strength-  every  brother  that  walketh  disor- 
ened,  neither  have  ye  healed  that  derly,  and  not  after  the  tradition 
which  was  sick,  neither  have  ye  which  ye  received  of  us.    Ver.  14. 


Tlie  Form  of  Church-  Government.  577 

there  was  power  and  authority,  under  the  Old  Testament, 
to  keep  unclean  persons  from  holy  things/ 

The  like  power  and  authority,  by  way  of  analogy,  con- 
tinues under  the  New  Testament. 

The  ruling  officers  of  a  particular  congregation  have 
power  authoritatively  to  suspend  from  the  Lord's  table  a 
person  not  yet  cast  out  of  the  church : 

First,  Because  those  who  have  authority  to  judge  of,  and 
admit  such  as  are  fit  to  receive  the  sacrament,  have  autho- 
rity to  keep  back  such  as  shall  be  found  unworthy. 

Secondly,  Because  it  is  an  ecclesiastical  business  of  ordi- 
nary practice  belonging  to  that  congregation. 

YVhen  congregations  are  divided  and  fixed,  they  need 
all  mutual  help  one  from  another,  both  in  regard  of  their  in- 
trinsical  weakness  and  mutual  dependence,  as  also  in  re- 
gard of  enemies  from  without. 

Of  Classical  Assemblies. 

The  scripture  doth  hold  out  a  presbytery  in  a  church.6 
A  presbytery  consisteth  of  ministers  of  the  word,  and  such 
other  public  officers  as  are  agreeable  to  and  warranted  by 


And  if  any  man  obey  not  our  word 
by  this  epistle,  note  that  man,  and 
have  no  company  with  him,  that 
he  may  be  ashamed.  Ver.  15.  Yet 
count  him  not  as  an  enemy,  but 
admonish  him  as  a  brother.  1  Cor. 
xi.  27.  Wherefore,  whosoever  shall 
eat  this  bread,  and  drink  this  cup 
of  the  Lord,  unworthily,  shall  be 
guilty  of  the  body  and  blood  of  the 
Lord.  See  on  to  the  end  of  the 
Chapter.  Compared  with  Jude, 
Ver.  23.  And  others  save  with  fear, 
pulling  them  out  of  the  fire; 
hating  even  the  garment  spotted 
by  the  flesh.  1  Tim.  v.  22.  Lay 
hands  suddenly  on  no  man,  neither 
be  partaker  of  other  men's  sins : 
keep  thyself  pure. 

r  Lev.  xiii.  5.  And   the   priest 
shall  look  on  him  the  seventh  dav: 
49 


and,  behold,  if  the  plague  in  his 
sight  be  at  a  stay,  and  the  plague 
spread  not  in  the  skin  ;  then  the 
priest  shall  shut  him  up  seven  days 
more.  Numb.  ix.  7.  And  those 
men  said  unto  him,  We  are  defiled 
by  the  dead  body  of  a  man:  where- 
fore are  we  kept  back,  that  we  may 
not  offer  an  offering  of  the  Lord  in 
his  appointed  season  among  the 
children  of  Israel  ?  2  Chron.  xxiii. 
19.  And  he  set  the  porters  at  the 
gates  of  the  house  of  the  Lord, 
that  none  that  was  unclean  in  any 
thing  should  enter  in. 

s  1  Tim.  iv.  14.  Neglect  not  the 
gift  that  is  in  thee,  which  was  given 
thee  by  prophecy,  with  the  laying 
on  of  the  hands  of  the  presbytery. 
Acts  xv.  2.  When  therefore  Paul 
and  Barnabas  had  no  small  dissen- 


578 


The  Form  of  Church- Government. 


the  word  of  God  to  be  church-governors,  to  join  with  the 
ministers  in  the  government  of  the  church.1 

The  scripture  doth  hold  forth,  that  many  particular  con- 
gregations may  be  under  one  presbyterial  government. 

This  proposition  is  proved  by  instances : 

I.  First,  Of  the  church  of  Jerusalem,  which  consisted  of 
more  congregations  than  one,  and  all  these  congregations 
were  under  one  presbyterial  government. 

This  appeareth  thus : 

First,  The  church  of  Jerusalem  consisted  of  more  congre- 
gations than  one,  as  is  manifest: 

1st,  By  the  multitude  of  believers  mentioned  in  divers; 
both  before  the  dispersion  of  the  believers  there,  by  means 
of  the  persecution  ;v  and  also  after  the  dispersion/7 


sion  and  disputation  with  them, 
they  determined  that  Paul  and 
Barnabas,  and  certain  other  of 
them,  should  go  up  to  Jerusalem 
unto  the  apostles  and  elders  about 
this  question.  Ver.  4.  And  when 
they  were  come  to  Jerusalem,  they 
were  received  of  the  church,  and 
of  the  apostles  and  elders;  and 
they  declared  all  things  that  God 
had  done  with  them.  Ver.  6.  And 
the  apostles  and  elders  came  toge- 
ther for  to  consider  of  this  matter. 

1  Rom.  xii.  7.  Or  ministry,  let 
us  wait  on  our  ministering;  or  he 
that  teacheth,  on  teaching;  Ver.  8. 
Or  he  that  exhorteth,  on  exhor- 
tation :  he  that  giveth,  let  him  do 
it  with  simplicity;  he  that  ruleth, 
with  diligence;  he  that  showeth 
mercy,  with  cheerfulness.  1  Cor. 
xii.  28.  And  God  hath  set  some  in 
the  church ;  first,  apostles;  second- 
arily, prophets;  thirdly,  teach- 
ers; after  that  miracles;  then  gifts 
of  healings,  helps,  governments, 
diversities  of  tongues. 

v  Acts  viii.  1.  And  Saul  was  con- 
senting unto  his  death.  And  at 
that  time  there  was  a  great  perse- 
cution against  the  church  which 


was  at  Jerusalem ;  and  they  were 
all  scattered  abroad  throughout 
the  regions  of  Judea  and  Samaria, 
except  the  apostles.  Acts  i.  15. 
And  in  those  days  Peter  stood  up 
in  the  midst  of  the  disciples,  and 
said,  (the  number  of  the  names  to- 
gether were  about  a  hundred  and 
twenty.)  Acts  ii.  41.  Then  they 
that  gladly  received  his  word 
were  baptized  :  and  the  same  day 
there  were  added  unto  them  about 
three  thousand  souls.  Ver.  46.  And 
they  continuing  daily  with  one  ac- 
cord in  the  temple,  and  breaking 
bread  from  house  to  house,  did 
eat  their  meat  with  gladness  and 
singleness  of  heart,  Ver.  47.  Prais- 
ing God,  and  having  favour  with 
all  the  people.  And  the  Lord 
added  to  the  church  daily  such  as 
should  be  saved.  Acts  iv.  4.  How- 
beit,  many  of  them  which  heard 
the  word  believed;  and  the  num- 
ber of  the  men  was  about  five 
thousand.  Acts  v.  14.  And  belie- 
vers were  the  more  added  unto 
the  Lord,  multitudes  both  of  men 
and  women.  Acts  vi.  1.  And  in 
those  days,  when  the  number  of 
the  disciples  was  multiplied,  there 


The  Form  of  Church- Gov  eminent. 


579 


2dly,  By  the  many  apostles  and  other  preachers  in  the 
church  of  Jerusalem.  And  if  there  were  but  one  congre- 
gation there,  then  each  apostle  preached  but  seldom;1 
which  will  not  consist  with  Acts  vi.  2. 

Sdly,  The  diversity  of  languages  among  the  believers, 
mentioned  both  in  the  second  and  sixth  chapters  of  the  Acts, 
doth  argue  more  congregations  than  one  in  that  church. 

Secondly,  All  those  congregations  were  under  one  presby- 
terial  government;  because,  1st,  They  were  one  church.5" 

2dly,  The  elders  of  the  church  are  mentioned.2 


arose  a  murmuring'  of  the  Gre- 
cians against  the  Hebrews,  because 
their  widows  were  neglected  in 
the  daily  ministration.  Ver.  7.  And 
the  word  of  God  increased ;  and 
the  number  of  the  disciples  mul- 
tiplied in  Jerusalem  greatly ;  and 
a  great  company  of  the  priests 
were  obedient  to  the  faith. 

w  Acts  ix.  31.  Then  had  the 
churches  rest  throughout  all  Ju- 
dea,  and  Galilee,  and  Samaria,  and 
were  edified;  and,  walking  in  the 
fear  of  the  Lord,  and  in  the  com- 
fort of  the  Holy  Ghost,  were  mul- 
tiplied. Acts  xii.  24.  But  the  word 
of  God  grew  and  multiplied.  Acts 
xxi.  20.  And  when  they  heard  it, 
they  glorified  the  Lord,  and  said 
unto  him,  Thou  seest,  brother, 
how  many  thousands  of  Jews  there 
are  which  believe,  and  they  are 
all  zealous  of  the  law. 

x  Acts  vi.  2.  Then  the  twelve 
called  the  multitude  of  the  dis- 
ciples unto  them,  and  said,  It  is 
not  reason  that  we  should  leave 
the  word  of  God,  and  serve  tables. 

y  Acts  viii.  1.  And  Saul  was  con- 
senting unto  his  death.  And  at 
that  time  there  was  a  great  per- 
secution against  the  church  which 
was  at  Jerusalem  ;  and  they  were 
all  scattered  abroad  throughout 
the  regions  of  Judea  and  Samaria, 
except  the  apostles.    Acts  ii.  47. 


Praising  God,  and  having  favour 
with  all  the  people:  and  the  Lord 
added  unto  the  church  daily  such 
as  should  be  saved.  Compared  with 
Acts  v.  11.  And  great  fear  came 
upon  all  the  church,  and  upon  as 
many  as  heard  these  things.  Acts 
xii.  5.  Peter  therefore  was  kept 
in  prison  :  but  prayer  was  made 
without  ceasing  of  the  church  un- 
to God  for  him.  Acts  xv.  4.  And 
when  they  were  come  to  Jerusa- 
lem, they  were  received  of  the 
church,  and  of  the  apostles  and 
elders;  and  they  declared  all 
things  that  God  had  done  with 
them. 

z  Acts  zi.  30.  Which  also  they 
did,  and  sent  it  to  the  elders  by 
the  hands  of  Barnabas  and  Saul. 
Acts  xv-  4.  And  when  they  were 
come  to  Jerusalem,  they  were  re- 
ceived of  the  church,  and  of  the 
apostles  and  elders ;  and  they  de- 
clared all  things  that  God  had 
done  with  them.  Ver.  6.  And  the 
apostles  and  elders  came  together 
to  consider  of  this  matter.  Ver.  22. 
Then  it  pleased  the  apostles  and 
elders,  with  the  whole  church,  to 
send  chosen  men  of  their  own 
company  to  Antioch,  with  Paul 
and  Barnabas;  namely,  Judas  sur- 
named  Barsabas,  and  Silas,  chief 
men  among  the  brethren.  Acts 
xxi- 17.  And  when  we  were  come 


580  Tlit  Form  of  Church- Government, 

3dly,  The  apostles  did  the  ordinary  acts  of  presbyters,  as 
presbyters  in  that  kirk  ;  which  proveth  a  presbyterial  church 
before  the  dispersion,  Acts  vi. 

4thly,  The  several  congregations  in  Jerusalem  being  one 
church,  the  elders  of  that  church  are  mentioned  as  meeting 
together  for  acts  of  government;11  which  proves  that  those 
several  congregations  were  under  one  presbyterial  govern- 
ment. 

And  whether  these  congregations  were  fixed  or  not  fixed, 
in  regard  of  officers  or  members,  it  is  also  one  as  to  the  truth 
of  the  proposition. 

Nor  doth  there  appear  any  material  difference  betwixt  the 
several  congregations  in  Jerusalem,  and  the  many  congre- 
gations now  in  the  ordinary  condition  of  the  church,  as  to 
the  point  of  fixedness  required  of  officers  or  members. 

Thirdly,  Therefore  the  scripture  doth  hold  forth,  that 
many  congregations  maybe  under  one  presbyterial  govern- 
ment. 

II.  Secondly,  By  the  instance  of  the  church  of  Ephesus :  for, 

First,  That  there  were  more  congregations  than  one  in  the 
church  of  Ephesus,  appears  by  Acts  xx.  31,bwhere  is  mention 
of  Paul's  continuance  at  Ephesus  in  preaching  for  the  space 
of  three  years;  and  Acts  xix.  18,  19,  20,  where  the  special 
effect  of  the  word  is  mentioned  ;c  and  ver.  10,  and  17,  of  the 

to    Jerusalem,    the   brethren    re-  to  send  chosen  men  of  their  own 

eeived  us  gladly.  Ver.  18.  And  the  company  to  Antioch,   with    Paul 

day  following  Paul  went  in  with  and  Barnabas;  namely,  Judas  sur- 

us  unto  James ;  and  all  the  elders  named  Barsabas,  and   Silas,  chief 

were  present.  men  among  the   brethren.     Acts 

3  Acts  xi.  30.  Which  also  they  xxi.  17.  And  when  we  were  come 

did,  and  sent  it  to  the  elders  by  to    Jerusalem,  the    brethren    re- 

the  hands  of  Barnabas  and  Saul,  eeived  us  gladly.   Ver.  19.  And  the 

Acts  xv.  4.  And  when  they  were  day  following  Paul  went  in  with 

come  to  Jerusalem,  they  were  re-  us  unto  James;  and  all  the  elders 

eeived  of  the  church,  and  of  the  were  present.     And  so  forward. 
apostles  and  elders;  and  they  de-         b  Acts  xx.  31.  Therefore  watch 

clared    all  things   that  God    had  and  remember  that,  by  the  space 

done  with  them.    Ver.  6.   And  the  of  three   years,  I   ceased   not  to 

apostles  and  elders  came  together  warn    every  one    night  and   day 

for  to  consider  of  this  matter.   Ver.  with  tears. 

22.  Then  it  pleased  the  apostles         cActs  xix.  18.   And  many  that 

and  elders,  with  the  whole  church,  believed  came,  and  confessed,  and 


The  Form  of  Church- Government. 


581 


same  chapter,  where  is  a  distinction  of  Jews  and  Greeks  ;d 
and  1  Cor.  xvi.  8,  9 ;  where  is  a  reason  of  Paul's  stay  at 
Ephesus  until  Pentecost;'  and  ver.  19,  where  is  mention  of 
a  particular  church  in  the  house  of  Aquila  and  Priscilla, 
then  at  Ephesus/  as  appears,  Acts  xviii.  19,  24,  26.s  All 
which  laid  together,  doth  prove  that  the  multitudes  of  be- 
lievers did  make  more  congregations  than  one  in  the  church 
of  Ephesus. 

Secondly,  That  there  were  many  elders  over  these  many 
congregations,  as  one  flock,  appeareth.h 

Thirdly,  That  these  many  congregations  were  one  church, 
and  that  they  were  under  one  presbyterial  government,  ap- 
peareth.1 


showed  their  deeds.  Ver.  19.  Many 
also  of*  them  which  used  curious 
arts  brought  their  books  toge- 
ther, and  burned  them  before  all 
men:  and  they  counted  the  price' 
of  them,  and  found  it  fifty  thou- 
sand pieces  of  silver.  Ver.  20.  So 
mightily  grew  the  word  of  God, 
and  prevailed. 

d  Acts  xix.  10.  And  this  conti- 
nued by  the  space  of  two  years ; 
so  that  all  they  which  dwelt  in 
Asia  heard  the  word  of  the  Lord 
Jesus,  both  Jews  and  Greeks. 
Ver.  17.  And  this  was  known  to 
all  the  Jews  and  Greeks  also 
dwelling  at  Ephesus;  and  fear  fell 
on  them  all,  and  the  name  of  the 
Lord  Jesus  was  magnified. 

e  1  Cor.  xvi.  8.  But  I  will  tarry 
at  Ephesus  until  Pentecost.  Ver.  9. 
For  a  great  door  and  effectual  is 
opened  unto  mo,  and  there  are 
many  adversaries. 

f  1  Cor.  xvi.  19.  The  churches 
of  Asia  salute  you.  Aquila  and 
Priscilla  salute  you  much  in  the 
Lord,  with  the  church  that  is  in 
their  house. 

8  Acts  xviii.  19.   And  he  came 

to  Ephesus,  and  left  them  there: 

but  he  himself  entered  into  the 

synagogue,  and  reasoned  with  the 

49* 


Jews.  Ver.  24.  And  a  certain  Jew 
named  Apollos,  born  at  Alexan- 
dria, an  eloquent  man,  and  mighty 
in  the  scriptures,  came  to  Ephesus. 
Ver.  26.  And  he  began  to  speak 
boldly  in  the  synagogue:  whom, 
when  Aquila  and  Priscilla  had 
heard,  they  took  him  unto  them, 
and  expounded  unto  him  the  way 
of  God  more  perfectly. 

b  Acts  xx.  17.  And  from  Mile- 
tus he  sent  to  Ephesus,  and  called 
the  elders  of  the  church.  Ver.  25. 
And  now,  behold,  I  know  that  ye 
all,  among  whom  I  have  gone 
preaching  the  kingdom  of  God, 
shall  see  my  face  no  more.  Ver.  28. 
Take  heed  therefore  unto  your- 
selves, and  to  all  the  flock  over 
the  which  the  Holy  Ghost  hath 
made  you  overseers,  to  feed  the 
church  of  God,  which  he  hath 
purchased  with  his  own  blood. 
Ver.  30.  Also  of  your  own  selves 
shall  men  arise,  speaking  perverse 
things,  to  draw  away  disciples  af- 
ter them.  Ver.  36-  And,  when  he 
had  thus  spoken,  he  kneeled  down, 
and  prayed  with  them  all.  Ver.  37. 
And  they  all  wept  sore,  and  fell 
on  Paul's  neck,  and  kissed  him. 

1  Rev.  ii.  1.    Unto  the  angel  of 
the    church    of    Ephesus    write; 


.1 


582 


The  Form  of  Church- Government. 


Of  Synodical  Assemblies. 

The  scripture  doth  hold  out  another  sort  of  assemblies 
for  the  government  of  the  church,  beside  classical  and  con- 
gregational, all  which  we  call  Synodical* 

Pastors  and  teachers,  and  other  church-governors,  (as 
also  other  fit  persons,  when  it  shall  be  deemed  expedient,) 
are  members  of  those  assemblies  which  we  call  Synodical, 
where  they  have  a  lawful  calling  thereunto. 

Synodical  assemblies  may  lawfully  be  of  several  sorts,  as 
provincial,  national,  and  oecumenical. 

It  is  lawful,  and  agreeable  to  the  word  of  God,  that  there 
be  a  subordination  of  congregational,  classical,  provincial, 
and  national  assemblies,  for  the  government  of  the  church. 

Of  Ordination  of  Ministers. 

Under  the  head  of  Ordination  of  Ministers  is  to  be  con- 
sidered, either  the  doctrine  of  ordination,  or  the  power 
of  it. 


These  things  saith  he  that  hoideth 
the  seven  stars  in  his  right  hand, 
who  waiketh  in  the  midst  of  the 
seven  golden  candlesticks;  Ver.  2. 
I  know  thy  works,  and  thy  la- 
bour, and  thy  patience,  and  how 
thou  canst  not  bear  them  which 
are  evil :  and  thou  hast  tried  them 
which  say  they  are  apostles,  and 
are  not,  and  hast  found  them  liars. 
Ver.  3.  And  hast  borne,  and  hast 
patience,  and  for  my  name's  sake 
iiast  laboured,  and  hast  not  fainted. 
Ver.  4.  Nevertheless,  I  have  some- 
what against  thee,  because  thou 
hast  left  thy  first  love.  Ver.  5.  Re- 
member therefore  from  whence 
thou  art  fallen,  and  repent,  and 
do  the  first  works;  or  else  I  will 
come  unto  thee  quickly,  and  will 
remove  thy  candlestick  out  of  his 
place,  except  thou  repent.  Ver.  6. 
But  this  thou  hast,  that  thou 
hatest  the  deeds  of  the  Nicolai- 
tanes,  which  I  also  hate.    Joined 


with  Acts  xx.  17,  23.    [See  in  let- 
ter h.] 

k  Acts  xv.  2.  When  therefore 
Paul  and  Barnabas  had  no  small 
dissension  and  disputation  with 
them,  they  determined  that  Paul 
and  Barnabas,  and  certain  other 
of  them,  should  go  up  to  Jerusa- 
lem unto  the  apostles  and  elders 
about  this  question.  Ver.  6.  And 
the  apostles  and  elders  came  to- 
gether for  to  consider  of  this  mat- 
ter. Ver.  22.  Then  it  pleased  the 
apostles  and  elders,  with  the  whole 
church,  to  send  chosen  men  of 
their  own  company  to  Antioch, 
with  Paul  and  Barnabas  ;  namely, 
Judas  surnamed  Barsabas,  and  Si- 
las, chief  men  among  the  brethren : 
Ver.  23.  And  wrote  letters  by 
them  after  this  manner:  The  apos- 
tles, and  elders,  and  brethren,  send 
greeting  unto  the  brethren  which 
are  of  the  Gentiles  in  Antioch, 
and  Syria,  and  Cilicia. 


The  Form  of  Church- Government.  583 

Touching  the  Doctrine  of  Ordination. 

Xo  man  ought  to  take  upon  him  the  office  of  a  minister 

of  the  word  without  a  lawful  calling.1 

Ordination  is  always  to  be  continued  in  the  church.13 
Ordination  is  the  solemn  setting  apart  of  a  person  to  some 

public  church  office.0 


1  John  iii.  27.  John  answered 
and  said,  A  man  can  receive  no- 
thing", except  it  be  given  him  from 
heaven.  Rom.  x.  14.  How  then 
shall  they  call  on  him  in  whom 
they  have  not  believed!  and  how 
shall  they  believe  in  him  of  whom 
they  have  not  heard!  and  how 
shall  they  hear  without  a  preacher! 
Ver.  15.  And  how  shall  they  preach 
except  they  be  sent!  As  it  is  writ- 
ten, How  beautiful  are  the  feet  of 
them  that  preach  the  gospel  of 
peace,  and  bring  glad  tidings  of 
good  things!  Jer.  xiv.  14.  Then 
the  Lord  said  unto  me,  The  pro- 
phets prophesy  lies  in  my  name : 
I  sent  them  not,  neither  have  I 
commanded  them,  neither  spake 
unto  them :  they  prophesy  unto 
you  a  false  vision,  and  divination, 
and  a  thing  of  nought,  and  the 
deceit  of  their  heart.  Heb.  v.  4. 
And  no  man  taketh  this  honour 
unto  himself,  but  he  that  is  called 
of  God,  as  was  Aaron. 

*  Tit.  i.  5.  For  this  cause  left 
I  thee  in  Crete,  that  thou  shouldest 
set  in  order  the  things  that  are 
wanting,  and  ordain  elders  in 
every  city,  as  I  had  appointed 
thee.  1  Tim.  v.  21.  I  charge  thee 
before  God,  and  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  and  the  elect  angels,  that 
thou  observe  these  things,  with- 
out preferring  one  before  another, 
doing  nothing  by  partiality.  Ver. 
22.  Lay  hands  suddenly  on  no  man, 
neither  be  partaker  of  other  men's 
sins:  keep  thyself  pure. 


n  Xumb.  viii.  10.  And  thou  shalt 
bring  the  Levites  before  the  Lord, 
and  the  children  of  Israel  shall 
put  their  hands  upon  the  Levites: 
Ver.  11.  And  Aaron  shall  offer  the 
Levites  before  the  Lord,  for  an 
offering  of  the  children  of  Israel ; 
that  thev  may  execute  the  service 
of  the  Lord.  Ver.  14.  Thus  shalt 
thou  separate  the  Levites  from 
among  the  children  of  Israel:  and 
the  Levites  shall  be  mine.  Ver. 
19.  And  I  have  given  the  Levites 
as  a  gift  to  Aaron,  and  to  his  sons, 
from  among  the  children  of  Israel, 
to  do  the  service  of  the  children 
of  Israel  in  the  tabernacle  of  the 
congregation,  and  to  make  an 
atonement  for  the  children  of 
Israel:  that  there  be  no  plague 
among  the  children  of  Israel, 
when  the  children  of  Israel  come 
nigh  unto  the  sanctuary.  Ver.  22. 
And  after  that  went  the  Levite3 
in  to  do  their  service  in  the  ta- 
bernacle of  the  congregation,  be- 
fore Aaron,  and  before  his  sons; 
as  the  Lord  had  commanded  Mo- 
ses concerning  the  Levites,  so  did 
they  unto  them.  Acts  vi.  3.  Where- 
fore, brethren,  look  ye  out  among 
you  seven  men  of  honest  report, 
full  of  the  Holy  Ghost  and  wis- 
dom, whom  we  may  appoint  over 
this  business.  Ver.  5.  And  the  say- 
ing pleased  the  whole  multitude : 
and  they  chose  Stephen,  a  man 
full  of  faith  and  of  the  Holy 
Ghost,  and  Philip,  and  Prochorus, 
and    rsicanor,    and    Timon,    and 


584 


The  Form  of  Church- Government. 


Every  minister  of  the  word  is  to  be  ordained  by  imposi- 
tion of  hands,  and  prayer,  with  fasting,  by  those  preaching 
presbyters  to  whom  it  doth  belong.0 

It  is  agreeable  to  the  word  of  God,  and  very  expedient, 
that  such  as  are  to  be  ordained  ministers,  be  designed  to 
some  particular  church,  or  other  ministerial  charge.? 

He  that  is  to  be  ordained  minister,  must  be  duly  quali- 
fied, both  for  life  and  ministerial  abilities,  according  to  the 
rules  of  the  apostle.q 

He  is  to  be  examined  and  approved  by  those  by  whom 
he  is  to  be  ordained/ 


Parmenas,  and  Nicolas  a  proselyte 
of  Antioch:  Ver.  6.  Whom  they 
set  before  the  apostles;  and  when 
they  had  prayed,  they  laid  their 
hands  on  them. 

°  1  Tim.  v.  22.  Lay  hands  sud- 
denly on  no  man,  neither  be  par- 
taker of  other  men's  sins:  keep 
thyself  pure.  Acts  xiv.  23.  And 
when  they  had  ordained  them  el- 
ders in  every  church,  and  had 
prayed  with  fasting,  they  com- 
mended them  to  the  Lord,  on 
whom  they  believed.  Acts  xiii.  3. 
And  when  they  had  fasted  and 
prayed,  and  laid  their  hands  on 
them,  they  sent  them  away. 

p  Acts  xiv.  23.  [See  before.]  Tit. 
i.  5.  For  this  cause  left  I  thee  in 
Crete,  that  thou  shouldest  set  in 
order  the  things  that  are  wanting-, 
and  ordain  elders  in  every  city,  as 
I  had  appointed  thee.  Acts  xx. 
17.  And  from  Miletus  he  sent  to 
Ephesus,  and  called  the  elders  of 
the  church.  Ver.  28.  Take  heed 
therefore  unto  yourselves,  and  to 
all  the  flock  over  the  which  the 
Holy  Ghost  hath  made  you  over- 
seers, to  feed  the  church  of  God, 
which  he  hath  purchased  with  his 
own  blood. 

il  Tim.  iii.  2.  A  bishop  then 
must  be  blameless,  the  husband  of 
one  wife,  vigilant,  sober,  of  good 


behaviour,    given    to    hospitality, 
apt  to  teach :  Ver-  3.  Not  given  to 
wine,  no    striker,    not   greedy  of 
filthy   lucre,   but   patient;    not  a 
brawler;  not  covetous:  Ver.  4-  One 
that  ruleth   well  his  own  house, 
having  his  children  in  subjection 
with  all  gravity:  Ver.  5.   (For  if  a 
man  know  not  how  to  rule  his  own 
house,  how  shall  he  take  care  of  the 
church  of  God?)  Ver.  6.  Not  a  no- 
vice, lest  being  lifted  up  with  pride, 
he  fall  into  the  condemnation  of  the 
devil.  Tit.  i.  5.  For  this  cause  left 
I  thee  in  Crete,  that  thou  shouldest 
set  in  order  the  things  that  are 
wanting,  and  ordain  elders  in  every 
city,  as  I  had  appointed  thee.  Ver. 
6.  If  any  be  blameless,  the  husband 
of  one  wife,  having  faithful  chil- 
dren not  accused  of  riot,  or  unruly : 
Ver.  7.  For  a  bishop  must  be  blame- 
less, as  the  steward  of  God ;    not 
self-willed,    not   soon    angry,   not 
given  to  wine,  no  striker,  not  given 
to  filthy  lucre;  Ver.  8.  But  a  lover 
of  hospitality,  a  lover  of  good  men, 
sober,  just,  holy,  temperate;   Ver. 
9.   Holding  fast  the  faithful  word, 
as  he  hath   been  taught,  that  he 
may   be   able  by   sound   doctrine 
both  to  exhort  and  to  convince  the 
gainsayers. 

r  1  Tim.  iii.  7.    Moreover,  he 
must  have  a  good  report  of  them 


The  Form  of  Church- Government.  585 

No  man  is  to  be  ordained  a  minister  for  a  particular  con- 
gregation, if  they  of  that  congregation  can  show  just  cause 
of  exception  against  him.3 

Touching  the  Pozcer  of  Ordination. 

Ordixatiox  is  the  act  of  a  presbytery. - 

The  power  of  ordering  the  whole  work  of  ordination  is 
in  the  whole  presbytery,  which,  when  it  is  over  more  con- 
gregations than  one,  whether  those  congregations  be  fixed 
or  not  fixed,  in  regard  of  officers  or  members,  it  is  indiffe- 
rent as  to  the  point  of  ordination.7 

It  is  very  requisite,  that  no  single  congregation,  that  can 
conveniently  associate,  do  assume  to  itself  all  and  sole  power 
in  ordination : 

1.  Because  there  is  no  example  in  scripture  that  any 
single  congregation,  which  might  conveniently  associate, 
did  assume  to  itself  all  and  sole  power  in  ordination ;  neither 
is  there  any  rule  which  may  warrant  such  a  practice. 

2.  Because  there  is  in  scripture  example  of  an  ordination 
in  a  presbytery  over  divers  congregations;  as  in  the  church 
of  Jerusalem,  where  were  many  congregations :  these  many 
congregations  were  under  one  presbytery,  and  this  presby- 
tery did  ordain. 

The  preaching  presbyters  orderly  associated,  either  in 
cities  or  neighbouring  villages,  are  those  to  whom  the  im- 
position of  hands  doth  appertain,  for  those  congregations 
within  their  bounds  respectively. 


h  are  without;  lest  he  fail  in-  one  wife,  vigilant,  sober,  of  good 

to  reproach,  and  the  snare  of  the  behaviour,    given    to    hospitality, 

devil.     Ver.  10.  And  let  these  also  apt  to  teach.      Tit.  i.  7.    For  a 

first    be   proved;    then   let   them  bishop  must  be  blameless,  as  the 

use  the  office  of  a  deacon,  being  steward  of  God. 

found  blameless.     1   Tim.  v.   22.  1 1  Tim.  iv.  14.  Neglect  not  the 

Lay  hands  suddenly   on  no  man,  gift  that   is  in   thee,    which   was 

neither  be  partaker  of  other  men's  given  thee  by  prophecy,  with  the 

sins :  keep  thyself  pure.  faying  on  of  the  hands  of  the  pres- 

5  1  Tim.  iii.  2.    A  bishop  then  bvterv. 

must  be  blameless,  the  husband  of  "  T  l'Tim.  iv.  14.  [See  in  letter*.] 


586  The  Form  of  Church- Government. 


Concerning  the  Doctrinal  Part  of  Ordination  of  Ministers. 

1.  No  man  ought  to  take  upon  him  the  office  of  a  minis- 
ter of  the  word  without  a  lawful  calling.* 

2.  Ordination  is  always  to  be  continued  in  the  church. x 

3.  Ordination  is  the  solemn  setting  apart  of  a  person  to 
some  public  church  office.y 

4.  Every  minister  of  the  word  is  to  be  ordained  by  im- 
position of  hands,  and  prayer,  with  fasting,  by  those  preach- 
ing presbyters  to  whom  it  doth  belong.2 

5.  The  power  of  ordering  the  whole  work  of  ordination 
is  in  the  whole  presbytery,  which,  when  it  is  over  more  con- 
gregations than  one,  whether  those  congregations  be  fixed 
or  not  fixed,  in  regard  of  officers  or  members,  it  is  indiffe- 
rent as  to  the  point  of  ordination.a 

6.  It  is  agreeable  to  the  word,  and  very  expedient,  that 
such  as  are  to  be  ordained  ministers,  be  designed  to  some 
particular  church,  or  other  ministerial  charged 

7.  He  that  is  to  be  ordained  minister,  must  be  duly  qua- 
lified, both  for  life  and  ministerial  abilities,  according  to  the 
rules  of  the  apostle.0 

8.  He  is  to  be  examined  and  approved  by  those  by  whom 
he  is  to  be  ordained.d 

9.  No  man  is  to  be  ordained  a  minister  for  a  particular 
congregation,  if  they  of  that  congregation  can  show  just 
cause  of  exception  against  him.e 

10.  Preaching  presbyters  orderly  associated,  either  in 
cities  or  neighbouring  villages,  are  those  to  whom  the  im- 
position of  hands  doth  appertain,  for  those  congregations 
within  their  bounds  respectively/ 


w  See  before  in  letter  K  d  See  before  in  letter r. 

*  See  before  in  letter  m.  e  See  before  in  letter s. 

y  See  before  in  letter  n.  f  1  Tim.  iv.  14.  Neglect  not  the 

z  See  before  in  letter  °.  gift  that   is  in    thee,   which    was 

a  See  before  in  letter  v.  given  thee  by  prophecy,  with  the 

b  See  before  in  letter  p.  laying  on  of  the  hands  of  the  pres- 

c  See  before  in  letter  i.  bytery. 


The  Form  of  Church- Government, 


587 


11.  In  extraordinary  cases,  something  extraordinary  may 
be  done,  until  a  settled  order  may  be  had,  yet  keeping  as 
near  as  possibly  may  be  to  the  rule.8 

12.  There  is  at  this  time  (as  we  humbly  conceive)  an 
extraordinary  occasion  for  a  way  of  ordination  for  the  pre- 
sent supply  of  ministers. 

The  Directory  for  the  Ordination  of  Ministers. 

It  being  manifest  by  the  word  of  God,  that  no  man  ought 
to  take  upon  him  the  office  of  a  minister  of  the  gospel,  until 
he  be  lawfully  called  and  ordained  thereunto;  and  that  the 
work  of  ordination  is  to  be  performed  with  all  due  care, 
wisdom,  gravity,  and  solemnity,  we  humbly  tender  these 
directions,  as  requisite  to  be  observed. 

1.  He  that  is  to  be  ordained,  being  either  nominated  by 
the  people,  or  otherwise  commended  to  the  presbytery,  for 
any  place,  must  address  himself  to  the  presbytery,  and 
bring  with  him  a  testimonial  of  his  taking  the  Covenant  of 
the  three  kingdoms ;  of  his  diligence  and  proficiency  in  his 
studies ;  what  degrees  he  hath  taken  in  the  university,  and 
what  hath  been  the  time  of  his  abode  there ;  and  withal  of 
his  age,  which  is  to  be  twenty-four  years ;  but  especially 
of  his  life  and  conversation. 


e  2  Chron.  xxix.  34-  But  the 
priests  were  too  few,  so  that  they 
could  not  slay  all  the  burnt-offer- 
ings :  wherefore  their  brethren  the 
Levites  did  help  them  till  the  work 
was  ended,  and  until  the  other 
priests  had  sanctified  themselves; 
for  the  Levites  were  more  upright 
in  heart  to  sanctify  themselves  than 
the  priests.  Ver.  35.  And  also  the 
burnt-offerings  were  in  abundance, 
with  the  fat  of  the  peace-offerings, 
and  the  drink-offerings  for  every 
burnt-offering.  So  the  service  of 
the  house  of  the  Lord  was  set  in 
order.  Ver.  36.  And  Hezekiah  re- 
joiced, and  all  the  people,  that  God 
had  prepared  the  people :  for  the 
thing  was  done  suddenly-  2  Chron. 


xxx.  2.  For  the  king  had  taken 
counsel,  and  his  princes,  and  all  the 
congregation  in  Jerusalem,  to  keep 
the  passover  in  the  second  month. 
Ver.  3.  For  they  could  not  keep  it  at 
that  time,  because  the  priests  Jiad 
not  sanctified  themselves  sufficient- 
ly, neither  had  the  people  gathered 
themselves  together  to  Jerusalem. 
Ver.  4.  And  the  thing  pleased  the 
king  and  all  the  congregation-  Ver. 
5.  So  they  established  a  decree,  to 
make  proclamation  throughout  all 
Israel,  from  Beer-sheba  even  to 
Dan,  that  they  should  come  to  keep 
the  passover  unto  the  Lord  God  of 
Israel  at  Jerusalem  :  for  they  had 
not  done  it  of  a  long  time  in  such 
a  sort  as  it  was  written. 


588  The  Form  of  Church- Government. 

2.  Which  being  considered  by  the  presbytery,  they  are 
to  proceed  to  inquire  touching  the  grace  of  God  in  him, 
and  whether  he  be  of  such  holiness  of  life  as  is  requisite  in 
a  minister  of  the  gospel ;  and  to  examine  him  touching  his 
learning  and  sufficiency,  and  touching  the  evidences  of  his 
calling  to  the  holy  ministry;  and,  in  particular,  his  fair  and 
direct  calling  to  that,  place. 

The  Rules  for  Examination  are  these: 

"  (1.)  That  the  party  examined  be  dealt  withal  in  a  bro- 
"  therly  way,  with  mildness  of  spirit,  and  with  special  re- 
"  spect  to  the  gravity,  modesty,  and  quality  of  every  one. 

"  (2.)  He  shall  be  examined  touching  his  skill  in  the  ori- 
"  ginal  tongues,  and  his  trial  to  be  made  by  reading  the 
"  Hebrew  and  Greek  Testaments,  and  rendering  some  por- 
"  tion  of  some  into  Latin ;  and  if  he  be  defective  in  them, 
"  inquiry  shall  be  made  more  strictly  after  his  other  learn- 
"  ing,  and  whether  he  hath  skill  in  logic  and  philosophy. 

"  (3.)  What  authors  in  divinity  he  hath  read,  and  is  best 
"  acquainted  with ;  and  trial  shall  be  made  in  his  knowledge 
"  of  the  grounds  of  religion,  and  of  his  ability  to  defend  the 
"  orthodox  doctrine  contained  in  them  against  all  unsound 
"  and  erroneous  opinions,  especially  these  of  the  present  age; 
"  of  his  skill  in  the  sense  and  meaning  of  such  places  of  scrip- 
"  ture  as  shall  be  proposed  unto  him,  in  cases  of  conscience, 
"  and  in  the  chronology  of  the  scripture,  and  the  ecclesias- 
"  tical  history. 

"  (4.)  If  he  hath  not  before  preached  in  public  with  ap- 
"  probation  of  such  as  are  able  to  judge,  he  shall,  at  a  com- 
"  petent  time  assigned  him,  expound  before  the  prebytery 
"  such  a  place  of  scripture  as  shall  be  given  him. 

"  (5.)  He  shall  also,  within  a  competent  time,  frame  a 
"  discourse  in  Latin,  upon  such  a  common-place  or  contro- 
"  versy  in  divinity  as  shall  be  assigned  to  him,  and  exhibit 
"  to  the  presbytery  such  theses  as  express  the  sum  thereof, 
"  and  maintain  a  dispute  upon  them. 

"  (6.)  He  shall  preach  before  the  people ;  the  presbytery, 
"  or  some  of  the  ministers  of  the  wrord  appointed  by  them, 
"  being  present. 

"  (7.)  The  proportion  of  his  gifts  in  relation  to  the  place 
"  unto  which  he  is  called  shall  be  considered. 


The  Form  of  Church-  Government.  589 

"  (8.)  Beside  the  trial  of  his  gifts  in  preaching,  he  shall  un- 
•'•'  dergo  an  examination  in  the  premises  two  several  days, 
u  and  more,  if  the  presbytery  shall  judge  it  ne.cessary. 

"  (9.)  And  as  for  him  that  hath  formerly  been  ordained 
"  a  minister,  and  is  to  be  removed  to  another  charge,  he 
•'•  shall  bring  a  testimonial  of  his  ordination,  and  of  his  abi- 
"  lities  and  conversation,  whereupon  his  fitness  for  that 
"  place  shall  be  tried  by  his  preaching  there,  and  (if  it  shall 
"  be  judged  necessary)  by  a  farther  examination  of  him." 

3.  In  all  which  he  being  approved  he  is  to  be  sent  to  the 
church  where  he  is  to  serve,  there  to  preach  three  several 
days,  and  to  converse  with  the  people,  that  they  may  have 
trial  of  his  gifts  for  their  edification,  and  may  have  time  and 
occasion  to  inquire  into,  and  the  better  to  know,  his  life 
and  conversation. 

4.  In  the  last  of  these  three  days  appointed  for  the  trial  of 
his  gifts  in  preaching,  there  shall  be  sent  from  the  presbytery 
to  the  congregation,  a  public  intimation  in  writing,  which 
shall  be  publicly  read  before  the  people,  and  after  affixed 
to  the  church-door,  to  signify,  that  such  a  day  a  competent 
number  of  the  members  of  that  congregation,  nominated  by 
themselves,  shall  appear  before  the  presbytery,  to  give  their 
consent  and  approbation  to  such  a  man  to  be  their  minister: 
or  otherwise,  to  put  in,  with  all  Christian  discretion  and 
meekness,  what  exceptions  they  have  against  him.  And  if, 
upon  the  day  appointed,  there  be  no  just  exception  against 
him,  but  the  people  give  their  consent,  then  the  presbytery 
shall  proceed  to  ordination. 

5.  Upon  the  day  appointed  for  ordination,  which  is  to  be 
performed  in  that  church  where  he  that  is  to  be  ordained  is 
to  serve,  a  solemn  fast  shall  be  kept  by  the  congregation, 
that  they  may  the  more  earnestly  join  in  prayer  for  a  bless- 
ing upon  the  ordinance  of  Christ,  and  the  labours  of  his 
servant  for  their  good.  The  presbytery  shall  come  to  the 
place,  or  at  least  three  or  four  ministers  of  the  wTord  shall 
be  sent  thither  from  the  presbytery :  of  which  one  appoint- 
ed by  the  presbytery  shall  preach  to  the  people  concerning 
the  office  and  duty  of  ministers  of  Christ,  and  how  the  peo- 
ple ought  to  receive  them  for  their  work's  sake. 

50 


590  The  Form  of  Church-  Government, 

6.  After  the  sermon,  the  minister  who  hath  preached 
shall,  in  the  face  of  the  congregation,  demand  of  him  who 
is  now  to  be  ordained,  concerning  his  faith  in  Christ  Jesus, 
and  his  persuasion  of  the  truth  of  the  reformed  religion,  ac- 
cording to  the  scriptures ;  his  sincere  intentions  and  ends  in 
desiring  to  enter  into  this  calling ;  his  diligence  in  praying, 
reading,  meditation,  preaching,  ministering  the  sacraments, 
discipline,  and  doing  all  ministerial  duties  towards  his 
charge ;  his  zeal  and  faithfulness  in  maintaining  the  truth 
of  the  gospel,  and  unity  of  the  church,  against  error  and 
schism ;  his  care  that  himself  and  his  family  may  be  un- 
blameable,  and  examples  to  the  flock ;  his  willingness  and 
humility,  in  meekness  of  spirit,  to  submit  unto  the  admoni- 
tions of  his  brethren,  and  discipline  of  the  church ;  and  his 
resolution  to  continue  in  his  duty  against  all  trouble  and 
persecution. 

7.  In  all  which  having  declared  himself,  professed  his  wil- 
lingness, and  promised  his  endeavours,  by  the  help  of  God  ; 
the  minister  shall  likewise  demand  of  the  people  concerning 
their  willingness  to  receive  and  acknowledge  him  as  the 
minister  of  Christ;  and  to  obey  and  submit  unto  him,  as 
having  rule  over  them  in  the  Lord ;  and  to  maintain,  en- 
courage, and  assist  him  in  all  the  parts  of  his  office. 

8.  Which  being  mutually  promised  by  the  people,  the 
presbytery,  or  the  ministers  sent  from  them  for  ordination, 
shall  solemnly  set  him  apart  to  the  office  and  work  of  the 
ministry,  by  laying  their  hands  on  him,  which  is  to  be  ac- 
companied with  a  short  prayer  or  blessing,  to  this  effect : 

"  Thankfully  acknowledging  the  great  mercy  of  God  in 
"  sending  Jesus  Christ  for  the  redemption  of  his  people ; 
"  and  for  his  ascension  to  the  right  hand  of  God  the  Father, 
"  and  thence  pouring  out  his  Spirit,  and  giving  gifts  to 
"  men, apostles, evangelists, prophets, pastors,  and  teachers; 
"  for  the  gathering  and  building  up  of  his  church ;  and  for 
"  fitting  and  inclining  this  man  to  this  great  work  :*  to  en- 
"  treat  him  to  fit  him  with  his  Holy  Spirit,  to  give  him  (who 
"  in  his  name  we  thus  set  apart  to  this  holy  service)  to  ful- 
"  fil  the  work  of  his  ministry  in  all  things,  that  he  may  both 
"  save  himself,  and  his  people  committed  to  his  charge." 

*  Here  let  them  impose  hands  on  his  head. 


The  Form  of  Church- Government,  591 

9.  This  or  the  like  form  of  prayer  and  blessing  being 
ended,  let  the  minister  who  preached,  briefly  exhort  him  to 
consider  of  the  greatness  of  his  office  and  work,  the  danger 
of  negligence  both  to  himself  and  his  people,  the  blessing 
which  will  accompany  his  faithfulness  in  this  life,  and  that 
to  come ;  and  withal  exhort  the  people  to  carry  themselves 
to  him,  as  to  their  minister  in  the  Lord,  according  to  their 
solemn  promise  made  before.  And  so  by  prayer  commend- 
ing both  him  and  his  flock  to  the  grace  of  God,  after  sing- 
ing of  a  psalm,  let  the  assembly  be  dismissed  with  a  bless- 
ing. 

t  10.  If  a  minister  be  designed  to  a  congregation  who  hath 
been  formerly  ordained  presbyter  according  to  the  form  of 
ordination  which  hath  been  in  the  church  of  England, 
which  we  hold  for  substance  to  be  valid,  and  not  to  be 
disclaimed  by  any  who  have  received  it ;  then,  there  being 
a  cautious  proceeding  in  matters  of  examination,  let  him 
be  admitted  without  any  new  ordination. 

11.  And  in  case  any  person  already  ordained  minister  in 
Scotland,  or  in  any  other  reformed  church,  be  designed  to 
another  congregation  in  England,  he  is  to  bring  from  that 
church  to  the  presbytery  here,  within  which  that  congrega- 
tion is,  a  sufficient  testimonial  of  his  ordination,  of  his  life 
and  conversation  while  he  lived  with  them,  and  of  the 
causes  of  his  removal;  and  to  undergo  such  a  trial  of  his 
fitness  and  sufficiency,  and  to  have  the  same  course  held 
with  him  in  other  particulars,  as  is  set  down  in  the  rule 
immediately  going  before,  touching  examination  and  ad- 
mission. 

12.  That  records  be  carefully  kept  in  the  several  pres- 
byteries, of  the  names  of  the  persons  ordained,  with  their 
testimonials,  the  time  and  place  of  their  ordination,  of  the 
presbyters  who  did  impose  hands  upon  them,  and  of  the 
charge  to  which  they  are  appointed. 

13.  That  no  money  or  gift,  of  what  kind  soever,  shall  be 
received  from  the  person  to  be  ordained,  or  from  any  on  his 
behalf,  for  ordination,  or  aught  else  belonging  to  it,  Dy  any 
of  the  presbytery,  or  any  appertaining  to  any  of  them^  upon 
what  pretence  soever. 


592    -  The  Form  of  Church-  Government. 

Thus  far  of  ordinary  Rules,  and  course  of  Ordination,  in  the  or- 
dinary way;  that  which  concerns  the  extraordinary  way,  re- 
quisite to  be  now  practised,  follow  eth. 

1.  In  these  present  exigencies,  while  we  cannot  have  any 
presbyteries  formed  up  to  their  whole  powrer  and  work,  and 
that  many  ministers  are  to  be  ordained  for  the  service  of  the 
armies  and  navy,  and  to  many  congregations  where  there  is 
no  minister  at  all;  and  where  (by  reason  of  the  public  trou- 
bles) the  people  cannot  either  themselves  inquire  and  find 
out  one  who  may  be  a  faithful  minister  for  them,  or  have 
any  with  safety  sent  unto  them,  for  such  a  solemn  trial  as 
was  before  mentioned  in  the  ordinary  rules;  especially, 
when  there  can  be  no  presbytery  near  unto  them,  to  whom 
they  may  address  themselves,  or  wrhich  may  come  or  send 
to  them  a  fit  man  to  be  ordained  in  that  congregation,  and 
for  that  people ;  and  yet  notwithstanding,  it  is  requisite  that 
ministers  be  ordained  for  them  by  some,  wTho,  being  set  apart 
themselves  for  the  work  of  the  ministry,  have  power  to  join 
in  the  setting  apart  others,  who  are  found  fit  and  worthy. 
Jn  those  cases,  until,  by  God's  blessing,  the  aforesaid  diffi- 
culties may  be  in  some  good  measure  removed,  let  some 
godly  ministers,  in  or  about  the  city  of  London,  be  design- 
ed by  public  authority,  who,  being  associated,  may  ordain 
ministers  for  the  city  and  the  vicinity,  keeping  as  near  to 
the  ordinary  rules  fore-mentioned  as  possibly  they  may ;  and 
let  this  association  be  for  no  other  intent  or  purpose,  but 
only  for  the  work  of  ordination. 

2.  Let  the  like  association  be  made  by  the  same  autho- 
rity in  great  towns,  and  the  neighbouring  parishes  in  the 
several  counties,  which  are  at  the  present  quiet  and  undis- 
turbed, to  do  the  like  for  the  parts  adjacent. 

3.  Let  such  as  are  chosen,  or  appointed  for  the  service  of 
the  armies  or  navy,  be  ordained,  as  aforesaid,  by  the  asso- 
ciated ministers  of  London,  or  some  others  in  the  country. 

4.  Let  them  do  the  like,  when  any  man  shall  duly  and 
lawfully  be  recommended  to  them  for  the  ministry  of  any 
congregation,  who  cannot  enjoy  liberty  to  have  a  trial  of 
his  parts  and  abilities,  and  desire  the  help  of  such  ministers 
so  associated,  for  the  better  furnishing  of  them  with  such  a 
person  as  by  them  shall  be  judged  fit  for  the  service  of  that 
church  and  people. 

FINIS. 


DIRECTORY 


FAMILY-WORSHIP, 


APPEOTXD  Br  THE 


GENERAL    ASSEMBLY 


CHURCH  OF  SCOTLAND. 


PIETY  AND  UNIFORMITY  IN  SECRET   AXD  PRIVATE 
WORSHIP,  AXD  MUTUAL  EDIFICATION. 


An  Act  of  the  General  Assembly,  Anno  1647,  for  observing  the  same. 


50j 


[     594     ] 


Assembly  at  Edinburgh,  August  24,  1647.  Sess.  10* 


Act  for  observing  the  Directions  of  the  General  Assembly  for  se- 
cret and  private  Worship,  and  mutual  Edification;  and  cen- 
suring such  as  neglect  Family -worship. 

The  General  Assembly,  after  mature  deliberation,  doth 
approve  the  following  Rules  and  Directions  for  cherish- 
ing piety,  and  preventing  division  and  schism ;  and  doth 
appoint  ministers  and  ruling  elders  in  each  congregation  to 
take  special  care  that  these  Directions  be  observed  and  fol- 
lowed; as  likewise,  that  presbyteries  and  provincial  synods 
inquire  and  make  trial  whether  the  said  Directions  be  duly 
observed  in  their  bounds ;  and  to  reprove  or  censure  (ac- 
cording to  the  quality  of  the  offence)  such  as  shall  be  found 
to  be  reprovable  or  censurable  therein.  And,  to  the  end  that 
these  Directions  may  not  be  rendered  ineffectual  and  un- 
profitable among  some,  through  the  usual  neglect  of  the 
very  substance  of  the  duty  of  Family-worship,  the  As- 
sembly doth  farther  require  and  apppoint  ministers  and 
ruling  elders  to  make  diligent  search  and  inquiry,  in  the 
congregations  committed  to  their  charge  respectively,  whe- 
ther there  be  among  them  any  family  or  families  which 
use  to  neglect  this  necessary  duty ;  and  if  any  such  family 
be  found,  the  head  of  the  family  is  to  be  first  admonished 
privately  to  amend  his  fault ;  and,  in  case  of  his  continuing 
therein,  he  is  to  be  gravely  and  sadly  reproved  by  the  ses- 
sion ;  after  which  reproof,  if  he  be  found  still  to  neglect  Fa- 
mily-worship, let  him  be,  for  his  obstinacy  in  such  an  of- 
fence, suspended  and  debarred  from  the  Lord's  supper,  as 
being  justly  esteemed  unworthy  to  communicate  therein, 
till  he  amend. 


[     595     ] 


DIRECTIONS 


GENERAL    ASSEMBLY, 

Concerning  secret  and  private  Worship,  and  mutual  Edifi- 
cation ;  for  cherishing  Piety,  for  maintaining  Unity,  and 
avoiding  Schism  and  Division. 

Besides  the  public  Worship  in  congregations,  merciful- 
ly established  in  this  land  in  great  purity,  it  is  expedient  and 
necessary  that  secret  worship  of  each  person  alone,  and 
private  worship  of  families,  be  pressed  and  set  up;  that, 
with  national  reformation,  the  profession  and  power  of  god- 
liness, both  personal  and  domestic,  be  advanced. 

I.  And  first,  for  secret  worship,  it  is  most  necessary,  that 
every  one  apart,  and  by  themselves,  be  given  to  prayer  and 
meditation,  the  unspeakable  benefit  whereof  is  best  known 
to  them  who  are  most  exercised  therein ;  this  being  the 
mean  whereby,  in  a  special  way,  communion  with  God  is 
entertained,  and  right  preparation  for  all  other  duties  ob- 
tained :  and  therefore  it  becometh  not  only  pastors,  within 
their  several  charges,  to  press  persons  of  all  sorts  to  per- 
form this  duty  morning  and  evening,  and  at  other  occa- 
sions; but  also  it  is  incumbent  to  the  head  of  every  family 
to  have  a  care,  that  both  themselves,  and  all  within  their 
charge,  be  daily  diligent  herein. 

II.  The  ordinary  duties  comprehended  under  the  exercise 
of  piety,  which  should  be  in  families,  when  they  are  convened 
to  that  effect,  are  these :  First,  Prayer  and  praises  perform- 
ed with  a  special  reference,  as  well  to  the  public  condition 
of  the  kirk  of  God  and  this  kingdom,  as  to  the  present  case 
of  the  family,  and  every  member  thereof.  Next,  Reading 
of  the  scriptures,  with  catechising  in  a  plain  way,  that  the 
understandings  of  the  simpler  may  be  the  better  enabled  to 
profit  under  the  public  ordinances,  and  they  made  more  ca- 


596  Directions  for  Family -Worship. 

pable  to  understand  the  scriptures  when  they  are  read ;  to- 
gether with  godly  conferences  tending  to  the  edification  of 
all  the  members  in  the  most  holy  faith  :  as  also,  admonition 
and  rebuke,  upon  just  reasons,  from  those  who  have  autho- 
rity in  the  family. 

III.  As  the  charge  and  office  of  interpreting  the  holy 
scriptures,  is  a  part  of  the  ministerial  calling,  which  none 
(however  otherwise  qualified)  should  take  upon  him  in  any 
place,  but  he  that  is  duly  called  thereunto  by  God  and  his 
kirk ;  so  in  every  family  where  there  is  any  that  can  read, 
the  holy  scriptures  should  be  read  ordinarily  to  the  family; 
and  it  is  commendable,  that  thereafter  they  confer,  and  by 
way  of  conference  make  some  good  use  of  what  hath  been 
read  and  heard.  As,  for  example,  if  any  sin  be  reproved 
in  the  word  read,  use  may  be  made  thereof  to  make  all  the 
family  circumspect  and  watchful  against  the  same ;  or  if 
any  judgment  be  threatened,  or  mentioned  to  have  been  in- 
flicted, in  that  portion  of  scripture  which  is  read,  use  may 
be  made  to  make  all  the  family  fear,  lest  the  same  or  a 
worse  judgment  befall  them,  unless  they  beware  of  the  sin 
that  procured  it :  and,  finally,  if  any  duty  be  required,  or 
comfort  held  forth  in  a  promise,  use  may  be  made  to  stir 
up  themselves  to  employ  Christ  for  strength  to  enable  them 
for  doing  the  commanded  duty,  and  to  apply  the  offered 
comfort.  In  all  which  the  master  of  the  family  is  to  have 
the  chief  hand ;  and  any  member  of  the  family  may  pro- 
pone a  question  or  doubt  for  resolution. 

IV.  The  head  of  the  family  is  to  take  care  that  none  of 
the  family  withdraw  himself  from  any  part  of  family-wor- 
ship ;  and,  seeing  the  ordinary  performance  of  all  the  parts 
of  family-worship  belongeth  properly  to  the  head  of  the  fa- 
mily, the  minister  is  to  stir  up  such  as  are  lazy,  and  train 
up  such  as  are  weak,  to  a  fitness  to  these  exercises ;  it  being 
always  free  to  persons  of  quality  to  entertain  one  approved 
by  the  presbytery  for  performing  family  exercise.  And  in 
other  families,  where  the  head  of  the  family  is  unfit,  that 
another,  constantly  residing  in  the  family,  approved  by  the 
minister  and  session,  may  be  employed  in  that  service, 
wherein  the  minister  and  session  are  to  be  countable  to  the  - 
presbytery.     And  if  a  minister,  by  divine  Providence,  be 


Directions  for  Family-  Worship.  597 

brought  to  any  family,  it  is  requisite  that  at  no  time  he  con- 
vene a  part  of  the  family  for  worship,  secluding  the  rest, 
except  in  singular  cases,  especially  concerning  these  par- 
ties, which  (in  Christian  prudence)  need  not,  or  ought  not, 
to  be  imparted  to  others. 

V.  Let  no  idler  who  hath  no  particular  calling,  or  va- 
grant person  under  pretence  of  a  calling,  be  suffered  to 
perform  worship  in  families,  to  or  for  the  same:  seeing 
persons  tainted  with  errors,  or  aiming  at  division,  may 
be  ready  (after  that  manner)  to  creep  into  houses,  and  lead 
captive  silly  and  unstable  souls. 

VI.  At  family-worship,  a  special  care  is  to  be  had  that 
each  family  keep  by  themselves  ;  neither  requiring,  inviting, 
nor  admitting  persons  from  divers  families,  unless  it  be  those 
who  are  lodged  with  them,  or  at  meals,  or  otherwise  with 
them  upon  some  lawful  occasion. 

VII.  Whatsoever  have  been  the  effects  and  fruits  of  meet- 
ings of  persons  of  divers  families  in  the  times  of  corruption 
or  trouble,  (in  which  cases  many  things  are  commendable, 
which  otherwise  are  not  tolerable,)  yet,  when  God  hath 
blessed  us  with  peace  and  purity  of  the  gospel,  such  meet- 
ings of  persons  of  divers  families  (except  in  cases  mention- 
ed in  these  Directions)  are  to  be  disapproved,  as  tending  to 
the  hinderance  of  the  religious  exercise  of  each  family  by 
itself,  to  the  prejudice  of  The  public  ministry,  to  the  rend- 
ing of  the  families  of  particular  congregations,  and  (in  pro- 
gress of  time)  of  the  whole  kirk.  Besides  many  offences 
which  may  come  thereby,  to  the  hardening  of  the  hearts  of 
carnal  men,  and  grief  of  the  godly. 

VIII.  On  the  Lord's  day,  after  every  one  of  the  family 
apart,  and  the  whole  family  together,  have  sought  the  Lord 
(in  whose  hands  is  the  preparation  of  men's  hearts)  to  fit 
them  for  the  public  worship,  and  to  bless  to  them  the  public 
ordinances,  the  master  of  the  family  ought  to  take  care  that 
all  within  his  charge  repair  to  the  public  worship,  that  he 
and  they  may  join  with  the  rest  of  the  congregation :  and 
the  public  worship  being  finished,  after  prayer,  he  should 
take  an  account  what  they  have  heard ;  and  thereafter,  to 
spend  the  rest  of  the  time  which  they  may  spare  in  cate- 
chising, and  in  spiritual  conferences  upon  the  word  of  God: 
or  else  (going  apart)  they  ought  to  apply  themselves  to 


598  Directions  for  Family -Worship. 

reading,  meditation,  and  secret  prayer,  that  they  may  con- 
firm and  increase  their  communion  with  God  :  that  so  the 
profit  which  they  found  in  the  public  ordinances  may  be 
cherished  and  pro-moved,  and  they  more  edified  unto  eter- 
nal life. 

IX.  So  many  as  can  conceive  prayer,  ought  to  make  use 
of  that  gift  of  God;  albeit  those  who  are  rude  and  weaker 
may  begin  at  a  set  form  of  prayer,  but  so  as  they  be  not 
sluggish  in  stirring  up  in  themselves  (according  to  their 
daily  necessities)  the  spirit  of  prayer,  which  is  given  to  all 
the  children  of  God  in  some  measure  :  to  which  effect,  they 
ought  to  be  more  fervent  and  frequent  in  secret  prayer  to 
God,  for  enabling  of  their  hearts  to  conceive,  and  their 
tongues  to  express,  convenient  desires  to  God  for  their  fa- 
mily. And,  in  the  mean  time,  for  their  greater  encourage- 
ment, let  these  materials  of  prayer  be  meditated  upon,  and 
made  use  of,  as  followeth. 

"  Let  them  confess  to  God  how  unworthy  they  are  to 
"  come  in  his  presence,  and  how  unfit  to  worship  his  Majesty; 
"  and  therefore  earnestly  ask  of  God  the  spirit  of  prayer. 

"  They  are  to  confess  their  sins,  and  the  sins  of  the  fa- 
"  mily ;  accusing,  judging,  and  condemning  themselves 
"  for  them,  till  they  bring  their  souls  to  some  measure  of 
"  true  humiliation. 

"They  are  to  pour  out  their  souls  to  God,  in  the  name 
"  of  Christ,  by  the  Spirit  for  forgiveness  of  sins;  for  grace 
"  to  repent,  to  believe,  and  to  live  soberly,  righteously,  and 
"godly;  and  that  they  may  serve  God  with  joy  and  de- 
"  light,  walking  before  him. 

"  They  are  to  give  thanks  to,  God  for  his  many  mercies 
"  to  his  people,  and  to  themselves,  and  especially  for  his 
"  love  in  Christ,  and  for  the  light  of  the  gospel. 

"  They  are  to  pray  for  such  particular  benefits,  spiri- 
"  tual  and  temporal,  as  they  stand  in  need  of  for  the  time, 
"  (whether  it  be  morning  or  evening,)  as  anent  health  or 
"  sickness,  prosperity  or  adversity. 

"  They  ought  to  pray  for  the  kirk  of  Christ  in  general, 
"  for  all  the  reformed  kirks,  and  for  this  kirk  in  particular, 
"  and  for  all  that  suffer  for  the  name  of  Christ ;  for  all  our 
"  superiors,  the  king's  majesty,  the  queen,  and  their  children; 
"for  the  magistrates,  ministers,  and   whole  body  of  the 


Directions  for  Family -Worship,  599 

"  congregation  whereof  they  are  members,  as  well  for  their 
"  neighbours  absent  in  their  lawful  affairs,  as  for  those  that 
"  are  at  home. 

"  The  prayer  may  be  closed  with  an  earnest  desire  that 
"  God  may  be  glorified  in  the  coming  of  the  kingdom  of 
"  his  Son,  and  in  doing  of  his  will,  and  with  assurance  that 
"  themselves  are  accepted,  and  what  they  have  asked  ac- 
"  cording  to  his  will  shall  be  done." 

X.  These  exercises  ought  to  be  performed  in  great  since- 
rity, without  delay,  laying  aside  all  exercises  of  worldly  busi- 
ness or  hinderances,  notwithstanding  the  mockings  of  atheists 
and  profane  men;  in  respect  of  the  great  mercies  of  God  to 
this  land,  and  of  his  severe  corrections  wherewith  lately  he 
hath  exercised  us.  And,  to  this  effect,  persons  of  eminency 
(and  all  elders  of  the  kirk)  not  only  ought  to  stir  up  them- 
selves and  families  to  diligence  herein,  but  also  to  concur 
effectually,  that  in  all  other  families,  where  they  have  power 
and  charge,  the  said  exercises  be  conscionably  performed. 

XI.  Besides  the  ordinary  duties  in  families,  which  are 
above  mentioned,  extraordinary  duties,  both  of  humiliation 
and  thanksgiving,  are  to  be  carefully  performed  in  families, 
when  the  Lord,  by  extraordinary  occasions,  (private  or 
public,)  calleth  for  them. 

XII.  Seeing  the  word  of  God  requireth,  that  we  should 
consider  one  another  to  provoke  unto  love  and  good  works; 
therefore,  at  all  times,  and  specially  in  this  time,  wherein 
profanity  abounds,  and  mockers,  walking  after  their  own 
lusts,  think  it  strange  that  others  run  not  with  them  to  the 
same  excess  of  riot;  every  member  of  this  kirk  ought  to 
stir  up  themselves,  and  one  another,  to  the  duties  of  mutual 
edification,  by  instruction,  admonition,  rebuke;  exhorting 
one  another  to  manifest  the  grace  of  God,  in  denying  un- 
godliness and  worldly  lusts,  and  in  living  godly,  soberly,  and 
righteously,  in  this  present  world;  by  comforting  the  feeble- 
minded, and  praying  with  or  for  one  another.  Which 
duties  respectively  are  to  be  performed  upon  special  occa- 
sions offered  by  divine  Providence;  as,  namely,  when  under 
any  calamity,  cross,  or  great  difficulty,  counsel  or  comfort 
is  sought;  or  when  an  offender  is  to  be  reclaimed  by  private 
admonition,  and  if  that  be  not  effectual,  by  joining  one  or 


600  Directions  for  Family -Worship. 

two  more  in  the  admonition,  according  to  the  rule  of 
Christ ;  that  in  the  mouth  of  two  or  three  witnesses  every 
word  may  be  established. 

XIII.  And,  because  it  is  not  given  to  every  one  to  speak 
a  word  in  season  to  a  wearied  or  distressed  conscience,  it 
is  expedient,  that  a  person  (in  that  case)  finding  no  ease, 
after  the  use  of  all  ordinary  means,  private  and  public, 
have  their  address  to  their  own  pastor,  or  some  experienced 
Christian :  but  if  the  person  troubled  in  conscience  be  of 
that  condition,  or  of  that  sex,  that  discretion,  modesty,  or 
fear  of  scandal,  requireth  a  godly,  grave,  and  secret  friend 
to  be  present  with  them  in  their  said  address,  it  is  expedient 
that  such  a  friend  be  present. 

XIV.  When  persons  of  divers  families  are  brought  toge- 
ther by  divine  Providence,  being  abroad  upon  their  parti- 
cular vocations,  or  any  necessary  occasions  ;  as  they  would 
have  the  Lord  their  God  with  them  whithersoever  they  go, 
they  ought  to  walk  with  God,  and  not  neglect  the  duties  of 
prayer  and  thanksgiving,  but  take  care  that  the  same  be 
performed  by  such  as  the  company  shall  judge  fittest.  And 
that  they  likewise  take  heed  that  no  corrupt  communication 
proceed  out  of  their  mouths,  but  that  which  is  good,  to  the 
use  of  edifying,  that  it  may  minister  grace  to  the  hearers. 

The  drift  and  scope  of  all  these  Directions  is  no  other, 
but  that,  upon  the  one  part,  the  power  and  practice  of 
godliness,  amongst  all  the  ministers  and  members  of  this 
kirk,  according  to  their  several  places  and  vocations,  may 
be  cherished  and  advanced,  and  all  impiety  and  mocking 
of  religious  exercises  suppressed:  and,  upon  the  other  part, 
that,  under  the  name  and  pretext  of  religious  exercises,  no 
such  meetings  or  practices  be  allowed,  as  are  apt  to  breed 
error,  scandal,  schism,  contempt,  or  misregard  of  the  pub- 
lic ordinances  and  ministers,  or  neglect  of  the  duties  of  par- 
ticular callings,  or  such  other  evils  as  are  the  works,  not 
of  the  Spirit,  but  of  the  flesh,  and  are  contrary  to  truth  and 
peace. 

A.  KER. 


FINIS. 


TABLE 

Of  the  chief  Matters  contained  in  the  Confession 
of  Faith  and  Larger  Catechism. 


Co7i.  signifies  the  Confession  of  Faith.  The  first  number 
denotes  the  Chapter,  the  following  figures  denote  the 
Paragraphs. 

Cat.  signifies  the  Larger  Catechism,  and  the  figures  denote 
the  numbers  of  the  Questions. 


A. 

ACCEPTANCE.  The  persons 
of  believers  are  accepted  as 
righteous  in  the  sight  of  God 
only  for  the  obedience  and  sa- 
tisfaction of  Christ,  con.  xi.  1. 
cat.  70.  Which  is  imputed  to 
them  by  God,  and  received  by 
faith,  con.  xi.  1.  cat.  70,  71,  72. 
How  their  good  works  are  ac- 
cepted in  Christ,  con.  xvi.  6. 
Acceptance  in  prayer  through 
Christ  and  his  mediation,  cat. 
130. 

Access.  No  access  unto  the  pre- 
sence of  God  without  the  Me- 
diator Jesus  Christ,  con.  xii.  cat. 
39,  55,  181.  Who  hath  pur- 
chased for  believers  under  the 
gospel,  a  greater  boldness  of  ac- 
cess to  the  throne  of  grace,  than 
believers  under  the  law  did  or- 
dinarily partake  of,  con.  xx.  1. 

Actions.  God  orders  and  governs 
all  the  actions  of  his  creatures 
by  his  most  wise  and  holy  pro- 
vidence, according  to  his  infal- 
lible foreknowledge  and  immu- 
table decree,  con.  v.  1.  cat.  18. 
See  Providence. 

Actual  sins  proceed  from  the  ori- 
51 


ginal  corruption  of  nature,  con. 
vi.  4.  cat.  25.     See  Sin, 

Admonition  of  the  church,  con. 
xxx.  4. 

Adoption,  the  nature  and  privi- 
leges of  it,  con.  xii.  cat.  74. 

Adultery,  a  just  ground  of  divorce, 
con.  xxiv.  5,  6. 

Aggravations  of  sin,  cat.  151. 

Amen,  the  meaning  of  it,  cat.  196. 

Angels,  God's  decree  concerning 
them,  con.  iii.  3,  4.  cat.  13. 
How  created,  cat.  16.  God's 
providence  towards  them,  cat. 
19.  They  are  all  employed  at 
his  pleasure  in  the  administra- 
tions of  his  power,  mercy,  and 
justice,  ib.  Not  to  be  worship- 
ped, con.  xxi.  2.  cat.  105. 

Antichrist,  what,  con.  xxv.  6. — 
The  Pope  is  Antichrist,  ib. 

Antiquity,  no  pretence  for  using 
the  devices  of  men  in  the  wor- 
ship of  God,  cat.  109. 

Anxiety  about  the  things  of  this 
life  sinful,  cat.  105,  136,  142. 

The  Apocrypha,  not  being  of  di- 
vine inspiration,  is  of  no  autho- 
rity in  the  church,  con.  i.  3. 

Immodest  Apparel  forbidden,  cat. 
139. 


i 


602 


The  Table. 


Ascension  of  Christ,  con.  viii.  4. 
cat.  53. 

Assembly.     See  Councils. 

Public  Assembles  for  the  worship 
of  God  not  to  be  carelessly  or 
wilfully  neglected,  con.  xxi.  6. 

Assurance  of  grace  and  salvation 
attainable  in  this  life,  con.  xviii. 
1,  2.  cat.  80.  Without  extraor- 
dinary revelation,  con.  xviii.  3. 
cat.  80.  Upon  what  it  is  founded, 
con,  iii.  8.  xviii.  2.  cat.  80.  It 
is  strengthened  by  good  works, 
con.  xvi.  2.  Believers  may  want 
it,  con.  xviii.  3.  cat.  80,  172. 
They  may  have  it  diminished 
and  intermitted  ;  and  be  deprived 
of  comfort,  and  the  light  of 
God's  countenance,  con.  xi.  5. 
xviii.  3.  xviii.  4.  cat.  81.  But 
they  are  never  utterly  destitute 
of  that  seed  of  God,  and  life  of 
faith  and  love,  &c.  out  of  which 
assurance  may,  by  the  Spirit, 
be  in  due  time  revived,  con. 
xvii.  4.  cat.  81.  And  by  which, 
in  the  mean  time,  they  are  sup- 
ported from  utter  despair,  ib. 
It  is  the  duty  of  all  to  endeavour 
after  assurance,  con.  xviii.  3. 
And  to  pray  for  it,  cat.  194. 
The  fruits  of  it;  it  inclines  not 
to  looseness,  con.  xviii.  3. 

Atheism,  the  denying  or  net 
having  a  God,  cat.  105. 

Attributes  of  God,  con.  ii.  1,  2. 
cat.  7,  8,  101. 


B, 


Baptism,  what,  con.  xxviii.  1,  2. 
cat.  165.  To  continue  to  the 
end  of  the  world,  con.  xxviii.  1. 
cat.  176.  But  once  to  be  ad- 
ministered to  any  person,  con. 
xxviii.  7.  cat.  117.  By  whom, 
con.  xxvii.  4.  xxviii.  2.  cat.  176. 
To  whom,  con.  xxviii.  4.  cat. 
166.  Dipping  not  necessary  in 
baptism :  But  it  may  be  rightly 
administered  by  sprinkling,  con. 


xxviii.  3.  Baptism  not  neces- 
sary to  salvation,  yet  it  is  a  sin 
to  neglect  it,  con.  xxviii.  5.  The 
efficacy  of  it,  con.  xxviii.  6. 
How  to  be  improved,  cat.  167. 
Wherein  it  agrees  witli  the 
Lord's  supper,  cat.  176.  And 
wherein  they  differ,  cat.  177. 

Believers.  See  Faith,  Justifica- 
tion, Acceptance,  Adoption, 
Sanctification,  Union,  Commu- 
nion, Liberty,  Works,  Perse- 
verance, Assurance. 

Benefits  which  the  members  of 
the  invisible  church  enjoy  by 
Christ,  cat.  65.  The  benefits  of 
Christ's  mediation,  cat.  57,  58. 

The  Body  of  Christ,  how  present 
in  the  sacrament,  con.  xxix.  7. 
cat.  170. 

The  mystical  Body  of  Christ.  True 
believers  are  members  of  Christ's 
mystical  body,  con.  xxix.  1. 
cat.  168.  Which  is  the  whole 
number  of  the  elect  that  have 
been,  are,  or  shall  be  united 
to  Christ  as  their  head,  con. 
xxv.  1.  What  that  union  is, 
cat.  66.     See  Communion. 

The  Bodies  of  the  elect  after 
death,  and  at  the  resurrection, 
con.  xxxii.  2,  3,  cat.  86,  87. 
Of  the  wicked,  ib. 

Lascivious  Books  not  to  be  read. 
cat.  139. 


Calling.  See  Effectual  Calling. 
To  have  a  lawful  calling,  and 
to  be  diligent  in  it,  is  a  duty, 
cat.  141. 

Vows  of  Celibacy  unlawful,  con. 
xxii.  7.  cat.  139. 

Censures  of  the  church,  what, 
con.  xxx.  2,  4.  Their  use,  con. 
xxx.  3-  Who  are  to  be  proceed- 
ed against  by  the  censures  of  the 
church,  con.  xx-  4-  xxix-  8.  xxx. 
2.  They  are  to  be  managed 
according  to  the  nature  of  the 


The  Table. 


603 


crime,  and  the  demerit  of  the 
person,  con.  xxx.  4-  Penitent 
sinners  are  to  be  absolved  from 
censures,  con-  xxx-  2. 

Censuring.  Rash,  harsh,  and  par- 
tial censuring  sinful,  cat.  145. 

Ceremonial  law.     See  Law. 

Charity  towards  our  neighbour, 
wherein  it  consists,  cat.  135, 
141,  144,  147.  What  contrary 
to  it,  cat.  136,  142,  145,  143. 
Giving  and  lending  freely  ac- 
cording to  our  ability,  and  the 
necessities  of  others,  is  a  duty, 
cot?,  xxvi.  2.  cat.  141. 

Charms  unlawful,  cat.  113. 

Chastity,  cat.  138. 

Children  that  die  in  infancy,  how 
saved,  con.  x.  3.  The  children 
of  such  as  profess  the  true  reli- 
gion are  members  of  the  visible 

^church,  con.  xxv.  2  cat.  62. 
And  are  to  be  baptized,  con. 
xxviii.  4.  cat.  166. 

Christ,  why  so  called,  cat.  42.  Is 
the  only  Mediator  between  God 
and  man,  con.  viii.  1.  cat.  36. 
Who  being  very  God,  of  one 
substance,  and  equal  with  the 
Father,  con.  viii.  2.  cat.  11,  36. 
In  the  fulness  of  time  became 
man,  con.  viii.  2.  cat.  36,  37. 
The  necessity  of  his  being  God 
and  man,  cat.  33,  39,  40.  He 
was  ordained  by  God  from 
eternity  to  be  Mediator,  con. 
viii.  1.  He  was  sanctified  and 
anointed  with  the  Holy  Spirit 
to  execute  the  office  of  MeJia- 
tor,  con.  viii.  3.  cat.  42-  To 
which  he  was  called  by  the  Fa- 
ther, con.  viii.  3.  And  willingly 
undertook  and  discharged  it, 
con.  iv.  6-  By  his  perfect  obe- 
dience and  sacrifice  of  himself, 
he  purchased  reconciliation  and 
eternal  life  for  all  the  elect,  con. 
viii.  5-  cat.  33.  To  whom,  in  all 
ages,  the  benefits  of  his  media- 
tion are  effectually  applied,  con. 
viii.  6, 8.     Christ's  offices  of  pro- 


phet, priest,  king,  cat.  43, 44,  45 
See  Acceptance,  Access,  Body  of 
Christ,  Church,  Death  of  Christ, 
Exaltation,  Expiation,  Humili- 
ation, Imputation,  Intercession, 
Judge,  Merit,  Messiah,  Xame 
of  Christ,  Personal  Union,  Pro- 
pitiation, Reconciliation,  Re- 
demption, Resurrection,  Righ- 
teousiiess,  Sacrifice,  Salvation, 
Satisfaction,  Surety. 

Christian  liberty.     See  Liberty. 

The  Church  is  "the  object  of  God's 
special  providence,  con.  v-  7. 
cat.  63.  Christ  the  only  head 
of  it,  con.  viii.  1.  xxv.  6.  The 
catholic  church  invisible,  what, 
con.  xxv.  1.  cat.  64-  Given  to 
Christ  from  all  eternity,  con. 
viii.  1.  The  benefits  which  the 
members  of  it  enjoy  by  Christ, 
cat.  65,  66,  69,  82,  83,  86,  90. 
The  catholic  church  visible, 
what,  con.  xxv-  2.  cat.  62.  Out 
of  it  no  ordinary  possibility  of 
salvation,  con-  xxv.  2.  Its  privi- 
leges, con.  xxv.  3.  cat-  63.  Par- 
ticular churches  more  or  less 
pure,  con-  xxv.  4.  The  purest 
subject  to  mixture  and  error, 
con.  xxv.  5»  There  shall  always 
be  a  church  on  earth  to  worship 
God  according  to  his  will,  ib. 

Church-censures.     See  Censures. 

Church-government  appointed  by 
the  Lord  Jesus  in  the  hand  of 
^church-officers,  distinct  from 
the  civil  magistrate,  con.  xxx.  1- 
cat-  45,  108.  But  they  are  not 
exempted  from  obedience  to  the 
magistrate,  con.  xxiii.  4.  They 
have  the  power  of  the  keys 
committed  to  them,  con.  xxx.  2. 
What  that  power  is,  and  its  use, 
con.  xxx.  2,  3,  4.  They  are  not 
to  be  opposed  in  the  lawful  ex- 
ercise of  their  powers  upon  pre- 
tence of  Christian  liberty,  con. 
xx.  4.  See  Councils.  There  are 
some  circumstances  concerning 
church-government,  which  are 


604 


The  Table. 


to  be  ordered  by  the  light  of 
nature  and  Christian  prudence, 
according  to  the  general  rules 
of  t|ie  word,  con.  i.  6. 

Circumcision,  one  of  the  ordi- 
nances by  which  the  covenant 
of  grace  was  administered  under 
the  law,  con.  vii.  5.  cat.  34. 

Civil  magistrate,  or  civil  powers. 
See  Magistrate. 

The  Ten  Commandments  are  the 
sum  of  the  moral  law,  con.  xix. 
2.  cat.  98.  They  are  a  per- 
fect rule  of  righteousness,  con. 
xix.  2.  Rules  for  understand- 
ing them,  cat.  99.  The  preface 
explained,  cat.  101.  The  first 
Commandment,  cat.  103 — 106. 
The  second,  caU  107—110. 
The  third,  cat.  111—114. 
The  fourth,  cat.  115—121. 
The  fifth,  cat.       123—133. 

The  sixth,  cat.  134—136- 
The  seventh,  cat.  137—139. 
The  eighth,  cat.  140—142. 
The  ninth,  cat.  143—145. 
The  tenth,  cat.  146—148- 
The  sum  of  the  first  four  com- 
mandments, which  contain  our 
duty  to  God,  cat.  102.  The  sum 
of  the  other  six,  which  contain 
our  duty  to  man,  cat.  122.  No 
man  is  able  to  keep  the  com- 
mandments of  God  perfectly, 
cat.  149. 

The  tommunion.  See  The  Lord's 
Supper.  * 

Communion  of  saints,  wherein  it 
consists,  con.  xxvi.  1,  2.  The 
enjoyment  of  it  is  one  of  the 
privileges  of  the  visible  church, 
cat.  63.  In  the  Lord's  supper 
communicants  testify  their  mu- 
tual love  and  fellowship  each 
with  other,  cat.  168.  That  sa- 
crament being  a  bond  and  pledge 
of  believers'  communion  with 
Christ,  and  with  each  other,  as 
members  of  his  mystical  body, 
con.  xxix.  1.  The  communion 
of  saints  doth   not    infringe  a 


man's  property  in  his  goods 
and  possessions,  con-  xxvi.  3. 

Communion  which  the  elect  have 
with  Christ,  con.  xxvi.  1.  In 
this  life,  cat.  69,  83.  Immedi- 
ately after  death,  cat.  86.  At 
the  resurrection  and  day  of  judg- 
ment, cat.  87,  90.  It  is  a  con- 
sequence of  their  union  with 
him,  con.  xxvi.  1.  It  doth  not 
make  them  partakers  of  his 
Godhead,  nor  equal  with  him, 
con.  xxvi.  3.  It  is  confirmed  in 
the  Lord's  supper,  cat.  168. 

Unchaste  Company  not  to  be  kept, 
cat.  139.  Nor  corrupt  commu- 
nications to  be  used  or  listened 
to,  ib. 

Condition.  Perfect,  personal,  and 
perpetual  obedience,  the  con- 
dition of  the-covenant  of  works, 
con.  vii.  2.  xix.  1.  cat.  20.  God 
requires  faith  as  the  condition  to 
interest  sinners  in  the  Mediator 
of  the  covenant  of  grace,  cat.  32. 

Confession  of  sin  always  to  be  made 
in  private  to  God,  con.  xv.  6. 
And  is  to  be  joined  with  prayer, 
cat.  178.  When  to  be  made 
to  men,  con.  xv.  6.  Upon  con- 
fession the  offending  brother  is 
to  be  received  in  love,  ib. 

Conscience.  See  Liberty  of  Con- 
science. Peace  of  conscience  a 
fruit  of  the  sense  of  God's  love, 
con.  xviii.  1,  3.  cat.  83.  Believers 
may  fall  into  sins  which  wound 
the  conscience,  con.  xvii.  3.  xviii. 
4-  The  wicked  are  punished  with 
horror  of  conscience,  cat.  28,  83. 

Contentment.  Submission  to  God 
is  our  duty,  eat.  104.  Discon- 
tent at  his  dispensations  is  sin- 
ful, cat.  105.  A  full  content- 
ment with  our  condition  is  our 
duty,  cat.  147.  Discontent- 
ment with  our  own  estate  a  sin, 
cat.  148. 

Controversies.  It  belongs  to  sy- 
nods and  councils  ministerially 
to  determine    controversies   of 


The  Table. 


605 


faith,  and  cases  of  conscience, 
con.  xxxi.  3.  The  Spirit  speak- 
ing in  the  scriptures  is  the  su- 
preme judge  of  all  controversies 
in  religion,  con.  i.  10.  The  ori- 
ginal text  of  the  scriptures  is 
that  to  which  the  church  is 
finally  to  appeal,  con.  i.  8. 

Our  Conversation  ought  to  be  in 
holiness  and  righteousness,  an- 
swerable to  a  holy  profession, 
cat.  112,  167. 

Corruption  of  nature,  what,  co^. 
vi.  2,  4.  eat.  25.  A  consequence 
of  the  fall  of  man,  ib.  Actual 
sin  a  fruit  of  it,  con.  vi.  4.  cat. 
25.  How  it  is  propagated,  con. 
vi.  3.  cat.  26.  It  doth  remain 
during  this  life  in  the  regene- 
rate, and  all  its  motions  are 
truly  sin,  con.  vi.  5.  xiii.  2.  cat. 
78.  But  it  is  pardoned  and  mor- 
tified through  Christ,  con.  vi.  .1. 

Covenant.  No  enjoying  of  God  but 
by  way  of  covenant,  con.  vii.  1. 

Covenant  of  works,  what,  and 
with  whom  made,  con.  iv.  2.  vii. 
2.  xix,  1.  cat.  20,'  22.  Perfect, 
personal,  and  perpetual  ob:di- 
ence,  the  condition  o^*  it,  con.  vii. 

2.  xix.  1.  cat.  20.  It  is  called  a 
law,  and  a  command,  con.  iv.  2. 
and  a  law  given  as  a  covenant, 
con.  xix.  1.  and  a  covenant  of 
life,  of  which  the  tree  of  life  was 
a  pledge,  cat.  20. 

Covenant  of  grace,  what,  con.  vii. 

3.  cat.  30,  32.  It  was  made  with 
Christ  as  the  second  Adam,  and 
with  all  the  elect  in  him.  as  his 
seed,  cat.  31.  In  it  God  requireth 
of  sinners  faith  in  Christ,  that 
they  may  be  justified  and  saved, 
con.  vii.  3.  cat.  71.  Faith  being 
required  as  the  condition  to  in- 
terest them  in  Christ,  cat.  32. 
Who  is  the  Mediator  of  this  co- 
venant, con.  viii.  1.  cat.  36.  Why 
it  is  called  a  testament,  con.  vii. 

4.  It  was  differently  adminis- 
tered in  the  time  of  the  law,  and 

51* 


in  the  time  of  the  gospel,  con. 
vii.  5.  cat .  33.  How  it  was  admi- 
nistered under  the  law,  con.  vii. 
5.  cat.  31.  How  under  the  gos- 
pel, con.  vii.  6.  cat.  35. 

Councils  or  Synods  ought  to  be, 
con.  xxxi.  1.  They  may  be 
called  by  the  civil  magistrate, 
con.  xxiii.  3.  xxxi.  2.  When 
ministers  may  meet  without  the 
call  of  the  civil  magistrate,  con. 
xxxi.  2.  What  power  councils 
have,  con.  xxxi.  3.  What  sub- 
mission cue  to  their  decrees,  ib. 
Xot  infallible  since  the  apostles' 
time,  con.  xxxi.  4.  But  their 
determinations  are  to  be  tried 
by  the  scriptures,  con.  i-  10. 
How  far  they  may  meddle  in 
civil  affairs,  con.  xxxi.  5. 

Creatios  of  the  world,  con-  iv.  1. 
cat.  15.  Of  man,  con.  iv.  2. 
cat.  17.     Of  angels,  cat.  16. 

Creatures.  Dominion  over  the 
creatures  given  to  man,  con. 
iv.  2.  cat.  17.  They  are  cursed 
for  our  sakes  since  the  fall,  cat. 
2S.  Religious  worship  to  be 
given  to  no  crcature>  con.  xxi. 
cat  105. 

Curiosity.  Bold  and  curious  search- 
ing into  God's  secrets  discharged, 
cat.  105.  Curious  prying  into 
God's  decrees  forbidden,  cat.  113. 
Curious  or  unprofitable  questions 
are  to  be  avoided,  ib. 

The  curse  and  wrath  of  God,  man 
liable  to  it,  both  by  original  and 
actual  sin,  con.  vi.  6.  cat.  27. 
How  it  may  be  escaped,  con.  vii. 

3.  cat.  m 
Cursing  sinful,  cat.  113. 

D. 
Dancing.     Lascivious  dancing  for- 
bidden, cat.  139. 
Dead  not  to  be  prayed  for,  con.  xxi. 

4.  cat.  1-3. 

Death,  being  the  wages  of  sin,  con. 

.  -4.    It  is  appointed 

for  all  men,  cat.  84.     How  it  is 


606 


The  Table. 


an  advantage  to  the  righteous, 
cat.  35.  The  state  of  believers 
immediately  after  death,  con. 
xxxii.  1.  cat.  86.  of  the  wicked, 
ib. 

The  Death  of  Christ,  con.  viii.  4. 
cat.  49.  In  it  he  saw  no  corrup- 
tion, con.  viii.  4.  cat.  52.  The 
divine  nature  having  sustained 
the  human  from  sinking  under 
the  power  of  death,  cat.  38.  By 
his  obedience  and  death,  he  made 
a  proper,  real,  and  full  satisfac- 
tion to  the  justice  of  the  Father, 
con.  xl  3.  cat.  71.  Through  the 
virtue  of  his  death  and  resurrec- 
tion, believers  are  sanctified,  con. 
xiii.  1.  Believers  have  fellow- 
ship with  Christ  in  his  death,  con. 
xxvi.  1.  And  from  his  death  and 
resurrection  they  draw  strength 
for  the  mortifying  of  sin,  and 
quickening  of  grace,  cat.  167. 
The  I  ord's  supper  is  a  memorial 
of  his  death,  con.  xxix.  1.  cat. 
168.  And  in  that  sacrament 
worthy  communicants  meditate 
affectionately  on  his  death  and 
sufferings,  cat.  174.  And  receive 
and  feed  upon  all  the  benefits  of 
his  death,  con.  xxix.  7. 

The  Decalogue.  See  Command- 
ments. 

The  Decrees  of  God,  the  nature, 
end,  extent,  and  properties  of 
them,  con.  iii.  1,  2.  cat.  12.  The 
decree  of  predestination,  con.  iii. 
3,  4.  Of  election  and  reproba- 
tion, con.  iii.  5,  6,  7.  cat.  13. 
How  God  executeth  his  decrees, 
cat.  14.  How  the  doctrine  of  de- 
crees is  to  be  handled,  and  what 
use  to  be  made  of  them,  con.  iii. 
8..  Curious  prying  into  God's 
decrees  forbidden,  cat.  11,3. 

Desertion.  Wilful  desertion  un- 
lawful, cat.  139.  Such  as  can- 
not, be  remedied  by  the  church 
or  civil  magistrate,  is  cause  suf- 
ficient of  dissolving  the  bond  of 
aaarri  ige,  con.  xxiv.  6. 


Despair  sinful,  cat.  105.  Believers 
always  supported  from  utter  de- 
spair, con.  xviii.  4.  cat.  81. 

Devil,  all  compacts  and  consult- 
ing with  him  sinful,  cat.  105. 

Diligence  in  our  calling  a  duty, 
cat.  141. 

Dipping  in  baptism  not  necessary, 
con.  xxviii.  3. 

Discontent  at  the  dispensations  of 
God's  providence  sinful, cat.  105, 
113.  Discontentment  with  our 
own  estate  sinful,  cat.  148. 

Divorce,  lawful  in  case  of  adultery 
after  marriage,  or  of  such  wilful 
desertion  as  cannot  be  remedied, 
con.  xxiv.  5,  6.  A  public  and 
orderly  course  of  proceeding  is 
to  be  observed  in  it,  con.  xxiv.  6. 

Dominion,  See  Sovereignty,  Crea- 
tures, Sin. 

Doubting  of  being  in  Christ,  may 
consist  with  a  true  interest  in 
him,  con.  xvii.  3.  xviii.  4.  cat.  81, 
172.  And  therefore  should  not 
hinder  from  partaking  of  the 
Lord's  supper,  cat.  172. 

Drunkenness  forbidden,  est.  139. 

Duty  to  God  by  the  light  of  na- 
ture, con.  xxi.  1.  Duties  required, 
in  the  first  commandment,  cat. 
104.  In  the  second,  cat.  108. 
In  the  third,  cat.  112.  In  the 
fourth,  cat.  116.  Duties  of  in- 
feriors to  their  superiors,  con. 
xxiii.  4.  cat.  127.  What  is  re- 
quired of  superiors,  con.  xxiii.  2. 
cat.  129.  Duties  of  equals,  cat. 
131.  Duties  of  the  sixth  com- 
mandment, cat.  135.  Of  the 
seventh,  cat.  138.  Of  the  eighth, 
cat.  141.  Of  the  ninth,  cat.  144. 
Of  the  tenth,  cat.  147. 

E. 
Ecclesiastical  powers  not  to  be 
opposed  upon  pretence  of  Chris- 
tian liberty,  con.  xx.  4.  Ecclesi- 
astical persons  not  exempted 
from  obedience  to  the  civil  ma- 
gistrate, con.  xxiii.  4. 


The  Table. 


607 


Effectual  calling,  what,  con.  x.  1. 
cat.  67.  It  is  of  God's  free 
grace,  not.  from  any  thing  fore- 
seen in  man,  con.  x.  2.  cat.  67. 
All  the  elect,  and  they  only,  are 
effectually  called,  con.  x.  1,  4. 
cat.  68.  The  elect  united  to 
Christ  in  their  effectual  calling, 
cat.  66. 

Election,  out  of  God's  mere  free 
grace,  con.  iii.  5,  cat.  13.  From 
all  eternity  in  Christ,  ib.  Elec- 
tion not  only  to  eternal  life  and 
glory,  but  also  to  the  means 
thereof,  con.  iii.  6.  cat.  13.  All 
the  elect,  and  they  only,  are 
effectually  called  and  saved, 
con.  iii.  6.  x.  1,  4,  cat.  68. 
Though  others  may  be  out- 
wardly called  by  the  word,  and 
have  some  common  operations 
of  the  Spirit,  ib.  Elect  infants, 
and  other  elect  persons,  who  are 
incapable  of  being  called  by 
the  word,  how  saved,  con.  x.  3. 
What  use  to  be  made  of  the 
doctrine  of  election,  con.  iv.  8. 
And  how  men  may  be  assured 
of  their  eternal  election,  ib. 
See  Assurance. 

Envy  sinful,  cat.  128,  136,  142, 
145, 148 

Equals,  their  duties  and  sins,  cat. 
131,  132. 

Equivocation.  Speaking  the  truth 
in  doubtful  and  equivocal  ex- 
pressions, to  the  prejudice  of 
truth  or  justice,  sinful,  cat.  145. 

Eucharist.  See  Lord's  Supper. 

Exaltation  of  Christ,  con.  viii.  4. 
cat.  51.  In  his  resurrection, 
cat.  52.  In  his  ascension,  cat.  53. 
In  his  sitting  at  the  right  hand 
of  God,  cat.  54.  In  his  coming 
to  judge  the  world,  cat.  56. 

Self-examination,  cat.  171. 

Excommunication,  con.xxx.  2, 3,4. 

Expiation.  Sin  cannot  be  expi- 
ated but  by  the  blood  of  Christ, 
cat.  152. 


Faith,  what,  con.  xiv.  2.  cat.  72. 

God  requireth  nothing  of  sin- 
ners that  they  may  be  justified, 
but  faitli  in  Christ,  con.  xi.  1. 
cat.  71.  Which  he  requireth  as 
the  condition  to  interest  them 
in  the  Mediator  of  the  covenant 
of  grace,  cat.  32.  It  justifies  a 
sinner  in  the  sight  of  God  only 
as  it  is  an  instrument  by  which 
he  receiveth  Christ  and  his  righ- 
teousness, con.  xi.  2.  cat.  73. 
Faith  is  the  gift  of  God,  con. 
xi.  1.  cat.  71.  It  being  the  work 
of  the  Spirit,  con.  xiv.  1.  cat. 
59,  72.  It  is  ordinarily  wrought 
by  the  ministry  of  the  word,  con. 
xiv.  1.  Increased  and  strength- 
ened by  the  word,  sacraments, 
and  prayer,  ib.  Often  weaken- 
ed, but  always  gets  the  victory, 
con.  xiv.  3.  Growing  up  in 
many  to  a  full  assurance,  con. 
xiv.  3.  cat.  80.  Good  works  the 
fruit  and  evidence  of  true  faith, 
con-  xvi.  2.  cat.  52.  Which  is 
never  alone,  but  always  ac- 
companied with  all  other  saving 
graces,  and  is  no  dead  faith, 
but  worketh  by  love,  con.  xi.  2. 
cat.  73. 

Fall  of  man,  the  nature  and 
effects  of  it,  con.  vi.  cat.  21,  23, 
25,  27,  28,  29.  Why  permitted, 
con.  vi.  1.  How  all  mankind 
concerned  in  it,  con.  vi.  3. 
cat.  22. 

Falling  away.     See  Perseverance. 

Family  worship  daily,  required  of 
God,  con.  xxi.  6. 

Fasting.  Religious  fasting,  a  duty, 
cat.  108.  Solemn  fasting  a  part 
of  religious  worship,  con.  xxi.  5. 

Fellowship.     See  Communion. 

Foreknowledge.  All  things  come 
to  pass  infallibly  according  to 
the  foreknowledge  of  God, 
con.  v.  2. 


i 


608 


The  Table. 


Forgiveness.     See  Pardon. 

Fornication  committed  after  con- 
tract of  marriage,  a  just  ground 
of  dissolving  the  contract,  con. 
xxiv.  5. 

Fortune.  To  ascribe  any  thing  to 
fortune,  is  sinful,  cat.  105. 

Free-will.     See  Will. 

Frugality,  a  duty,  cat.  141. 


G 


Gamtng.  Wasteful  gaming  for- 
bidden, cat.  142. 

Glory.  The  communion  in  glory 
with  Christ,  which  believers  en- 
joy in  this  life,  con.  xvii.  1,  2,  3. 
cat.  83.  Immediately  after 
death,  con.  xxxii.  1.  cat.  86. 
At  the  resurrection  and  day  of 
judgment,  con.  xxxii.  3.  xxxiii.  2. 
cat.  87,  90. 

The  Glory  of  God  the  end  of  his 
decrees,  con.  iii.  3.  cat.  12.  The 
glory  of  his  grace  the  end  of 
election,  con.  iii.  5.  cat.  13.  The 
glory  of  his  justice  the  end  of 
the  decree  of  reprobation,  con. 
iii.  7.  cat.  13.  The  glory  of  his 
eternal  power,  wisdom,  and 
goodness,  the  end  of  the  crea- 
tion, con.  iv.  1.  The  manifesta- 
tion of  the  glory  of  his  wis- 
dom, power,  justice,  goodness, 
and  mercy,  is  the  end  of  all  God's 
works  of  providence,  con.  v.  1. 
cat.  18.  The  end  of  God's  ap- 
pointing the  last  judgment  is 
the  manifestation  of  the  glory 
of  his  mercy  and  justice,  con. 
xxxii.  10.  To  glorify  God  is 
the  chief  end  of  man,  cat.  1. 
God  is  glorified  by  good  works, 
con.  xvi.  2. 
Gluttony,  a  sin,  cat.  139. 
God.  The  light  of  nature  show- 
eth  that  there  is  a  God,  con. 
xxi.  1.  cat.  2.  What  it  declares 
concerning  him,  and  of  our  duty 
to  him,  con.  i.  1.  xxi.  1.  It  is 
not  sufficient  to  give  that  know- 


ledge of  God,  and  of  his  will, 
which  is  necessary  unto  salva- 
tion, con.  i.  1.  cat.  2.    The  attri- 
butes  or    perfections    of   God, 
con.  ii.  1,2.  cat.  7.  101.     There 
is  but  one  only  God.  con.  ii.  1. 
cat.  8.    There  are  three  persons 
in   the   Godhead,  distinguished 
by  personal    properties,  con.  ii. 
3.  cat.  9,  10.     The  co-equality 
of  the  persons  proved,  cat,  11. 
To  him  is  due  from  all  his  crea- 
tures, whatsoever  worship,  ser- 
vice, or  obedience,  he  is  pleased 
to  require,  con.  ii.  2.     Our  duty 
to  God,  cat.  104, 108,  112,  116. 
What   contrary   to    it,  cat.  105, 
109,  113,  119.     Religious  wor- 
ship is  to  be  given  to  God  the 
Father,   Son,  and  Holy  Ghost, 
and   to    him    alone;    and    that 
only  in  the  mediation  of  Christ, 
con.  xxi.  2.  cat.  179,  181.    God 
is  to  be  worshipped  in  that  way 
only  which  he  hath  instituted  in 
the  scriptures,  con.  xxi.  1.  cat. 
109.    To  glorify  God,  and  fully 
to  enjoy  him   for   ever,   is  the 
chief  end  of  man,  cat.l. 
Good  Works.     See  Works. 
Gospel.      How    the   covenant    of 
grace  is  administered  under  the 
gospel,    con.    vii.    6.    cat.    35. 
Without  the    gospel  no   salva- 
tion, con.  x.  4.  cat.  60.    In   it 
Christ   doth    not    dissolve    but 
strengthen  the  obligation  to  the 
obedience    of    the    moral    law, 
con.  xix.  5.  Believers  under  the 
gospel  have  a  greater  boldness 
of  access  to  the  throne  of  grace, 
than  believers  under  the  law  did 
ordinarily  partake  of,  con.  xx.  1. 
Government.      See   Church,  Ma- 
gistrate. 
The  Grace  of  God.     Election  is 
of  God's  mere  free  grace,  con. 
iii.  5.  cat.  13.     How  the  grace 
of  God    is    manifested    in   the 
second  covenant,  con.  vii.  3.  cat, 
32.   Effectual  calling  is  of  God's 


The  Table. 


609 


free  and  special  grace,  con.  x.  2. 
cat.  67.  Justification  is  only  of 
free  grace,  con.  xi.  3.  cat.  70,  71. 
Adoption  is  an  act  of  free  grace, 
con.  xii.  cat.  74.  The  commu- 
nion in  grace,  which  believers 
have  with  Christ,  cat.  69.  All 
saving  graces  are  the  work  of 
the  Spirit,  con.  xiii.  xiv.  xv.  cat. 
32,  72,  75,  76,  77.  And  do  al- 
ways accompany  faith,  con.  xi. 
2.  cat.  73.  Perseverance  in 
grace,  con.  xvii.  cat.  79.  In- 
crease in  grace,  con.  xiii.  1,  3. 
cat.  75,  77.  Assurance  of  grace, 
con.  xviii.  cat.  80,  91. 

H. 

Harden.  Why  and  how  sinners 
are  hardened,  con.  v.  6.  Be- 
lievers may  have  their  hearts 
hardened,  con.  xvii.  3. 

Head.  The  elect  are  inseparably 
united  to  Christ  as  their  head, 
con.  xxv.  1.  xxvi.  1.  cat.  64,  66. 
He  is  the  only  head  of  the 
church,  con.  xxv.  6. 

Hearing.  What  is  required  of 
those  that  hear  the  word  preach- 
ed, con.  xxi.  5.  cat.  160. 

Heaven,  the  state  of  the  blessed, 
con.  xxxii  1.  xxxiii.  2.  cat.  86,  90. 

Hell,  the  state  of  the  damned, 
con.  xxxii.  1.  xxxiii.  2.  cat.  29, 
56,  59.  The  meaning  of  these 
words  in  the  Creed,  He  descend- 
ed into  hell,  cat.  50. 

Heretics  to  be  rejected,  cat.  105. 

Holiness.  God  is  most  holy  in  all 
his  counsels,  works,  and  com- 
mands, con.  ii.  2.  Man  was 
created  holy  after  the  image  of 
God,  con.  iv.  2.  cat.  17.  But  by 
the  fall  he  became  wholly  de- 
filed, con.  vi.  2.  Believers  are,  by 
the  sanctifying  Spirit  of  Christ, 
quickened  and  strengthened  to 
the  practice  of  holiness,  con. 
xiii.  1,  3.  cat.  "id.  And  are  made 
perfectly  holy  in   heaven,  con. 


xxxii.  1.  cat.  56,  90.  See  Sanc- 
tification. 

The  Holy  Ghost  equal  with  the 
Father,  con.  ii.  3.  cat.  11.  He 
is  promised  to  the  elect  in  the 
covenant  of  grace,  con.  vii.  3. 
cat.  32.  By  him  they  are  united 
to  Christ,  con.  xxvi.  1.  For  by 
him  the  redemption  purchased 
by  Christ  is  applied  to  them, 
con.  viii.  5.  xi.  4.  cat.  55,  59. 
By  him  they  are  effectually  call- 
ed, con.  x.  1.  cat.  67.  And 
have  faith  wrought  in  their 
hearts,  con.  xiv.  1.  cat.  59,  72. 
He  is  given  to  them  in  adoption, 
con.  xii.  cat.  74.  And  applying 
the  death  and  resurrection  of 
Christ  to  them,  by  his  powerful 
operation,  they  are  sanctified, 
con.  xiii.  1.  cat.  75.  Having 
repentance  wrought,  and  all 
other  saving  graces  infused  into 
their  hearts,  con.  xiii.  1.  cat. 
32,  75,  76,  77.  Through  the 
continual  supply  of  strength 
from  him,  believers  grow  in 
grace,  con.  xiii.  3.  cat.  75. — 
The  outward -means  are  by  him 
made  effectual  to  the  elect  for 
salvation,  con.  vii.  5,  6.  xxv.  3. 
cat.  155,  161.  Prayer  is  to  be 
made  by  his  help,  con.  xxi.  3. 
cat.  152.  Ability  to  do  good 
works  is  from  him,  con.  xvi.  3. 
Assurance  of  faith  is  attained  by 
his  witnessing  with  our  spirits 
that  we  are  the  children  of  God, 
con.  xviii.  2.  cat.  80.  By  his 
abiding  within  believers,  they 
are  secured  from  falling  totally 
away  from  the  state  of  grace, 
and  are  kept  by  the  power  of 
God  through  faith  unto  salva- 
tion, con.  xvii.  2.  cat.  79. 

Hope  of  glory,  con.  xviii.  1.  cat. 
53.  The  hope  of  hypocrites, 
con.  xviii,  1. 

Humiliation  of  Christ,  con.  viii.  2, 
4.  cat.  46.  In  his  conception 
and  birth,  cat.  47.     In  his  life, 


610 


The  Table. 


cat,  48.  In  his  death,  cat.  49. 
After  death,  cat.  50. 

Hypocrisy.  Making  profession  of 
religion  in  hypocrisy,  or  for  si- 
nister ends,  sinful,  cat.  113.  The 
hypocrite's  hope,  con.' xviii.  1. 

Hypostatical,     See  Personal. 

I. 

Idleness  unlawful,  cat.  139,  142. 
Idolatry,  all  the  kinds  of  it  for- 
bidden, cat.  105,  109.  All  mo- 
numents of  idolatry  ought  to  be 
removed,  cat.  108. 

Jests.  Perverting  the  scripture  to 
profane  jests,  sinful,  cat.  113. 

Jesus,  why  so  called,  cat.  41. — 
See  Christ. 

Ignorant,  not  to  be  admitted  to 
the  Lord's  table,  con.  xxix.  8. 
cat.  173. 

Image.  Man  made  after  the  image 
of  God,  in  knowledge,  righte- 
ousness, and  holiness,  con.  iv.  2. 
cat.  17.  This  image  is  renewed 
by  sanctification,  cat.  75.  And 
fully  perfected  in  heaven,  con. 
xxxii.  1.  cat.  86,  90. 

Image- worship  of  all  kinds  dis- 
charged, cat.  109. 

Imputation.  The  guilt  of  Adam's 
first  sin  is  imputed  to  all  his  pos- 
terity, con.  vi.  3.  The  obedi- 
ence and  satisfaction  of  Christ 
is  imputed  to  believers,  con.  xi. 
1.  cat.  70.  His  righteousness  is 
imputed  to  them,  cat.  71,  77. 

Incarnation  of  Christ,  con.  viii.  2. 
cat.  37,  39. 

Incest  discharged,  cat.  139.  In- 
cestuous marriages,  which  are 
within  the  degrees  of  consan- 
guinity or  affinity  forbidden  in 
the  scriptures,  can  never  be 
made  lawful,  con.  xxiv.  4. 

Unjust  Enclosures  and  depopula- 
tions forbidden,  cat.  142. 

Increase  of  grace  is  from  a  con- 
tinual supply  of  strength  from 
the  sanctifying  Spirit  of  Christ, 
con.  xiii.  1,  3.  cat.  75,  77. 


Innocency.  The  state  of  man  in 
innocency,  con.  iv.  2.  cat.  17, 
20. 

Infants,  how  saved,  con.  x.  3. 
Infants  of  one  or  both  believing 
parents  are  to  be  baptized,  con, 
xxviii.  4.  cat.  166. 

Engrossing  commodities  to  enhance 
their  price,  unlawful,  cat.  142. 

Inspiration.  The  books'of  the  Old 
and  New  Testament  are  given 
by  inspiration  of  God,  con.  i.  2. 
But  the  Apocrypha  is  not  of 
divine  inspiration,  con.  i.  3. 

Intercession.  How  Christ  makes 
intercession,  cat.  55.  It  is  a  part 
of  his  priestly  office,  cat.  44. 
He  makes  intercession,  that  the 
redemption  which  he  hath  pur- 
chased may  be  applied  to  all 
believers,  con.  viii.  8.  cat.  55. 
And  their  perseverance  depends 
upon  his  continual  intercession 
for  them,  con.  xvii.  2.  cat.  79. 

Joy  in  the  Holy  Ghost  the  fruit  of 
assurance,  con.  xviii.  1,  2.  cat. 
83.  Believers,  by  falling  into 
some  sins,  may  grieve  the  Spi- 
rit, and  be  deprived  of  some 
measure  of  their  comfort,  con. 
xvii.  3.  xviii.  4. 

Judge.  Christ  the  judge  of  the 
world,  con.  viii.  1,  4.  xxxiii.  1. 
How  he  shall  come  at  the  last 
day,  cat.  56. 

The  Judgments  of  God  upon  sin- 
ners in  this  world,  con.  v.  6. 
cat.  28,  83.  How  believers  may 
bring  temporal  judgments  on 
themselves,  con.  xvii.  3.  God  is 
just  and  terrible  in  his  judg- 
ments, con.  ii.  1. 

The  last  Judgment,  what,  con. 
xxxiii.  1.  Appointed  for  angels 
and  men,  con.  viii.  4.  xxxiii.  1. 
cat.  88.  The  end  of  its  appoint- 
ment is  the  manifestation  of 
God's  mercy  and  justice,  con. 
xxxiii.  2.  Christ  shall  be  the 
judge,  con.  viii.  4.  xxxiii.  1. 
How  he  shall  come  to  judge  the 


The  Table. 


611 


world,  cat.  56.     Why  he   would 
have  us  certainly  persuaded  of 
it,  con.  xxxiii.  3.     Why  the  time 
of  it  is  concealed,  con.  xxxiii.  3. 
cat.   B8.     The  judgment  of  the 
righteous,  con.  xxxiii.  2.  cat.  90. 
The  judgment  of  the  wicked, 
con.  xxxiii.  2.  cat. 
Judicial  law.     See  Law. 
The  justice  of  God  fully  satisfied 
by  Christ's  obedience  and  death, 
con.  viii.  5.  xi.  3.  cat.  38,  71.     It 
is  manifested    in  the  works  of 
providence,   con.   v.    1.     In  the 
justification  of  sinners,  con.  xi. 
3.     In  the   last  judgment,  con. 
xxxiii.  2. 
Justice  in  contracts  and  commerce 
between    man    and    man,    cat. 
141,  142. 
Justification  what,  con.  xi.  1.  cat. 
70.  All  the  elect,  and  they  only, 
are  justified,  con.  iii.  6.     Whom 
God  did  from  all  eternity  decree 
to  'justify,  con.  xi.  4.     But  they 
are  not"  justified  till  the  Holy 
Spirit  doth  in  due  time  actually 
apply  Christ  unto  them,  ib.    How 
justification  is  of  God's  free  grace, 
con.  xi.  3.  cat.  71.     Faith  is  ne- 
cessarily required  for  justifica- 
tion, cat.  71.     But  it  justifies  a 
sinner  only  as  it  is  an  instrument, 
by  which  he  receiveth  Christ  and 
his  righteousness,  con.  xi.  1,  2. 
cat.  73.     The  exact  justice,  and 
rich  grace  of  God,  are  both  glo- 
rified in  the  justification  of  sin- 
ners, con.  xi.  3.  Justification  the 
same  under  the  Old  Testament 
as  under  the  New,  con.  xi.  6.    It 
is  inseparably  joined  with  sanc- 
tification,  cat,   77.      How  they 
differ,  ib.     Those  that  are  justi- 
fied are  perfectly  freed  in  this 
life  from  the  revenging  wrath  of 
God,  that  they  never   fall  into 
condemnation,  con.  xvii.  1.  cat. 
77,79.  Butcorruption remaining 
in  them,  con.  vi.  5.  xiii.  2.  cat.  78. 
They  fall  into  many  sins,  con. 


xvii.  3.  cat.  78.  Which  God  con- 
tinues to  forgive,  upon  their 
humbling  themselves,  confessing 
their  sins,  begging  pardon,  and 
renewing  their  faith  and  repen- 
tance, con.  xi.  5. 

K. 

Keys.  The  power  of  the  keys, 
what,  con.  xxx.  2.  Committed 
to  church-officers,  ib.  The  ci- 
vil magistrate  may  not  assume 
this  power,  con.  xxiii.  3. 

King.  Christ  the  king  of  his 
church,  con.  xxx.  1.  How  he 
executeth  the  office  of  a  king, 
cat.  4-3.  What  meant  by  the 
coming  of  his  kingdom,  cat.  191. 

Knowledge.  God's  knowledge  is 
infinite,  infallible,  and  indepen- 
dent upon  the  creature,  con.  ii. 
2.  The  knowledge  which  may 
be  had  of  God  and  of  our  duty  to 
him  by  the  light  of  nature,  con. 
i.  1.  xxi.  1.  cat.  1.  The  scrip- 
tures are  only  sufficient  to  give 
that  knowledge  of  God  and  of 
his  will  which  is  necessary  unto 
salvation,  ib. 


L. 


Labour  is  to  be  moderatelv  used, 
cat.  135,  136, 

Land-marks  not  to  be  removed,  cat. 
142. 

Law.  The  Ceremonial  Law,  what, 
con.  xix.  3.  It  is  abrogated  now 
under  the  New  Testament,  con. 
xix.  3.  xx.  1.  How  the  covenant 
of  grace  was  administered  un- 
der the  law,  con.  vii.  5.  viii.  6. 
cai.M. 

The  Judicial  Law  expired  with 
the  state  of  the  Jews,  con.  xix.  4. 
And  obliges  no  farther  than  the 
general  equity  of  it  requires,  ib. 

The  Moral  La\v,  what,  cat.  93. 
Given  to  Adam  with  a  power  to 
fulfil  it,  con.  iv.  2.  xix.  1.  cat.  92. 


612 


The  Table. 


The  ten  commandments  the  sum 
of  it,  con.  xix.  2.  cat.  93.  Though 
believers  are  not  under  it  as  a 
covenant,  con.  xix.  6.  And  are 
not  able  perfectly  to  keep  it,  cat. 
149.  Yet  it  continues  to  be  a 
perfect  rule  of  righteousness,  con. 
xix.  2.  Binding  all,  as  well  jus- 
tified persons  as  others,  con.  xix. 

5.  Christ,  in  the  gospel,  having 
not  abolished,  but  much  strength- 
ened the  obligation  to  the  obedi- 
ence of  it,  ib.  And  although  no 
man  since  the  fall  can,  by  the 
moral  law,  attain  to  righteous- 
ness and  life,  con.  xix.  6.  cat.  94. 
Which  Christ  alone  hath  pur- 
chased for  the  elect  by  his  per- 
fect obedience,  con.  viii-  5.  Yet 
it  is  of  great  use  to  all,  con.  xix. 

6.  cat.  95.  The  use  of  it  to  the 
regenerate,  con.  xix.  6.  cat.  97. 
The  use  of  it  to  the  unregene- 
rate,  cat.  96.  Not  contrary  to 
the  grace  of  the  gospel,  but  doth 
sweetly  comply  with  it,  con.  xix. 

7.  The  Spirit  of  Christ  subduing 
and  enabling  the  will  of  man 
unto  a  free  and  cheerful  obedi- 
ence to  the  will  of  God,  con.  xix. 
7.  cat.  32. 

Unnecessary  Law-suits  to  be 
avoided,  cat.  141,  142. 

Liberty.  Christian  liberty,  what, 
con.  xx.  1.  Wherein  it  is  en- 
larged under  the  gospel,  ib.  The 
end  of  Christian  liberty,  con. 
xx.  3.  Liberty  to  sin  inconsis- 
tent with  it,  ib.  It  is  not  in- 
tended to  destroy  ecclesiastical 
or  civil  powers,  but  to  support 
and  preserve  them,  con.  xx.  4. 
Neither  are  men  thereby  allow- 
ed to  publish  opinions,  or  main- 
tain practices,  that  are  contrary 
to  the  light  of  nature,  or  to  the 
known  principles  of  Christianity, 
or  such  as  are  destructive  of  the 
peace  and  order  of  the  church, 
ib. 

Liberty  of  conscience,  what  it  is, 


and  what  repugnant  to  it,  con. 
xx.  2.     Making  men   the   lords 
of  our  faith  and  conscience  un- 
lawful, con.  xx.  2.  cat.  105. 
Life.     Eternal   life  purchased  by 
Christ's  perfect  obedience  to  the 
law,  con.  viii.  5.     The   tree  of 
life  was  a  pledge  of  the  cove- 
nant of  works,   cat.  20.      The 
life  of  any  not  to  be  taken  away 
except  in  case  of  public  justice, 
lawful  war,  or  necessary  defence. 
cat.  136. 
Light  of   nature,   what    may   be 
known  of  God  and  of  our  duty 
to  him  by  it,  con.  i.  1.  xxi.  1.  cat. 
2.     It  is  not  sufficient  to  make 
us  wise  unto  salvation,  con.  i.  1. 
x.  4.  xxi.  1.  cat.  2,60.     It  is  of 
the  law  of  nature  that  a  due  por- 
tion of  time  be  set  apart  for  the 
worship  of  God,  con.  xxi.  7. 
Wanton  Looks  sinful,  cat.  139. 
Lord's  prayer.     See  Prayer. 
Lord's  supper.    The  institution,  na- 
ture, and  ends  of  it,  con.  xxix.  1. 
cat.  168.     Christ  not  offered  up 
to  his  Father,  nor  any  real  sacri- 
fice for  sin  made  in  it,  con.  xxix. 
2.     The  mass  abominably  inju- 
rious to  Christ's  one  only  sacri- 
fice, ib.     The  outward  elements 
in  this  sacrament  are  not  to  be 
adored,  con.  xxix.  4.     They  still 
remain    truly  bread   and    wine, 
con.  xxix.  5.      The  doctrine  of 
transubstantiation  is  repugnant 
not  only  to  the  scripture,  but  even 
to  common  sense,  and  has  been 
and  is  the  cause  of  gross  indola- 
tries,  con.  xxix.  6.    How  Christ 
hath  appointed  bread  and  wine 
to  be  given  and  received  in  the 
sacrament,  con.  xxix.  3.  cat.  169. 
It  is  only  to  be  administered  by 
a  minister  of  the  word  lawfully 
ordained,  con.  xxvii.  4.  cat.  176. 
It  is  not  to  be  received  by  any 
one  alone,  con.  xxix.  4.     It  is  to 
be  received  in  both  kinds,  ib. 
What  relation  the  elements  in 


The  Table. 


61, 


How  believers  feed  on  him  there- 
in, ib.  What  preparation  is  re- 
quired for  receiving  it,  cat.  171. 
Doubting-  may  consist  with  an 
interest  in  Christ,  con.  xvii.  3. 
xviii-  4.  cat.  81-  And  therefore 
should  not  hinder  from  partaking 
of  the  Lord's  supper,  cat.  172. 
But  the  ignorant  and  scandalous 
are  not  to  be  admitted,  con.  xxix. 
8-  cat.  173.  What  duties  re- 
quired in  the  time  of  receiving, 
cat.  174.  What  duties  after  re- 
ceiving, cat.  175.  Frequent  at- 
tendance on  it  a  duty,  cat.  175, 
177-  The  agreement  and  diffe- 
rence between  the  Lord's  sup- 
per and  baptism,  cat.  176,  177- 

Lots,  cat.  112,  113. 

Love.  Election  is  of  God's  free 
love,  con.  iii.  5.  cat.  13.  Which 
is  unchangeable,  con.  xvii.  2. 
cat.  79.  And  therefore  true  be- 
lievers can  neither  totally  nor 
finally  fall  away  from  the  state 
of  grace,  ib.  The  sense  of  God's 
love  is  attainable  in  this  life, 
cat.  63.  See  Assurance.  Love 
to  God  is  a  duty,  cat.  104. — 
Which  the  light  of  nature  show- 
eth,  con.  xxi.  1.  To  love  the 
Lord  our  God  with  all  our 
heart,  &lc.  is  the  sum  of  our 
duty  to  him,  tat.  102.  Love  to 
God  is  necessary  to  the  right 
performance  of  the  duty  of 
prayer,  con.  xxi.  3.  cat.  185. 
Love  to  God  and  the  brethren 
is  necessary  to  ri<rht  communi- 
cating, cat. "163,  171, 174.  True 
believers  are  never  utterly  des- 
titute of  the  love  of  Christ  and 
the  brethren,  con.  xviii.  4.— 
Wherein  love  towards  our 
neighbour  consists,  cat.  135, 
141,  144,  147.  What  contrary 
to  it,  cat.  136,  142,  145,  14*. 
It  is  the  sum  of  our  duty  to 
man,  cat.  122. 

Lying  sinful,  cat.  145. 
52 


M. 

Magistrates  appointed  by  God, 
con.  xxiii.  1.  For  what  end, 
ib.  Lawful  for  Christians  to 
accept  the  office  of  a  magis- 
trate, con,  xxiii.  2.  The  duty 
of  the  civil  magistrate,  con. 
xxiii.  2.  cat.  129.  con.  xx.  4. 
Read  the  scriptures  letter7.  The 
sins  of  the  magistrate,  cat.  130, 
145.  He  may  wage  war  upon 
just  and  necessary  occasions, 
con.  xxiii.  2.  His  power  in 
church-affairs  stated,  con.  xxiii. 
3.  The  duty  of  the  people  to- 
wards their  -magistrates,  eon. 
xxiii.  4.  cat.  127.  Their  sins 
against  them,  cat.  128.  Eccle- 
siastical persons  not  exempted 
from  obedience  to  the  civil 
magistrate,  con.  xxiii.  4.  The 
Pope  hath  no  power  or  juris- 
diction over  magistrates  or  their 
people,  ib.  The  magistrate  is 
not  to  be  opposed  in  the  lawful 
exercise  of  his  power,  upon  pre- 
tence of  Christian  liberty,  con. 
xx.  4.  Infidelity  or  difference 
in  religion  doth  not  make  void, 
the  magistrate's  just  and  legal 
authority,  con.  xxiii.  4. 

Man,  how  created,  con.  iv.  2.  cat. 
17.  His  state  before  the  fall, 
con.  iv.  2.  cat.  17,  20.  His  fall, 
and  the  effects  of  it,  con.  vi. 
cat.  21,  22,  23,  25,  26,  27,  28: 
29.  His  state  by  the  covenant 
of  grace,  con.  vii.  3 — 6.  cat. 
30 — 35.    Man's  chief  end,  cat.  1. 

Man-stealing  discharged,  cat.  142. 

Marriage,  the  end  of  it,  con.  xxiv. 
2.  cat.  20.  Between  more  than 
one  man  and  one  woman  at  a 
time  unlawful,  con.  xxiv.  1. 
tat.  139.  Lawful  for  all  sorts  of 
people  who  are  capable  to  give 
their  consent,  con.  xxiv.  3.  And 
who  are  without  the  degrees  of 
consanguinity    or    affinity    for- 


614 


The  Table. 


bidden  in  the  scriptures,  con. 
xxiv.  4.  But  marriages  within 
those  degrees  can  never  be  made 
lawful,  ib.  Protestants  should 
not  marry  with  infidels,  Papists, 
or  other  idolaters,  con.  xxiv.  3. 
Nor  such  as  are  godly  with 
those  that  are  notoriously  wick- 
ed, ib.  A  contract  of  marriage 
may  be  dissolved  for  adultery 
or  fornication  committed  after 
the  contract,  con.  xxiv.  5.  The 
bond  of  marriage  can  only  be 
dissolved  for  adultery  after 
marriage,  and  such  wilful  de- 
sertion as  cannot  be  remedied, 
con.  xxiv.  5,  6.  Undue  delay 
of  marriage,  prohibiting  of  law- 
ful, and  dispensing  with  unlaw- 
ful marriages,  are  sinful,  cat. 
139.  Vows  of  perpetual  single 
life  are  sinful  snares  in  which 
no  Christian  may  entangle  him- 
self, con.  xxii.  7.  cat:''lS9.  Those 
who  have  not  the  gift  of  conti- 
nency  ought  to  marry,  cat.  138. 
The  duties  of  married  persons, 
cat.  139,  141. 

The  Mass  abominably  injurious  to 
Christ's  one  only  sacrifice,  con. 
xxix,  2. 

Means.  God  in  his  ordinary  pro- 
vidence maketh  use  of  means; 
yet  is  free  to  work  without, 
above,  and  against  them  at  his 
pleasure,  con.  v.  3.  The  out- 
ward and  ordinary  means  of 
salvation  under  the  law,  con. 
vii.  5.  cat.  34.  Under  the  gos- 
pel, con.  vii.  6.  cat.  35,  154. 
The  diligent  use  of  them  is  re- 
quired in  order  to  escape  the 
wrath  of  God,  cat.  153.  How 
they  are  made  effectual,  con. 
xxv.  3.  cat.  155,  161,  182. 
Trusting  in  means  sinful,  cat. 
105.  Unlawful  means  not  to 
be  used,  ib.  False  measures  un- 
lawful, cat.  142. 

Meat  to  be  moderately  used,  cat. 
135,  136. 


Mediator.     See  Christ. 

The  Mercy  of  God,  con.  ii.  1.  cat. 
7.  It  is  manifested  in  his 
works  of  providence,  con.  v.  1. 
It  is  of  God's  free  love  and  mer- 
cy that  the  elect  are  delivered 
from  sin  and  misery, and  brought 
to  an  estate  of  salvation  by  the 
second  covenant,  cat.  30.  God 
is  merciful  to  penitent  sinners 
in  Christ,  con.  xv.  2.  cat.  76. 
For  whose  sake  mercy  is  to  be 
prayed  for,  cat.  180.  Works 
of  mercy  are  to  be  done,  even 
on  the  Lord's  day,  con.  xxl.  8. 
cat.  117. 

Merit.  No  merit  in  good  works 
for  pardon  of  sin  or  eternal  life  ; 
and  why,  con.  xvi.  5.  Nor  can 
we  merit  the  outward  blessings 
of  this  life,  cat.  193.  But  we 
are  to  trust  in  the  merits  of 
Christ,  cat.  174.  Who  appear- 
ing in  the  merit  of  his  obedience 
and  sacrifice,  maketh  interces- 
sion for  his  people,  cat.  55. 

Messiah.  The  elect  under  the 
Old  Testament  believed  in  the 
promised  Messiah,  by  whom 
they  had  full  remission  of  sins, 
and  eternal  salvation,  con.  vii-  5. 
viii.  6.  cat.  34. 

The  Ministry  given  by  Christ  to 
the  visible  church,  con.  xxv.  3. 
The  maintenance  thereof  a  duty, 
cat.  108.  A  minister  of  the  gos- 
pel is  one  sufficiently  gifted, 
and  also  duly  approved  and 
lawfully  called  and  ordained  to 
that  office,  con.  xxvi-  4.  xxviii. 
2.  cat.  158.  By  such  only  the 
word  is  to  be  read  publicly  and 
preached,  and  the  sacraments 
dispensed,  con-  xxvii.  4.  xxviii. 
2.  cat.  156,  158,  159,  169. 

Moral  law.     See  Law. 

Mortification.  The  regenerate 
have  the  corruption  of  nature 
mortified  through  Christ,  con. 
vi.  5.  And  the  several  lusts  of 
the  body  of  sin,  con.  xiii.   1.— 


The  Table. 


615 


Believers  draw  strength  from 
the  death  and  resurrection  of 
Christ  for  the  mortifying  of  sin, 
cat.  167r 

N. 

The  Name  of  Christ.  That  pray- 
er be  accepted,  it  is  to  be_made 
in  the  name  of  Christ,  con.  xxl 
3.  cat.  178.  What  it  is  to  pray 
in  the  name  of  Christ,  cat.  180. 
Why  prayer  is  to  be  made  in 
his  name,  cat.  181. 

The  name  of  God  is  only  that  by 
which  men  ought  to  swear,  and 
therein  it  is  to  be  used  with  all 
holy  fear  and  reverence,  con. 
xxii.  2.  How  the  name  of  God 
ought  to  be  used,  and  how  it  is 
profaned,  cat.  112,  113,  114, 
190. 

Nature.  See  Corruption,  Origi- 
nal Sin,  fAght  of  Nature. 

The  two  Natures  of  Christ-  See 
Christ,  Incarnation,  Personal 
Union. 

The  New  Testament  in  Greek  is 
that  to  which  the  church  is 
finally  to  appeal  in  controversies 
of  religion,  con.  i.  8-  The  ad- 
ministration of  the  covenant  of 
grace  under  the  gospel  is  called 
the  New  Testament,  con.  vii.  G. 

Neighbour.     See  Charity,  Love. 

Niggardliness  sinful,  cat.  142. 

O. 

An  Oath,  what  it  is,  con.  xxii.  1. 
It  is  a  part  of  religious  worship, 
ib.  The  name  of  God  is  that 
by  which  men  ought  only  to 
swear,  con.  xxii.  2.  cat.  108. — 
Vain  or  rash  swearing  by  his 
name  is  to  be  abhorred,  con. 
xxii.  2.  cat.  113,  Yet,  in  mat- 
ters of  weight  and  moment,  an 
oath  is  warrantable  under  the 
New  Testament,  con.  xxii.  2.  A 
lawful  oath,  imposed  by  lawful 
authority,  ought   to   be    taken, 


ib.  It  is  a  sin  to  refuse  it,  con. 
xxii.  3.  A  man  must  swear  no- 
thing but  what  he  is  fully  per- 
suaded is  truth  ;  neither  may  he 
bind  himself  by  oath  to  any- 
thing but  what  he  believes  to 
be  just  and  good,  and  what  he 
is  able  to  perform,  ib.  An  oath 
is  to  be  taken  in  the  plain  and 
common  sense  of  the  words; 
and,  in  tilings  not  sinful,  it 
binds  to  performance,  though  to 
a  man's  own  hurt,  or  made  to 
heretics,  con.  xxii.  4.  cat.  113. 
But  it  cannot  oblige  to  sin,  ib. 

Obedience  is  due  to  God  in  what- 
soever he  is  pleased  to  com- 
mand, con.  ii.  2.  cat.  104.  Christ 
hath  performed  perfect  obe- 
dience to  the  law  for  us  in  our 
nature,  con-  viii.  4.  cat.  38,  39, 
48,  97-  And  by  it  purchased 
an  everlasting  inheritance  in  the 
kingdom  of  heaven  for  the  elect, 
con.  viii.  5.  cat.  38-  His  obe- 
dience is  imputed  to  believers, 
con.  xi.  1.  cat.  70.  He  hath  not 
abolished,  but  much  strength- 
ened the  obligation  to  the  obe- 
dience of  the  moral  law,  con. 
xix-  5.  Good  works  done  in 
obedience  to  God's  commands 
are  the  fruits  and  evidences  of 
a  true  faith,  con.  xvi.  2.  cat.  32. 
How  the  sincere  though  imper- 
fect obedience  of  believers  is  ac- 
cepted and  rewarded,  con.  xvi.  G. 

Obedience  is  due  to  the  lawful 
commands  of  a  magistrate,  con. 
xxiii.  4.  cat.  127,  128. 

Offices  of  Christ, — of  Mediator. 
See  Mediator.  His  prophetical 
office,  cat.  43;  priestly,  cat.  44; 
and  kingly,  cat.  45. 

The  Old  Testament  in  Hebrew  is 
that  to  which  the  church  is 
finally  to  appeal  in  controver- 
sies of  religion,  con.  i.  8.  The 
administration  of  the  covenant 
of  grace  under  the  law  is  called 
the  Old  Testament,  con.  vii.   5. 


616 


The  Table. 


The  ordinances  of  God  given  by 
Christ  to  the  visible  church,  con. 
xxv.  3.  The  ordinances  under 
the  law,  con.  vii.  5.  cat.  34. 
Those  under  the  gospel,  con. 
vii.  6.  cat.  35.  Which  arc  few- 
er, and  administered  with  more 
simplicity,  and  less  outward  glo- 
ry; yet  in  them  grace  and  sal- 
vation are  held  forth  in  more 
fulness,  evidence,  and  efficacy, 
ib.  All  God's  ordinances,  espe- 
cially the  word,  sacraments,  and 
prayer,  are  the  outward  and  or- 
dinary means  of  salvation,  cat 
154.  How  they  are  made  ef- 
fectual, con.  xxv.  3.  cat.  155, 161, 
182.  The  neglect,  contempt,  or 
opposing  them,  sinful,  cat.  109. 

Original  corruption.  See  Corrup- 
tion. 

Original  sin.     See  Sin. 


V. 


Papists.  Protestants  should  not 
marry  with  Papists,  con.  xxiv.  3. 
Pardon.     See  Sin. 

Passions  to  be  restrained,  cat.  135, 
136. 

Passover,  one  of  the  types  and  or- 
dinances by  which  the  covenant 
of  grace  was  administered  under 
the  law,  con.  vii.  5.  cat.  34. 

Patience.  Patient  bearing  of  the 
hand  of  God  a  duty,  cat.  135. 
Patient  bearing  and  forgiving  of 
injuries  a  duty,  ib. 

Peace  of  conscience.  .  See  Con- 
science. 

Pedo-baptism.     See  Infants. 

Perseverance  of  saints.  They  whom 
God  hath  accepted  in  Christ  can 
never  totally  or  finally  fall  away 
from  the  estate  of  grace,  con. 
xvii.  I.  cat.  77,  79.  Upon  what 
their  perseverance  depends,  con. 
xvii.  2.  cat.  79.  How  far  they 
may  fall,  con.  vi.  5.  xi.  5.  xiii.  2. 
xvii.  3.  xviii.  4.  cat.  78.  They 
are  always  kept  from  utter  de- 


spair, con.  xviii.  4.  cat.  81- — 
How  they  are  recovered  when 
they  fall  under  God*s  fatherly 
displeasure,  con.  xi.  5.  xiii.  3. 

Three  Persons  in  the  Godhead  dis- 
tinguished by  personal  proper- 
ties, con.  ii.  3-  cat.  9,  10.  The 
equality  of  the  persons  proved, 
cat.  11.  The  personal  union  of 
the  two  natures  in  Christ,  con. 
viii.  2.  cat.  36,  37.  By  reason 
of  this  union,  the  proper  works 
of  each  nature  are  accepted  of 
God,  and  relied  on  by  believers 
as  the  work  of  the  whole  per- 
son, con.  viii.  7.  cat.  40. 

Physic  to  be  used  moderately, 
cat.  135. 

Lascivious  Pictures  discharged, 
cat.  139. 

Polvgamy  unlawful,  con.  xxiv.  1. 
cat.  139. 

The  Pope  has  no  power  or  juris- 
diction over  civil  magistrate^ 
or  their  people,  con.  xxiii.  4. 
He  is  in  no  sense  head  of  the 
church,  but  is  Antichrist,  con. 
xxv.  6. 

Powers  ecclesiastical  or  civil,  not 
to  be  opposed  upon  pretence  of 
Christian  liberty,  con.  xx.  4. 
Power  of  the  keys.     See  Keys. 

Praises  to  be  joined  with  prayer, 
cat.  196. 

The  Praise  of  any  good  we  either 
are,  have,  or  can  do,  not  to  be 
ascribed  to  fortune,  idols,  our- 
selves, or  any  other  creature, 
cat.  105. 

Prayer,  what,  cat.  178.  The  du- 
ty of  all  men,  con.  xxi.  3.  To 
be  made  to  God  only,  and 
why,  con.  xxi.  2  cat.  179-  That 
it  may  be  accepted,  it  is  to  be 
made  in  the  name  of  Christ,  by 
the  help  of  the  Spirit,  con.  xxi. 
3.  cat.  178.  What  it  is  to  pray 
in  the  name  of  Christ,  cat.  180. 
Why  prayer  is  to  be  made  in 
his  name,  cat.  181.  How  the 
Spirit  helps  to  pray,  cat.   182. 


The  Table. 


617 


How  prayer  is  to  be  made,  con. 
xxi.  3.  cat.  185.  For  what  and 
for  whom  we  are  to  pray,  con. 
xxi.  4.  cat.  183,  184.  Prayer 
not  to  be  made  for  the  dead, 
nor  for  those  of  whom  it  may 
be  known  that  they  have  sinned 
the  sin  unto  death,  ib.  Prayer, 
now  under  the  gospel,  is  not 
made  more  acceptable  by  any 
place  in  which  it  is  performed, 
nor  towards  which  it  is  directed, 
con.  xxi.  6.  The  rule  of  prayer, 
cat.  186. 

The  Lord's  Prayer,  how  to  be 
used,  cat.  187.  It  is  explained 
in  the  Catechism  from  Question 
188,  to  the  end. 

Preaching  of  the  word  is  a  part 
of  the  ordinary  religious  wor- 
ship of  God,  con.  xxi.  5.  And 
one  of  the  ordinances  in  which 
the  covenant  of  grace  is  admi- 
nistered under  the  New  Testa- 
ment, con.  vii.  6.  cat.  35.  None 
are  to  preach  the  word  but  mi- 
nisters of  the  gospel,  cat.  153. 
How  they  are  to  preach,  cat. 
159.  How  the  preaching  of  the 
word  is  made  effectual  to  salva- 
tion, cat.  155. 

Predestination,  con.  iii.  3,  4.  cat.  13. 
The  doctrine  of  predestination 
how  to  be  handled,  and  what 
use  to  be  made  of  it,  con.  iii.  8. 

Preparation  required  to  the  hear- 
ing of  the  word,  cat.  1G0.  What 
preparation  requisite  to  the  sab- 
bath, cat.  117.  What  to  the 
Lord's  supper,  cat.  171. 

Prescience.     See  Foreknowledge. 

Priestly  office  of  Christ,  how  exe- 
cuted, cat.  41. 

Private  worship  in  families  daily, 
a  duty,  con.  xxi.  6.  cat.  150. 

Privileges  of  the  invisible  church, 
and  of  the  visible.     See  Church. 

Prodigality,  a  sin,  cat.  142. 

The  Profession  of  the  gospel  is 
adorned    by    good    works,    con. 


xvi.  2.  And  ought  to  be  at- 
tended with  a  conversation  in 
holiness  and  righteousness,  cat. 
112, 167. 

Property  in  goods  and  possessions 
not  infringed  by  the  communion 
of  saints,  con.  xxvi.  3. 

Prophecies.  The  covenant  of  grace 
administered  by  prophecies  un- 
der the  law,  con.  vii.  5.  cat.  34. 

The  prophetical  office  of  Christ,, 
how  executed,  cat.  43. 

Propitiation.  Christ's  one  only 
sacrifice  the  alone  propitiation 
for  all  the  sins  of  the  elect,  con. 
xxix.  2. 

Protestants  should  not  marry  with 
Papists,  con.  xxi  v.  3. 

Providence  is  God's  most  holy, 
wise,  and  powerful  preserving, 
directing,  disposing,  and  govern- 
ing all  his  creatures,  and  all  their 
actions;  according  to  his  infal- 
lible foreknowledge,  and  immu- 
table decree;  to  the  glory  of  his 
wisdom,  power,  justice,  good- 
ness, and  mercy,  con.  v.  1.  cat. 
18.  Events  are  ordered  accord- 
ing to  the  nature  of  second 
causes,  con.  iii.  1.  v.  2.  God  in 
his  ordinary  providence  maketh 
use  of  means,  yet  is  free  to  work 
without,  above,  and  against  them 
at  his  pleasure,  con.  v.  3.  How 
providence  is  exercised  about 
sin,  con.  v.  4.  See  Sin.  The 
actual  influence  of  the  Holy 
Spirit  is  required  to  do  good 
works,  con.  xvi.  3.  God's  provi- 
dence towards  angels,  cat.  19. 
Toward  man  when  created,  cat. 
20.  God's  providence  is  in  a 
most,  special  manner  over  his. 
church,  con.  v.  7.  cat.  43,  45, 
63. 

Public  worship  not  to  be  neglect- 
ed, con.  xxi.  6. 

Punishment.     See  Sin. 

Purgatory,  the  scripture  acknow- 
ledged   no    such     place,    cq\  : 
:ii.  1. 


618 


The  Table. 


Q. 


Quarrelling  at  God's  decrees 
and  providences  sinful,  cat.  113. 

Quarrelling-  and  provoking  words 
sinful,  cat.  136. 

Questions  that  are  curious  or  un- 
profitable are  to  be  avoided, 
cat.  113. 


R. 


Reading  the  scriptures  a  part-  of 
religious  worship,  con.  xxi.  5. 
How  made  effectual  to  salva- 
tion, cat.  155.  It  is  the  duty  of 
all  to  read  them  apart  by  them- 
selves, and  with  their  families, 
con.  i.  8.  cat.  156.  How  the 
word  of  God  is  to  be  read,  con. 
xxi.  5  cat.  157. 

Rebellion  a  sin,  cat.  12S. 

Reconciliation  with  God  purchased 
by  Christ's  sacrifice  of  himself, 
con.  viii.  5.  cat.  44. 

Recreations  to  be  moderately 
used,  cat.  135,  136.  But  not 
on  the  Lord's  day,  con.  xxi.  8. 
cat.  119. 

Redemption  how  purchased  by 
Christ,  con.  viii.  5.  cat.  38,  39, 
40.  For  all  the  elect,  and  them 
only,  con.  iii.  6.  To  whom  it 
is  certainly  applied,  con.  viii.  8. 
cat.  59.  Although  it  was  not 
actually  wrought  by  Christ  till 
after  his  incarnation;  yet  the 
virtue,  efficacy,  and  benefits  of 
it  were  communicated  to  the 
elect  in  all  ages  successively 
from  the  beginning  of  the  world, 
con.  viii.  6.  How  it  is  applied  to 
them,  con.  viii.  8.  cut.  58,  59. 

Regeneration.  See  Effectual  Call- 
ing. 

The  Regenerate  are  all  freely  jus- 
tified,^*, xi.  1.  See  Justifica- 
tion. And  sanctified,  con.  xiii.  1. 
Sec  Sa notification.  The  corrup- 
tion of  nature  remains  in  them, 
and  all  the  motions  of  it  are  sin, 


con.  vi.  5.  But  it  is  pardoned 
and  mortified  through  Christ,  ib. 
The  use  of  the  moral  law  to 
them,  con.  xix.  6.  cat.  97. 

Repentance,  what,  con.  xv.  2.  cat. 
75.  Although  it  be  no  satisfac- 
tion for  sin,  nor  cause  of  pardon, 
yet  no  pardon  without  it,  con. 
xv.  3.  cat.  153.  Nor  condemna- 
tion where  it  is,  con.  xv.  4,  6. 
It  is  every  man's  duty  to  endea- 
vour to  repent  particularly  of 
his  particular  sins,  con.  xv.  5. 
The  doctrine  of  repentance  to 
be  preached  by  every  minister, 
as  well  as  that  of  faith  in  Christ, 
con.  xv.  1.  Repentance  to  be 
declared  to  those  that  are  of- 
fended, who  are  thereupon  to  be 
reconciled,  con.  xv.  6. 

Reprobation,   con.  iii.  7.  cat.  13. 

Resurrection  of  Christ,  con.  viii.  4. 
cat.  52.  The  effect  of  his  own 
power,  cat.  52.  It  is  a  proof  of 
his  being  the  Son  of  God,  and 
of  his  satisfaction  to  divine  jus- 
tice, <fyc.  ib.  It  is  an  assurance 
to  bel ievers  of  thei r  resurrection, 
ib.  They  have  fellowship  with 
him  in  his  resurrection,  con.  xxvi. 

1.  He  rose  again  for  their  jus- 
tification, con.  xi.  4.  cat.  52.  And 
through  the  virtue  of  his  death 
and  resurrection  they  are  sanc- 
tified, con.  xiii.  1.  cat.'lo.  They 
draw  strength  from  his  death 
and  resurrection  for  the  mortify- 
ing of  sin,  and  quickening  of 
grace,  cat.  52,  167. 

The  Resurrection  of  the  dead,  of 
the  just  and  unjust,  con.  xxxii. 

2,  3.  cat.  87: 

Revelation.  The  divers  ways  of 
God's  revealing  his  will,  con.  i.  1. 

Righteousness.  Man  was  created 
righteous  after  the  image  of 
God,  con.  iv.  2.  cat.  17.  But 
by  sin  he  fell  from  that  original 
righteousness,  con.  vi.  2.  cat.  25. 
And  since  the  fall  no  man  can 
attain   to  righteousness  by  the 


The  Table. 


619 


moral  law,  cat.  94.  Nor  by 
having  righteousness  infused  into 
them,  con.  xi.  1.  cat.  70.  But 
those  whom  God  effectually 
calleth,  he  accepteth  and  ac- 
counted as  righteous,  by  im- 
puting the  obedience  and  - 
faction  of  Christ  to  them,  they 
receiving  and  resting  on  him 
and  his  rirrhteousnes  by  faith, 
ib.  See  Faith,  Imputation,  Jus- 
tification. Why  the  rigtiteous 
are  not  delivered  from  death,  cat. 

Their  state  immediately  af- 
ter death,  con.  xxxu.  1.  cat.  53. 
At  the  resurrection  and  day  of 
judgment,  con.  xxxii.  3.  xxxiii. 

'.  87,  99, 


S. 


Sabbath.     By  the  law  of  nature, 
a  due  proportion  of  time  ought 
to  be  set  apart  for  the  v 
of  God,  con.  x:      "  I   hath 

in  his  word,  by  a  positive  and 
perpetual  commandment,  bind- 
ing ail  men  in  all  ages,  appoint- 
ed one  day  in  seven  for  a  sab- 
bath, to  be  kept  holy  to  him- 
self, con.  xxi.  7.  cat.  20,  116. 
Which  was  the  last  day  of  the 
:  from  the  beginning  of 
the  world  to  the  resurrection 
of  Christ,  and  the  first  day  ever 
since,  and  so  to  continue  to  the 
end  of  the  world,  con.  xxi.  7. 
cat.  116.  How  the  sabbath  is 
to  be  sanctified,  con.  xx 
117.  How  it  is  proftned,  eat. 
119.  Why  we  are  commanded 
to  remember  it,  cat.  121.  The 
Lord'  a    memorial  of 

our  creation  and  redemption, 
which  contains  a  short  abridg- 
ment 

the  reasons  annex  J  to  the  fourth 
commandment,  the  more  to  en- 
force it,  ;  y  toe 
charge  of  keepmg  the  sabbath  is 
irected  togoyernors  of  families, 


and  other  superiors,  cat.  115. 

A  Sacrament.  The  institution,  na- 
ture, and  ends  of  it.  con.  xxvii. 
1.  cat.  162.  The  parts  of  a  sa- 
crament, con.  xxvii.  2.  cat.  163. 
There  are  only  two  sacraments 
instituted  by  Christ,  con.  xxvii 
4.  cat.  164.  Which  are  only  to 
be  dispensed  by  ministers  of  the 
word  lawfully  ordained,  con. 
xxvii.  4.  How  they  are  made 
effectual  to  salvation,  con.  xxvii. 
3.  caK  161.  The  sacraments  of 
the  Old  Teste  ment  were  the  same 
for  substance  with  those  of  the 
.  con.  xxvii.  5.  Wherein 
icrament&of  baptism  and  of 
the  Lord's  supper  agree,  cat .  176. 
rein  they  differ,  cat.  177. 

Sacrifice.  The  covenant  of  grace 
was  administered  under  the  law 
:i.  vii.  5.  viii.  6. 
cat.  34.  Which  signified  Christ 
to  come,  ib.  Who  hath  fully 
isfied  t!:e  justice  of  his  Fa- 
ther, in  his  once  offering  him- 
self a  sacrifice  without  spot  to 
God.  con.  viii.  5.  cat-  44.  There 
is  no  real  sacrifice  made  for  sin  in 
the  Lord's  supper,  con.  xxix.  2. 
That  sacrament  being  instituted 
for  the  perpetual  remembrance 
of  Christ's  one  only  sacrifice  in 
his  dea?h,  can.  xxix.  1.  cat.  165- 
To  which  the  mass  is  most  abo- 
minably injurious,  con.    xxix.  2. 

Saints.  See  Belie  iers,Communion. 
They  are  not  to  be  worshipped. 
con.  xxi.  2.  cat.  105. 

Salvation,  not  to  be  attained  by 
men  who  do  not  profess  the 
Christian  religion,  be  they  ever 
isrent  to  live  up  to  the 
light  of  nature,  or  the  law  of 
that  religion  which  they  pro- 
x.  4.  cat.  60.  There 
beinsr  no  salvation  but  in  Christ 
alone,  ib.  Who  hath  purchased 
it  by  his  perfect  obedience  and 
sacrifice  of  himself,  con.  viii.  5. 
cat.  S3.     For  all  the  elect,  and 


620 


The  Table. 


them  only,  con.  iii.  6.  To  whom 
the  outward  means  are  made 
effectual  for  their  salvation  by 
the  Spirit,  con.  vii.  5,  6.  xxv.  3. 
cat.  154,  155,  161,  182.  Who 
worketh  in  their  hearts  faith  in 
Jesus  Christ,  con.  xiv.  1.  cat.  72. 
.Which  is  necessarily  required 
of  them  for  their  justification 
and  salvation,  con.  vii.  3.  xi.  1. 
cat.  32,  71.  The  Spirit  also 
worketh  repentance,  and  in- 
fuseth  all  other  saving  graces, 
con.  xiii.  1.  cat.  32,  75,  76,  77. 
Which  necessarily  accompany 
faith,  con.  xi.  2.  cat.  73.  The 
Spirit  likewise  enables  them 
unto  all  obedience  and  the  prac- 
tice of  holiness,  which  is  the 
way  that  God  hath  appointed 
them  to  salvation,  con.  xiii.  1. 
cat.  32.  Elect  infants  dying  in 
infancy  are  regenerated  and 
saved  by  Christ  through  the  Spi- 
rit, <fc.  con.  x.  3. 

Sanctification,  what,  con.  xiii.  1. 
cat.  75.  Inseparably  joined  with 
justification,  cat.  77.  Wherein 
they  differ,  ib.  It  is  throughout 
in  the  whole  man,  con.  xiii.  2. 
cat.  75.  But  in  this  life  it  is 
not  perfect  in  any,  con.  xiii.  2. 
cat.  77.  Whence  this  imper- 
fection proceeds,  con.  xiii.  2. 
cat.  78.  Through  the  continual 
supply  of  strength  from  the 
sanctifying  Spirit  of  Christ,  the 
saints  grow  in  grace,  perfecting 
holiness  in  the  fear  of  God, 
con.  xiii.  3.  At  death  they  are 
made  perfect  in  holiness,  cmi. 
xxxii.  1.  cat.  86.  And  at  the 
day  of  judgment  tbey  shall  be 
fully  and  for  ever  freed  from  all 
sin,  cat.  90. 

Satisfaction.  Repentance  is  no 
satisfaction  for  sin,  con.  xv.  3. 
nor  good  works,  and  why,  con. 
xvi.  5.  Neither  we  nor  tiny 
other  creature  can  make  the 
least  satisfaction  for  sin,  cat.  194. 


Christ  alone  hath  made  a  pro- 
per, real,  and  full  satisfaction 
to  the  justice  of  his  Father  by 
his  obedience  and  sufferings, 
con.  viii.  5.  xi.  5.  cat.  38,  71. 
Which  satisfaction  is  imputed 
to  believers,  they  receiving  and 
resting  on  Christ  and  his  righ- 
teousness by  faith,  con.  xi.  1. 
cat.  70. 

Scandalous,  not  to  be  admitted  to 
the  Lord's  table,  con.  xxix.  8. 
cat.  173. 

Scoffing  and  scorning  sinful,  cat. 
113,  145. 

The  Scripture,  why  necessary,  con. 
i.  1.  What  books  to  be  owned 
for  scripture,  con.  i.  2,  3.  cat.  3. 
How  proved  to  be  the  word  of 
God,  con.  i.  5.  cat.  4.  Upon 
what  authority  the  scripture 
ought  to  be  believed  and  obey- 
ed, con.  i.  4.  The  sufficiency 
and  perfection  of  the  scripture, 
con.  i.  6.  cat.  2,  5.  Its  perspi- 
cuity, con.  i.  7.  The  infallible 
rule  of  interpreting  scripture  is 
the  scripture  itself,  con.  i.  9. 
The  scripture  is  the  only  rule 
of  faith  and  practice,  con.  i.  2. 
cat.  3,  5.  and  of  worship,  con. 
xxi.  1.  cat.  108,  109.  The  Spi- 
rit speaking  in  the  scriptures  is 
the  supreme  judge  of  all  con- 
troversies in  religion,  con.  i.  10. 
The  original  text  of  the  scrip- 
tures is  that  to  which  the  church 
is  finally  to  appeal,  con.  i.  8. 
But  they  arc  to  be  translated 
into  vulgar  languages,  con.  i.  8. 
cat.  156.  Because  all  sorts  of 
people  have  an  interest  in  them, 
and  are  commanded  to  read 
them,  ib.  How  they  are  to  be 
read,  cat.  157.  The  illumina- 
tion of  the  Spirit  of  God  is  ne- 
cessary for  the  saving  under- 
standing of  the  scriptures,  con. 
i.  0.  cat.  157.  How  the  reading 
of  the  word  is  made  effectual 
to  salvation,  cat.  155.    Misinter.-- 


The  Table. 


621 


preting,  misapplying,  or  any- 
way perverting  the  word,  or 
any  part  of  it,  to  profane  jests, 
is  sinful,  cat.  113. 
Sin,  what,  cat.  24.  Original  sin, 
what,  cat.  25.  The  sin  of  our 
first  parents,  con.  vi.  1.  cat.  21. 
By  it  they  fell  from  their  origi- 
nal righteousness,  and  commu- 
nion with  God,  and  had  their 
natures  wholly  corrupted,  con. 
vi.  2.  cat.  25,  27.  The  guilt  of 
this  sin  is  imputed,  and  the 
corruption  of  nature  conveyed 
to  all  their  posterity,  con.  vi.  3. 
cat.  22,  26.  Who  are  thereby 
bound  over  to  the  wrath  of  God 
and  curse  of  the  law,  con.  vi-  6. 
cat.  27, 194.  From  the  original 
corruption  of  nature  all  actual 
sins  proceed,  con.  vi.  4.  cat.  25. 
Which  are  not  all  equally  hei- 
nous, cat.  150.  The  aggrava- 
tions of  sin,  cat.  151.  The  de- 
merit of  every  sin,  con.  vi.  6. 
cat.  152.  Punishments  of  sin  in 
this  world,  con.  v.  5,  6.  xvii.  3. 
xviii.  4.  cat.  28,  83.  In  the 
world  to  come,  con.  xxxii.  1. 
xxxiii.  2.  cat.  29,  86,  89-  Sin 
is  pardoned  for  Christ's  sake 
alone,  con.  xi.  1.  xv.  3.  cat.  70. 
See  Justification,  Satisfaction. 
Every  man  bound  to  pray  for 
pardon  of  sin,  con.  xv.  6.  God 
continues  to  pardon  the  sins  of 
those  that  are  justified,  con.  xi.  5. 
How  pardon  of  sin  is  to  be  pray- 
ed for,  cat.  194.  The  sin  unto 
death,  con.  xxi.  4.  cat.  183.  Be- 
lievers have  the  dominion  of 
the  whole  body  of  sin  destroyed, 
and  the  lusts  thereof  more  and 
more  weakened  and  mortified, 
con.  vi.  5.  xiii.  1.  cat.  75.  See 
Mortification,  Sanctification. — 
How  providence  is  exercised 
about  sin,  con.  v.  4.  Why  God 
permitted  the  sin  of  our  first  pa- 
rents, con.  vi.  1.  Why  he  leaves 
his  children  to  fall  into  sin.  con. 


v.  5.     Why  and  how  sinners  are 
hardened,  con.  v.  6.  cat.  68. 

Sins  against  the  first  command- 
ment, cat.  105.  Against  the 
second,  cat.  109.  Against  the 
third,  cat.  113-  Against  the 
fourth,  cat.  119.  Sins  of  infe- 
riors, cat.  128.  Sins  of  supe- 
riors, cat.  130.  Sins  of  equals, 
cat.  132.  Sins  against  the  sixth 
commandment,  cat.  136.  Against 
the  seventh,  cat.  139.  Against 
the  eighth,  cat.  142.  Against 
the  ninth,  cat.  145.  Against 
the  tenth,  cat.  148. 

Sincerity.  Believers  love  Christ 
in  sincerity,  con.  xviii.  1.  They 
are  never  utterly  destitute  of 
sincerity  of  heart,  con.  xviii.  4. 
Ministers  ought  to  preach  sin- 
cerely, cat.  159.  We  are  to 
pray  with  sincerity,  cat.  185. 
God  is  pleased  to  accept  and  re- 
ward the  good  works  of  believers 
which  are  sincere,  con.  xvi.  6. 

Singing  of  psalms  a  part  Q*  re']" 
gious  worship,  con.  xxi.  5. 

Slandering  sinful,  cat.  145. 

Songs  that  are  lascivious  forbid- 
den, cat.  139. 

The  Soul  of  man  is  immortal, 
con.  iv.  2.  cat.  17.  The  state  of 
souls  when  separate  from  their 
bodies,  con.  xxxii.  1.  cat.  86. 

Sovereignty.  God  hath  most  so- 
vereign dominion  over  his  crea- 
tures, to  do  by  them,  for  them, 
or  upon  them,  whatsoever  he 
pleaseth,  con.  ii.  2.  The  light  of 
nature  showeth  that  God  hath 
lordship  and  sovereignty  over 
all,  con.  xxi.  1.  Eternal  sove- 
reignty to  be  ascribed  to  God 
alone,  cat.  196.  We  are  to  pray 
with  due  apprehensions  of  his 
sovereign  power,  cat.  185,  189. 

Spirit.     See  Holy  Ghost. 

Stage-plays  forbidden,  cat.  139. 

Stews  not  to  be  tolerated,  cat.  139. 

Supererogation  impossible,  con. 
xvi.  4. 


622 


The  Table. 


Superiors,  why  styled  fathers  and 
mothers,  cat.  125.  How  to  be 
honoured,  con.  xxiii.  4.  cat. 
127.  Their  duty,  con.  xxiii.  1. 
2,  3.  cat.  129.  Their  sins,  cat. 
130.     See  Magistracy. 

Superstition.  God  may  not  be 
worshipped  according  to  the 
imaginations  and  devices  of 
men,  con.  xxi.  1.  Religious 
worship  not  instituted  by  God 
himself,  is  not  to  be  used  or 
approved,  cat.  109.  All  super- 
stitious devices,  <$rc.  sinful,  cat. 
109,  113. 

Supper.     See  Lord's  Supper. 

Surety.  Christ  the  surety  for  be- 
lievers, cat.  71.  He  was  tho- 
roughly furnished  to  execute 
that  office,  con.  viii.  3.  And 
God  accepteth  satisfaction  from 
him  as  their  surety,  cat.  71. 

Suretiship,  that  is  not  necessary, 
is  to  be  avoided,  cat.  141. 

Suspension  from  the  Lord's  table, 
con.  xxx.  4. 

Swearing.  See  Oaths.  Vain  or 
rash  swearing  by  the  name  of 
God,  or  to  swear  at  all  by  any 
other  thing,  is  to  be  abhorred, 
con.  xxii.  2. 

Synods.     See  Councils. 


Tale-bearing,  cat.  145. 

Temptation.  Why  God  leaves 
his  children  to  manifold  temp- 
tations, con.  v.  5.  The  wicked 
given  up  to  the  temptations  of 
the  world,  con.  v.  6.  Tempta- 
tions to  sin  are  to  be  avoided  and 
resisted,  cat.  99.  §  6,  135,  133. 
How  temptation  is  to  be  prayed 
against,  cat.  195. 

Testament.  The  books  of  the  Old 
and  New  Testament  are  the 
word  of  God,  con.  i.  2.  cat.  3. 
And  the  only  rule  of  faith  and 
obedience,  ib.     See  Scriptures. 

Testament.     Why  the  covenant  of 


grace  is  called  a  Testament,  con. 
vii.  4.  As  it  was  administered 
under  the  law,  it  is  called  the 
Old  Testament,  con.  vii.  5.  And 
as  administered  under  the  gos- 
pel, it  is  called  the  New  Testa- 
ment, con.  vii.  6. 

Thanksgiving  to  be  joined  with 
prayer,  con.  xxi.  3.  cat.  108,  178. 
It  is  to  be  made  in  the  name  of 
Christ,  con.  xxi.  3.  Solemn 
thanksgiving  a  part  of  religious 
worship,  con.  xxi.  5. 

Toleration.  A  false  religion  not 
to  be  tolerated,  cat.  109. 

Tradition,  no  pretence  for  using 
superstitious  devices  in  the  wor- 
ship of  God,  cat.  109.  No  tra- 
ditions of  men  to  be  added  to 
the  scripture,  con.  i.  6. 

Transubst-antiation^  is  repugnant 
not  only  to  scripture,  but  to 
common  sense  and  reason,  con. 
xxix.  6.  And  is  the  cause  of 
manifold  superstitions,  yea,  of 
gross  idolatries,  ib. 

The  tree  of  life  was  a  pledge 
of  the  covenant  of  works,  cat. 
20. 

The  Trinity.     See  God,  Persons. 

Truth  between  man  and  man, 
how  preserved  and  promoted, 
cat.  144.  What  things  are  con- 
trary to  it,  cat.  145. 

U.V. 

Union  of  the  elect  with  Christ, 
con.  xxv.  1.  xxvi.  1.  cat.  66.  It 
is  inseparable,  cat.  79.  Be- 
lievers are  united  to  one  another 
in  love,  con.  xxvi.  1. 

Union  of  the  two  natures  in  Christ. 
See  Personal  Union. 

Unregenerate,  the  use  of  the  mo- 
ral law  to  them,  cat.  96.  Their 
best  works  cannot  please  God, 
arid  why,  con.  xvi.  7.  But  their 
neglect  to  do  what  God  com- 
mands is  more  sinful,  ib. 

Vocation.     See  Calling. 


Hie  Table. 


623 


Vow,  a  part  of  religious  worship, 
con.  xxi.  5.  What  it  is,  and 
how  to  be  made,  con.  xxii.  5,  6. 
To  be  made  to  God  alone,  con. 
xxv.  6.  cat.  108.  Whit  vows 
are  unlawful,  con.  xxii.  7.  Vio- 
lating- of  lawful  vows,  and  ful- 
filling of  unlawful,  is  sinful,  cat. 
113." 

Usury  unlawful,  cat.  142. 


W 


War  may  be  waged  by  Christians 
under  the  New  Testament,  con. 
xxiii.  2. 
The  Wicked.     Their  condition  in 
this  life,  cat.   S3 :  immediately 
after  death,  con.  xxxii.  1.  cat. 
56:     in    and    after    judgment, 
con.  xxxiii.  2.  cat.  59. 
Will.     The  counsel  of  God's  will 
is  most  wise  and  holy,  con.  iii.  1. 
cat.  12.     It  is  unsearchable,  cotz. 
iii.  7.  cat.  13.    It  is  free  and  im- 
mutable, con.  v.  1.  cat.  14 ;  and 
most  righteous,  con.  ii.  1.    How 
the  will  of  God  is  to  be  done 
and  submitted  to,  cat.  192.    Tiie 
will    of   God,   revealed    in  the 
Scriptures,   is  the  only  rule  of 
faith,   worship,  and   practice. — 
See  Scripture.    Christ  revealeth 
to  his  church,  by  his  Spirit  and 
word,  the  whole  will  of  God  in 
all  things  concerning  their  edi- 
fication and  salvation,  cat.  43. 
Free-Will.     The  will   of  man  is 
neither  forced,  nor  by  any  ab- 
solute necessity  of  nature  deter- 
mined, to  do  good  or  evil,  con. 
iii.  1.  ix.  1.     Man  in  his  state 
of  innocency  had  freedom  and 
power    to    will    and    do    good, 
con.   iv.   2.   ix.    2.  cat.  17.     By 
his  fall  he  lost  all  ability  of  will 
to  any  spiritual  good  accompa- 
nying salvation,  con.  vi.  2,  4.  ix. 
3'  cat.  25, 192.    The  will  is  re- 
newed in  conversion,  con.  ix.  4. 
x.  1.  cat.  67.     It  is  made  per- 


fectly and  immutably  free  to  do 
good  alone  in  the  state  of  glory 
only,  con.  ix.  5. 
Word.     See  Scripture,  Reading, 

Preaching,  Hearing. 
Worldly-mindedness    sinful,     cat. 

105.  "142. 
Works.     What  are    good  works, 
and  what  not,  con.  xvi.  1.     Good 
works  are  the   fruits    and    evi- 
dences of  a  true  and  lively  faith, 
con.  xvi.  2.     The  uses  and  ends 
of  good    works,    ib.     Ability  to 
do   good  works  is  wholly  from 
the  Spirit  of  Christ,  con.  xvi.  3. 
The  actual  influence  of  the  Spi- 
rit is  required  for  the  perform- 
ance of  them,  ib.     This  no  plea 
for  negligence,  ib.      Superero- 
gation   impossible,  con.    xvi.  4. 
We  cannot  by  our  best  works 
merit  pardon  of  sin  or  eternal 
life  at    the   hand   of   God,  and 
why,  con.  xvi.  5.     Yet  the  good 
rks  of  believers  are  accepted 
by  God  in  Christ,  and  reward- 
ed, co?2.  xvi.  6.     The  works  of 
unregenerate  men  cannot  please 
God,  and  why,  con.  xvi.  7.     But 
to    neglect    to    do    what    God 
commands    is    more    sinful,  ib. 
All  persons  shall,  in  the  day  of 
judgment,  receive  according  to 
what   they   have    done    in   the 
body,  whether  good  or  evil,  con. 
xxxiii.  1. 
Worship.     To  God  is  due  from  his 
creatures  whatever  worship  he 
is  pleased  to  require,  con.  ii.  2. 
The   light    of  nature   showeth 
that  God   is  to  be  worshipped, 
con.  xxi.  1.     But  the  acceptable 
way  of  worshipping  God  is  in- 
stituted by  himself  in  the  scrip- 
tures, ib.     He  may  not  be  wor- 
shipped according  to  the  imagi- 
nations and  devices  of  men,  co/2. 
xxi.  1.  cat.  109.     False  worship 
is  to  be  opposed,  cat.   106 
also  any  worship  not  instituted 
by  God  himself,  cat.  109.     But 


624 


The  Table. 


there  are  some  circumstances 
concerning  the  worship  of  God 
which  are  to  he  ordered  by  the 
light  of  nature  and  Christian 
prudence,  according  to  the  ge- 
neral rules  of  the  word,  con. 
i,  6.  Religious  worship  is  to  be 
given  to  God  the  Father,  Son, 
and  Holy  Ghost,  and  to  him 
alone;  and  that  only  in  the  me- 
diation of  Christ,  con.  xxi.  2. 
cat.  179,  181.  The  parts  of  re- 
ligious worship,  con.  xxi.  3,  5. 
Religious  worship  not  tied  to 
any  place5  but  God  is  to  be  wor- 


shipped every  where  in  spirit 
and  truth,  as  in  private  families 
daily,  and  in  secret,  each  one 
by  himself;  so  more  solemnly 
in  the  public  assemblies,  which, 
are  not  to  be  neglected,  con. 
xxi.  6. 
Wrath.     See  Curse. 


Zeal  for  God,  a  duty,  cat.  104. 
Corrupt,  blind,  and  indiscreet  zeal 
sinful,  cat.  105. 


FINIS. 


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